Sūrah Aṭ-Ṭāriq The Morning Star: Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī The Source Commentary

Surah Overview

DetailInformationClassificationSignificance

SurahالطارقMakkī 17 versesNight star oath, human origin, rain-resurrection analogy

Key DisagreementWhat is "al-ṭāriq" the morning star specifically or any night-appearing star?Star identityAl-Ṭabarī: any prominent star that appears at night "ṭāriq" means "that which comes at night"; some chains say it is Saturn specifically

Competing OpinionsWhat is "māʾin dāfiq" (poured water, 86:6)?Origin water identityAl-Ṭabarī: the seminal fluid from which humans are created through chains from Ibn ʿAbbās; the creation from water is the basis for resurrection

MethodologyUsing the rain-analogy to establish resurrection as equally natural to creationAnalogy + chain methodAl-Ṭabarī traces chains from Ibn ʿAbbās on the rain analogy: Allah who sends rain to dead earth can return life to dead humans

Key Themes from Al-Ṭabarī

The human origin argument (86:5–8) "Let man consider from what he was created he was created from a poured fluid, emerging from between the backbone and the ribs" is analyzed by al-Ṭabarī through chains from Ibn ʿAbbās: the "māʾin dāfiq" (poured water) is the seminal fluid. He traces chains on the anatomical reference to "backbone and ribs" some chains say this refers to the man's backbone and the woman's ribs (their respective roles in procreation); others say it describes the location of the fluid in the human body. Al-Ṭabarī presents both and prefers the interpretation that it refers to the man's backbone.

The rain analogy for resurrection (86:11–12) "By the sky that returns and the earth that splits" is analyzed through chains from Ibn ʿAbbās: the sky "returns" (dhāt al-rajʿ) because it sends rain back to the earth in cycles. This cyclical return of water to parched earth mirrors the resurrection: just as earth looks dead but receives water and revives, humans will receive the "rain" of divine power and revive after death. Al-Ṭabarī traces this through chains as a natural analogy embedded in the divine oath.

فَلْيَنظُرِ الْإِنسَانُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ خُلِقَ مِن مَّاءٍ دَافِقٍ Fa-l-yanẓuri l-insānu mimma khuliq khuliqa min māʾin dāfiq "Let man consider from what he was created he was created from a poured fluid." (86:5–6) Al-Ṭabarī traces chains from Ibn ʿAbbās identifying the "poured fluid" as seminal fluid, then uses this as the basis for the resurrection argument: if Allah created from this humble origin, recreating is even simpler.

وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الرَّجْعِ وَالْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ الصَّدْعِ Wa-l-samāʾi dhāti l-rajʿi wa-l-arḍi dhāti l-ṣadʿ "By the sky that returns and the earth that splits." (86:11–12) Al-Ṭabarī analyzes "dhāt al-rajʿ" (the one that returns) through chains from Ibn ʿAbbās: the sky returns rain to the earth the cyclical rain-revival pattern is the Quranic analogy for resurrection.

Anatomical analysis: Al-Ṭabarī's chain analysis of the "backbone and ribs" reference shows his engagement with the Quran's natural-world descriptions as literal and scientifically grounded.
Rain-resurrection analogy: The cyclical rain pattern is analyzed as the Quran's primary natural analogy for resurrection Allah's control of the water cycle proves His control over life and death.
Humble origin argument: Creation from seminal fluid → resurrection is analyzed as an a fortiori argument: if Allah can create something noble from something humble, recreating the noble is simpler.
Star identity: The "ṭāriq" is analyzed through chains al-Ṭabarī notes the chain from Ibn ʿAbbās that it is Saturn specifically, while acknowledging the more general "night-piercing star" interpretation.
Divine plan execution: 86:16's "they are planning a plan, and I am planning a plan" is analyzed through chains as a statement of divine surety: human schemes against the prophetic mission will be overturned by divine planning.

Surah Overview

Key Themes from Al-Ṭabarī

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