Table Of Contents

Meet the Key Figures in Surah Tariq: Roles, Significance & Takeaways

This Character Compendium provides a definitive resource on the key archetypes and powerful symbols within Surah At-Tariq, the 86th chapter of the Holy Qur’an. A powerful and concise Makkan Surah, its name, “The Piercing Star,” is derived from its majestic opening oath, which affirms the reality of divine supervision over every soul. The chapter then masterfully proves the certainty of the Resurrection by calling the human being to reflect on his own humble origins from a “gushing fluid.” The Surah concludes by defending the Qur’an as the “decisive statement” that separates truth from falsehood and warns the deniers that their plots are being met with a perfect divine plan. Each character card delves into the specific portrayal of these figures and concepts, extracting the timeless lessons on creation, accountability, and the nature of the divine word.

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Al-Ard dhat as-Sad’ (The Earth with Faults)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Ard dhat as-Sad’, The Earth with Faults or The Earth that Splits Open, is the second of the two great cosmic realities by which Allah swears an oath at the end of the Surah. The description refers to the earth’s ability to split open to allow vegetation to emerge.

Role in the Surah

Its role is to be a witness, alongside the “Returning Heaven,” to the decisive and truthful nature of the Qur’an. “By the heaven which returns [rain] and [by] the earth which splits open [with vegetation]…” (At-Tariq, 86:11-12). This natural, life-giving process of splitting is presented as a divine sign and a testament to the truth of the revelation.

Personality & Attributes

The Earth with Faults is the archetype of a **receptive and life-giving creation**. It is a symbol of the power of life to emerge from a seemingly solid and dead state. Its “splitting” is not an act of destruction, but of productive and life-affirming creation, a direct result of the “return” of the rain from the sky.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should reflect on the miracle of a tiny seed splitting open the hard earth to bring forth life, and see in it a sign of the Creator’s power.
• This process is also a powerful analogy for the Resurrection, where the earth will “split open” to release the dead.
• Just as the splitting of the earth with plants is a certain reality, so too is the Qur’an a certain and decisive reality.

Supporting References

The oath by the returning heaven and the splitting earth is a perfect parallel. The heaven “returns” the rain, and the earth “splits” in response to bring forth life. This beautiful, interconnected system of divine providence is presented as the ultimate witness to the truth that the Qur’an is the “decisive statement.”

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Al-Insan (The Human Being)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Insan, the human being, is presented in this Surah as a miraculous creation whose own origin is the ultimate proof of the Resurrection. The human is called to reflect upon the very substance from which they were created as a sign of God’s power.

Role in the Surah

The Human Being is the subject of a direct divine command to reflect. After affirming that every soul has a guardian, the Surah says: “So let man observe from what he was created. He was created from a fluid, ejected, emerging from between the backbone and the ribs.” (At-Tariq, 86:5-7). The human’s role is to be the primary exhibit in the Surah’s argument for the power of the Creator to bring back the dead.

Personality & Attributes

The Human Being is the archetype of the **miraculously-formed yet heedless creation**. We are a testament to the masterful artistry of the Creator, yet we are prone to forgetting our own humble origins and denying our final return. We are the living, walking proof of the very reality we question.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The most powerful and immediate proof for the Resurrection is to reflect on our own creation.
• A believer should be in a constant state of reflection and awe at the miracle of their own existence.
• The God who could create us from such a humble fluid the first time is surely able to return us to life a second time.

Supporting References

The Surah presents a powerful and direct argument. It challenges the human being to engage in a simple act of introspection. By understanding our own biological origin, we are led to the inescapable theological conclusion that the one who originated us has the power to return us. It is a call to see the sign within ourselves.

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Al-Kafirun (The Disbelievers)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Kafirun, the disbelievers, are those who reject the clear message of Allah and deny the truth of the Resurrection. In this Surah, they are the ones who are actively plotting against the Prophet and his message.

Role in the Surah

The disbelievers are the ones who are engaged in a futile plot against the truth. The Surah concludes by addressing their schemes and reassuring the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. “Indeed, they are planning a plan, but I am planning a plan. So allow time for the disbelievers. Leave them awhile.” (At-Tariq, 86:15-17).

Personality & Attributes

The Disbelievers are the archetype of the **futile and deluded plotter**. They are characterized by their arrogance and their belief that their human schemes can overcome the divine message. They are the ones who are given a temporary “respite” before the divine plan is ultimately fulfilled.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should never be intimidated or distressed by the plots and schemes of the enemies of faith.
• For every human plot against the truth, there is a perfect and superior divine plan that will ultimately prevail.
• A believer must have patience and trust in the divine plan, allowing Allah to deal with the disbelievers in His own perfect time.

Supporting References

The final command to the Prophet, “So allow time for them, leave them awhile,” is a powerful lesson in patience and trust. It is a divine reassurance that the plots of the disbelievers are being managed by a higher authority and that their ultimate failure is a certainty. The believer’s role is to be patient and to watch the divine plan unfold.

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Allah (The Planner)

Brief Biography / Background

Allah is the proper name for the One, True God. In this Surah, He is presented as the All-Powerful Creator, the absolute Sovereign who has placed a guardian over every soul, and the ultimate, perfect Planner whose plan will always overcome the plots of the disbelievers.

Role in the Surah

Allah is the ultimate authority and actor in the Surah. He is the one by whose cosmic creations the opening and closing oaths are sworn. He is the Creator of man from a gushing fluid and the one who is surely “able to return him [to life].” He is the ultimate Knower of all secrets. His Qur’an is the “decisive statement.” Most powerfully, He is the one who meets the plot of the disbelievers with His own perfect plan: “Indeed, they are planning a plan, but I am planning a plan.” (86:15-16).

Personality & Attributes

This Surah magnificently illustrates Allah’s attributes:

• Al-Qadir (The All-Powerful): He is able to return man to life.
• Al-‘Alim (The All-Knowing): He knows all the secrets that will be examined on the Last Day.
• Al-Khaliq (The Creator): He is the masterful creator of the human being.
• Al-Makir (The Planner): He is the best of all planners, whose plan is perfect and always victorious.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer must have absolute trust in the perfection of Allah’s plan, even when the plots of the enemy seem to be succeeding.
• All power and all outcomes are in the hands of Allah alone.
• The ultimate purpose of reflecting on His creation and His word is to submit to His perfect and victorious plan.

Supporting References

The Surah is a profound lesson in divine power and planning. It begins by establishing His power over the cosmos and His supervision over our souls. It proves His power through our own creation. It affirms His power through the decisive nature of His word. And it concludes by confirming His power through the ultimate triumph of His plan. It is a complete and unshakeable case for placing one’s trust in Him alone.

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As-Sama’ (The Heaven)

Brief Biography / Background

As-Sama’, the Sky or the Heaven, refers to the celestial expanse above the Earth. The Qur’an consistently presents its vastness, structure, and perfect order as a profound sign of the Creator’s power and wisdom.

Role in the Surah

The Heaven is the first object by which Allah swears a magnificent oath at the beginning of the Surah. “By the heaven and the night comer…” (At-Tariq, 86:1). Its role is to be the first great witness in an oath that affirms the reality of divine supervision over every soul.

Personality & Attributes

The Heaven is the archetype of a **majestic, vast, and divinely-ordered creation**. It is a symbol of the awesome and transcendent power of the Creator. By swearing by it, Allah gives the message that follows a sense of cosmic weight and certainty.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should reflect on the vastness of the heaven and see in it a sign of the immense power of its Creator.
• The Qur’an uses oaths by mighty creations to draw the listener’s attention to the immense gravity and certainty of the statement that follows.
• Just as the heaven is a certain and undeniable reality above us, so too is the guardian angel a certain and undeniable reality with us.

Supporting References

The Surah later swears by the heaven again, but with a different attribute: “the heaven which returns [rain].” This shows the multifaceted nature of the signs. The first oath is by its majesty and vastness. The second is by its specific, life-giving function. Both are powerful proofs of the Creator.

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As-Sama’ dhat ar-Raj’ (The Returning Heaven)

Brief Biography / Background

As-Sama’ dhat ar-Raj’, The Heaven which Returns, is a powerful and scientifically subtle description of the sky. “Ar-Raj'” means to return, and it refers to the sky’s ability to “return” things, such as life-giving rain in the water cycle, or radio waves and other forms of radiation.

Role in the Surah

The Returning Heaven is the first of the two great cosmic realities by which Allah swears an oath at the end of the Surah. Its role is to be a witness, alongside the “splitting earth,” to the decisive and truthful nature of the Qur’an. “By the heaven which returns [rain]…” (At-Tariq, 86:11).

Personality & Attributes

The Returning Heaven is the archetype of a **dynamic, functional, and life-sustaining creation**. It is not a static canopy, but is an active participant in the systems that support life on earth. It is a symbol of the cyclical and purposeful nature of the cosmos.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should reflect on the water cycle and see in it a sign of the perfect and merciful design of the Creator.
• The Qur’an uses oaths by the functions of nature to prove its own function as a decisive and life-giving message.
• Just as the returning rain from the sky is a certain reality, so too is the Qur’an a certain and decisive reality.

Supporting References

This verse is often cited as a scientific miracle of the Qur’an. The concept of the atmosphere “returning” not only rain but also reflecting radio waves and protecting the earth from harmful cosmic rays by “returning” them to space, is a modern scientific understanding that is perfectly encapsulated in the ancient and profound term “dhat ar-Raj’.”

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At-Tariq (The Piercing Star)

Brief Biography / Background

At-Tariq, The Night-Comer or The Piercing Star, is the celestial object by which Allah swears the second part of the opening oath, and it gives the Surah its name. The word *tariq* comes from a root meaning to knock or to strike, and it was used for a traveler who arrives at night. The Surah then defines it as “the piercingly bright star.”

Role in the Surah

Its role is to be a majestic and powerful witness to the reality of divine supervision. After swearing by the heaven, the Surah asks: “And what can make you know what is the night-comer? It is the piercingly bright star.” (86:2-3). This is a witness from the cosmos to the truth that every soul has a guardian.

Personality & Attributes

The Piercing Star is the archetype of a **brilliant, powerful, and watchful sign**. It is “an-najm ath-thaqib,” the star that “pierces” the darkness with its brilliant light. It is a symbol of the light of divine knowledge that pierces the darkness of ignorance and the ever-watchful gaze of the guardian angel.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should look up at the night sky and see in the brilliance of the stars a reminder of the power of their Creator and the reality of His supervision.
• The Qur’an uses a question-and-answer format to build a sense of awe and to emphasize the importance of the object being described.
• Just as the piercing star watches over the night, the guardian angel watches over the soul.

Supporting References

Tafsir literature has offered various interpretations of which specific star is meant (such as Saturn or the Pleiades), but the most comprehensive understanding is that it refers to any star that shines with a piercing brightness in the darkness of the night. Its very function of piercing the darkness is a metaphor for the function of the guardian angel, who pierces the veil of our privacy with their constant observation.

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The Believers (Al-Mu’minun)

Brief Biography / Background

The Believers are those who have sincere faith in Allah and accept the guidance of His prophets. They are the ones who heed the divine reminder of the Qur’an and understand its decisive nature.

Role in the Surah

The believers are the implicit positive contrast to the “disbelievers” who are plotting against the truth. They are the ones who understand that the Qur’an is a “decisive statement” and not “amusement.” They are the ones who trust in the divine plan and have patience as their Lord gives respite to the plotters. They are the ones who, on the Day the secrets are examined, will have the power and the helpers that the disbelievers lack.

Personality & Attributes

The Believers are the archetype of the **righteous, the successful, and the insightful**. They are characterized by their faith in the unseen, their submission to the will of Allah, and their ultimate triumph. They are the ones who use their free will correctly to choose the path of guidance.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The ultimate success and joy is reserved for those who believe and do righteous deeds.
• A believer’s life should be one of acknowledging the favors of their Lord and preparing for the final meeting with Him.
• The path of belief is the only path that leads to eternal security and peace.

Supporting References

The Surah is a source of immense strength for the believers. It reassures them that they are under constant divine supervision, that the Resurrection for which they are working is a certainty, that the Book they follow is the ultimate truth, and that the plots of their enemies are being met with a perfect and unbeatable divine plan.

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The Creator

Brief Biography / Background

The Creator is an archetype representing Allah in His specific role as the originator of all existence, particularly of the human being from a humble and seemingly insignificant origin.

Role in the Surah

The role of the Creator is to be the ultimate proof of the Resurrection. The Surah commands the human to reflect on their own creation as evidence of the Creator’s power to return them to life. He is the one who created man from a “gushing fluid” that emerges from a specific place. The Surah then makes the direct link: “Indeed, He [the Creator], to return him [to life], is Able.” (At-Tariq, 86:8).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype represents **absolute, meticulous, and life-giving creative power**. The Creator is the ultimate reality, the one from whom all existence proceeds. His power to create from a humble origin is the undeniable proof of His power to recreate after death.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Reflecting on the perfection and the miraculous nature of one’s own creation is the most direct path to recognizing the greatness of the Creator.
• A believer’s faith in the Resurrection is grounded in the undeniable reality of their own initial creation.
• The act of creation is the ultimate proof of God’s Oneness and His power.

Supporting References

The Surah’s argument is a masterpiece of rational and empirical theology. It does not ask the denier to believe in something abstract. It asks them to look at their own body, at their own life, and to see in their own existence the undeniable signature of a powerful and wise Creator, a Creator who is surely able to bring them back for a final accounting.

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The Day the Secrets are Examined

Brief Biography / Background

This is a powerful and evocative name for the Day of Judgment. It refers to the moment when all that was hidden and concealed in the hearts and in the lives of people will be brought out into the open and put on trial.

Role in the Surah

This Day is mentioned as the specific time when the human will be in a state of utter helplessness. After affirming that Allah is able to return man to life, the Surah describes the context: “On the Day when secrets will be put on trial, then man will have no power and no helper.” (At-Tariq, 86:9-10).

Personality & Attributes

The Day the Secrets are Examined is the archetype of **ultimate transparency, perfect accountability, and the great exposure**. It is the day when all masks will be removed and the true inner reality (*sarair*) of every soul will be laid bare. It is the moment of the ultimate, unavoidable truth.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer must live with the awareness that their most secret thoughts and deeds will be exposed and examined on the Day of Judgment.
• This should be a powerful motivation to purify not only one’s outward actions but also one’s innermost intentions.
• On that Day, all worldly sources of power and all allies will be rendered completely useless. The only thing that will matter is a soul’s record.

Supporting References

The word “tubla” means to be tested, tried, or examined. It is a profound and terrifying image. Our deepest secrets will not just be revealed; they will be put on trial. This is the ultimate court, where the evidence is the secret of our own heart, and the Judge is the Knower of all secrets.

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The Decisive Statement (Qawlun Fasl)

Brief Biography / Background

The Decisive Statement is a powerful and definitive title for the Holy Qur’an. It signifies that the Qur’an is not a book of amusement or conjecture, but is the final, decisive word that separates truth from falsehood.

Role in the Surah

This is the description of the Qur’an that is affirmed by the oath of the returning heaven and the splitting earth. “Indeed, it [the Qur’an] is a decisive statement, and it is not amusement.” (At-Tariq, 86:13-14).

Personality & Attributes

The Decisive Statement is the archetype of **ultimate authority, clarity, and seriousness**. It is “fasl,” meaning it is the criterion or the final verdict that settles all disputes. It is the direct opposite of “hazl,” which is play, jest, or amusement. It is a book of ultimate gravity and purpose.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer must approach the Qur’an with the utmost seriousness, recognizing it as the decisive word from their Lord.
• The Qur’an is the ultimate criterion (Furqan) for distinguishing right from wrong.
• One must avoid the attitude of the heedless who treat the divine message as a form of amusement or a light matter.

Supporting References

This statement is a direct refutation of the disbelievers who would often dismiss the Qur’an’s warnings as mere stories or fables. The Surah affirms, with a divine oath, that this book is the final and most serious of all statements, and its promises and warnings are absolute realities.

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The Guardian (Hafiz) – The Angel

Brief Biography / Background

The Hafiz, or Guardian, is the angel assigned by Allah to watch over and record the deeds of every human soul. This concept is a cornerstone of the Islamic understanding of divine supervision and accountability.

Role in the Surah

The existence of this Guardian is the central truth that the opening oaths of the Surah are sworn to confirm. After swearing by the heaven and the piercing star, Allah declares: “There is no soul but that it has over it a guardian.” (At-Tariq, 86:4).

Personality & Attributes

The Guardian is the archetype of **perfect, ever-present, and meticulous supervision**. They are characterized by their diligence and their unerring accuracy. Nothing escapes their notice. Their presence is a constant and inescapable reality for every single human being.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer must live with the profound and constant awareness that they are under direct angelic supervision.
• This realization should be a powerful motivation for righteous conduct and a deterrent from sin, in both public and private.
• The concept of the guardian angel is a testament to the perfect and detailed justice of Allah; the judgment on the Last Day will be based on a complete and flawless record.

Supporting References

Tafsir literature connects this “guardian” with the “Honorable Scribes” (Kiraman Katibin) mentioned in Surah Al-Infitar. They are the angels who record our deeds, thus “guarding” the record of our lives for the Day of Judgment. The oath by the vast heaven and the piercing star is used to emphasize the certainty and the cosmic significance of this individual and intimate supervision.

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The Gushing Fluid (Ma’in Dafiq)

Brief Biography / Background

The Gushing Fluid is the Qur’anic description of the seminal fluid or sperm-drop from which the human being is created. The term “dafiq” means gushing, ejaculated, or propelled with force, a dynamic and powerful description of this life-giving substance.

Role in the Surah

This fluid is mentioned as the humble and miraculous origin of the human being, a proof of the Creator’s power to resurrect. “He was created from a fluid, ejected…” (At-Tariq, 86:6).

Personality & Attributes

The Gushing Fluid is the archetype of a **humble but potent origin**. It is a symbol of the miraculous power of life that is contained within a seemingly insignificant substance. It is a testament to the power of the Creator who can fashion a complex and intelligent being from such a beginning.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Remembering one’s origin from a “gushing fluid” is a powerful cure for human arrogance and pride.
• The creation of every individual human being is a miracle that stands as a constant proof of the Creator’s existence and power.
• The one who could initiate life from this fluid can surely return that life after it has turned to dust.

Supporting References

The Surah uses very direct and physical language to make its point. By forcing the human to “observe from what he was created,” it grounds a profound theological argument in an undeniable and personal biological reality. It is a call to see the sign within one’s own self.

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The Helpless Soul

Brief Biography / Background

The Helpless Soul is the archetype of the human being on the Day of Judgment. It is the state of every soul when it is brought before its Lord for the final reckoning, stripped of all its worldly power and support systems.

Role in the Surah

This state of helplessness is described as the reality on the Day the secrets are examined. “Then man will have no power and no helper.” (At-Tariq, 86:10).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **absolute powerlessness and utter abandonment**. In this world, a person may have “quwwah” (power, strength) and “nasir” (helpers, allies, supporters). On that Day, both of these will be rendered completely useless. Every soul will stand alone, dependent only on its own deeds and the mercy of its Lord.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should never place their ultimate trust in their own strength or in any worldly helper.
• The only true power and the only true Helper is Allah.
• This understanding should motivate a person to prepare for the Day when they will be completely helpless, by performing the deeds that will earn the help and mercy of Allah.

Supporting References

This verse is a powerful and sobering reminder of the ultimate reality. It deconstructs all the illusions of worldly power and support. On that Day, the only things that will matter are one’s relationship with Allah and the record of deeds that one has sent forth. It is the ultimate equalizer.

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The Plotters (Disbelievers)

Brief Biography / Background

The Plotters are the archetype of the disbelievers who actively conspire and scheme (*kayd*) against the truth and the messengers of Allah. Their plots are born of arrogance and a desire to extinguish the light of divine guidance.

Role in the Surah

Their activity is mentioned at the very end of the Surah. They are the ones who are engaged in a constant plot against the Prophet. “Indeed, they are planning a plan…” (At-Tariq, 86:15).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by its **deceit, its arrogance, and its ultimate futility**. They believe they are being clever and can undermine the divine message with their human schemes. They are the ones who are caught in a cosmic game of chess that they are destined to lose.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should never be intimidated or distressed by the plots and schemes of the enemies of faith.
• For every human plot against the truth, there is a perfect and superior divine plan that will ultimately prevail.
• A believer must have patience and trust in the divine plan, allowing Allah to deal with the disbelievers in His own perfect time.

Supporting References

The Surah immediately contrasts their plot with the plot of Allah: “but I am planning a plan.” This is a powerful statement of divine sovereignty. It assures the Prophet and the believers that the situation is completely under control. Their petty human schemes are being met with a perfect, all-encompassing divine plan that will ensure the ultimate victory of the truth.

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Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)

Brief Biography / Background

While not mentioned by name, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the one to whom this Surah was revealed. He is the one who recites the decisive statement and delivers its profound warnings.

Role in the Surah

He is the one who is being defended and supported by the Surah’s message. The entire chapter, from its opening oaths about the guardian angel to its concluding reassurance about the divine plan, is a source of strength and certainty for him in the face of the disbelievers’ plots. He is the one who is commanded to be patient and to give the plotters a little respite. “So allow time for the disbelievers. Leave them awhile.” (86:17).

Personality & Attributes

As the addressee of the Surah, the Prophet ﷺ is the archetype of the **patient messenger who is secure in the divine plan**. He is the one who must convey the truth of the Qur’an as the “decisive statement” and who must have absolute trust that Allah’s plan will overcome the plots of his enemies.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The correct response to the plotting of the enemies is a beautiful and confident patience, born of a deep trust in Allah.
• A believer should not be hasty in seeking retribution, but should entrust the matter to Allah, the best of planners.
• The respite that Allah gives to the wicked is not a sign of His weakness, but is part of His perfect and wise plan.

Supporting References

The final command to the Prophet is a profound one. It is a call to a state of calm and confident detachment from the schemes of his enemies. It is as if Allah is saying, “Do not worry about them. Their affair is with Me. I am planning for them. Just give them a little time, and you will see the outcome of My plan.” It is the ultimate source of tranquility for the believer.