81. At-Takwir (The Overthrowing) |
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Maududi's Introduction |
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It is derived from the word kuwwirat in the first verse. Kuwwirat is
passive voice from takvir in the past tense, and means "that which is
folded up", thereby implying that it is a Surah in which the "folding
up" has been mentioned:
The subject matter and the style clearly show that it is one of the
earliest Surahs to be revealed at Makkah.
It has two themes: the Hereafter and the institution of Apostleship.
In the first six verses the first stage of the Resurrection has been
mentioned when the sun will lose its light, the stars will scatter,
the mountains will be uprooted and will disperse, the people will
become heedless of their dearest possessions, the beasts of the jungle
will be stupefied and will gather together, and the seas will boil up.
Then in the next seven verses the second stage has been described when
the souls will be reunited with the bodies, the records will be laid
open, the people will be called to account for their crimes, the
heavens will be unveiled, and Hell and Heaven will be brought into
full view. After depicting the Hereafter thus, man has been left to
ponder his own self and deeds, saying: "Then each man shall himself
know what he has brought with him."
After this the theme of
Apostleship has been taken up. In this the people of Makkah have been
addressed, as if to say "Whatever Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace
and blessings) is presenting before you, is not the bragging of a
madman, nor an evil suggestion inspired by Satan, but the word of a
noble, exalted and trustworthy messenger sent by God, whom Muhammad
(upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings) has seen with his own eyes
in the bright horizon of the clear sky in broad day light. Whither
then are you going having turned away from this teaching?"
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