Revealed in Makkah, Surah At-Takwir (The Overthrowing) presents a series of dramatic, cosmic events that will mark the end of the universe—the sun folded in darkness, the stars falling, the seas boiling, and souls joined. It defends the authenticity of the Quran and the integrity of the Prophet, stating that the message is delivered by a noble angel (Gabriel) and is a reminder for all.
Transliteration
Itha alshshamsu kuwwirat
Translation
When the sun is rolled up
Describes the catastrophic cosmic death of the sun at the end of time: condensed, stripped of its luminous heat, and extinguished like a spent star.
Transliteration
Waitha alnnujoomu inkadarat
Translation
When the stars are dimmed
Transliteration
Waitha aljibalu suyyirat
Translation
When the mountains are set in motion
Transliteration
Waitha alAAisharu AAuttilat
Translation
When the relationships are suspended
Reflects ancient Arabian economic reality: describes ten-month pregnant thoroughbred she-camels ('Al-'Ishar')—the absolute pinnacle of personal wealth and investment in desert society—left completely abandoned and neglected as people flee in overwhelming terror.
Transliteration
Waitha alwuhooshu hushirat
Translation
When the beasts are gathered
Transliteration
Waitha albiharu sujjirat
Translation
When the oceans are set aflame
Transliteration
Waitha alnnufoosu zuwwijat
Translation
When the souls are paired
Transliteration
Waitha almawoodatu suilat
Translation
When the girl, buried alive, is asked
A monumental moral reckoning against pre-Islamic female infanticide ('Wa'd al-Banat'): the infant girl buried alive in the desert sands is personally invited by God into the divine courtroom as the primary witness, asked: 'For what crime were you murdered?'—forever shattering ancient patriarchal cruelty.
Transliteration
Biayyi thanbin qutilat
Translation
For what crime was she killed
Transliteration
Waitha alssuhufu nushirat
Translation
When the records are made public
Transliteration
Waitha alssamao kushitat
Translation
When the sky is peeled away
Transliteration
Waitha aljaheemu suAAAAirat
Translation
When the Fire is set ablaze
Transliteration
Waitha aljannatu ozlifat
Translation
When Paradise is brought near
Transliteration
AAalimat nafsun ma ahdarat
Translation
Each soul will know what it has readied
Transliteration
Fala oqsimu bialkhunnasi
Translation
I swear by the galaxies
God swears an oath by the celestial stars and planets that recede and vanish from sight at the break of dawn.
Transliteration
Aljawari alkunnasi
Translation
Precisely running their courses
Continues the oath by the heavenly bodies that glide smoothly along orbital paths and sweep through space.
Transliteration
Waallayli itha AAasAAasa
Translation
And by the night as it recedes
God swears by the nocturnal shadows as they depart at dawn or as the darkness settles across the landscape.
Transliteration
Waalssubhi itha tanaffasa
Translation
And by the morn as it breathes
God swears by the refreshing morning dawn as it breaks over the horizon, bringing daylight like a deep, revitalizing breath across the living earth.
Transliteration
Innahu laqawlu rasoolin kareemin
Translation
This is the speech of a noble messenger
Affirms that the Quran was conveyed by an honorable celestial envoy: Archangel Gabriel (Jibril), praised as endowed with supreme power, ranked in high authority before the Throne of God, obeyed by the ranks of angels, and entirely trustworthy.
Transliteration
Thee quwwatin AAinda thee alAAarshi makeenin
Translation
Endowed with power, eminent with the Lord of the Throne
Transliteration
MutaAAin thamma ameenin
Translation
Obeyed and honest
Transliteration
Wama sahibukum bimajnoonin
Translation
Your friend is not possessed
Reassures the Meccan public that their lifelong compatriot Muhammad ﷺ—whom they had known personally for forty years as the most honest and balanced man among them—was completely sane and devoid of madness.
Transliteration
Walaqad raahu bialofuqi almubeeni
Translation
He saw him on the luminous horizon
Transliteration
Wama huwa AAala alghaybi bidaneenin
Translation
And He does not withhold knowledge of the Unseen
Transliteration
Wama huwa biqawli shaytanin rajeemin
Translation
And it is not the word of an accursed devil
Transliteration
Faayna tathhaboona
Translation
So where are you heading
Transliteration
In huwa illa thikrun lilAAalameena
Translation
It is only a Reminder to all mankind
Transliteration
Liman shaa minkum an yastaqeema
Translation
To whoever of you wills to go straight
Transliteration
Wama tashaoona illa an yashaa Allahu rabbu alAAalameena
Translation
But you cannot will, unless God wills—The Lord of the Worlds