Sūrah Al-Inshiqāq The Sundering: Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī The Source Commentary

Surah Overview

DetailInformationClassificationSignificance

SurahالانشقاقMakkī 25 versesSky sundering, scroll handover, human stages, gradual divine process

Key DisagreementWhat does "ittaqa" (sky obeys) mean in 84:1–2?Cosmic obedienceAl-Ṭabarī: the sky's obedience to divine command for sundering traced through chains from Ibn ʿAbbās on the sky's submission to the command of its Lord

Competing OpinionsWhat are the "stages" (aṭwār) human passes through (84:19)?Human developmentAl-Ṭabarī: the stages of embryonic development from nutfah (drop) to ʿalaqah to muḍghah traced through chains from Ibn ʿAbbās and prophetic narrations

MethodologyConnecting embryological description to the broader argument for resurrectionDevelopment argument methodAl-Ṭabarī uses the human development stages as evidence: Allah who creates in stages can recreate the same divine power at work

Key Themes from Al-Ṭabarī

The scroll handover (84:7–12) right-hand receivers give glad tidings, left-hand/behind-back receivers call for destruction is analyzed by al-Ṭabarī through chains from Ibn ʿAbbās. The "behind the back" (min warāʾi ẓahrih) variant for the left-hand group is explained: they receive the scroll in their left hand, which is then placed behind their back in a position of shame. Al-Ṭabarī presents this physical position through chains as indicating the humiliation of the accounting for the wicked.

The "stage upon stage" verse (84:19) "You will surely travel from stage to stage" is analyzed through chains from Ibn ʿAbbās on the two interpretations: (1) the stages of human life (birth, infancy, youth, age, death, resurrection); (2) the stages of prophetic community development. Al-Ṭabarī's tarjīḥ: the stages of human development from nutfah to the resurrection a complete arc from origin to return, making resurrection the natural culmination.

إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انشَقَّتْ وَأَذِنَتْ لِرَبِّهَا وَحُقَّتْ Idhā l-samāʾu nshaqqat wa-adhnat li-rabbihā wa-ḥuqqat "When the sky has split open and has responded to its Lord and was obligated to." (84:1–2) Al-Ṭabarī analyzes "adhnat" (listened, obeyed) through chains the sky will respond to the divine command with the same submission it always has, but now the command is for the eschatological sundering.

فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا Fa-ammā man ūtiya kitābahu bi-yamīnihi fa-sawfa yuḥāsabu ḥisāban yasīrā "As for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will be judged with an easy account." (84:7–8) Al-Ṭabarī presents chains from Ibn ʿAbbās on "ḥisāb yasīr" (easy accounting): it means presented (ʿarḍ) without scrutiny the scroll is shown but the deeds are not examined point by point.

Easy accounting: Al-Ṭabarī's chain-based definition of "easy account" as "presentation without scrutiny" is one of his most precise eschatological definitions.
Behind-the-back shame: The physical position of the wicked receiving their scroll behind their back is analyzed as a gesture of shame through chains from Ibn ʿAbbās.
Stage-upon-stage development: Al-Ṭabarī's preferred interpretation the arc from nutfah to resurrection treats human development as itself an argument for resurrection.
Sky's obedience: The sky's "listening" (adhnat) is analyzed as willing submission to divine command the sky always obeys, and the eschatological command is simply the final one.
Moon stages: 84:18's oath by the moon and its phases is analyzed through chains on why the moon's phases serve as a divine sign consistent change according to a law.

Surah Overview

Key Themes from Al-Ṭabarī

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