NAME: التكوير, At-Takwir.
Name taken from Verse 1 where there is a mention of the word ”kuwwirat” from which the word Takwir is derived.
١ إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ
1 When the sun is wrapped up [in darkness]
ENGLISH NAME: The Enfolding.
CHAPTER NUMBER: 81
SURAH TAKWIR TOTAL VERSES: 29
SURAH TAKWIR TOTAL WORDS: 104
TOTAL UNIQUE WORDS WITHOUT REPETITION: 84
TOTAL LETTERS: 435
REVELATION PERIOD:
Meccan, Approx. 610 – 616 AD.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
God, Prophet Muhammad, Supreme Angel- A Nobel Messenger.
SURAH TAKWIR MAIN TOPICS:
Description Of Events That Will Happen On The Day Of Judgment, Revelation Sent To Muhammad Through Supreme Angel, Quran is not the Word of a Devil-Expelled.
SURAH TAKWIR KEY VERSES:
١ إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ
1 When the sun is wrapped up [in darkness]
٢ وَإِذَا النُّجُومُ انْكَدَرَتْ
2 And when the stars fall, dispersing,
١٥ فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ
15 So I swear by the retreating stars –
١٦ الْجَوَارِ الْكُنَّسِ
16 Those that run [their courses] and disappear –
١٧ وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا عَسْعَسَ
17 And by the night as it closes in
١٨ وَالصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ
18 And by the dawn when it breathes
٢٩ وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
29 And you do not will except that Allah wills – Lord of the worlds.
SUMMARY OF TOPICS
1-14(A Description Of Events That Will Happen On The Day Of Judgment From Destruction Of Sun, Moon Mountains And Heaven To The Fueling Of Hell Fire), 15-24 (Revelation Sent To Muhammad Through Supreme Angel- A Nobel Messenger, And Muhammad Have Seen Him), 25-29(Quran is not the Word of a Devil-Expelled, It is not Except a Reminder to the Worlds)
SURAH TAKWIR BRIEF COMMENTARY & BACKGROUND
This Surah has 29 verses. It takes its name from verse 1: “إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ” (When the sun is wrapped up) where the word “كُوِّرَتْ” from which the word “التكوير” is derived meaning “The Enfolding” appears. This Surah was revealed in Mecca most probably during the early days of Muhammad’s proclamation of his Prophethood. The central theme of Surah is Hereafter and the institution of Prophethood. The Surah narrates and depicts the end of the world in a very compelling way; it gives us some of the scenes of the Last Day. All the celestial beings, forces of nature as well as the human power and authority will come to an end.
Ahmad bin Hanbal recorded from Ibn Umar that the Prophet of God said, One who likes to see the Day of Judgment as if he is seeing it with his eyes, then let him read “ إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ” Surah Takwir, and “ إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انْفَطَرَتْ” Surah Infitar and “إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انْشَقَّتْ” Surah Inshiqaq.