Surah Inshiqaq

Surah Inshiqaq (سورة الانشقاق) or Inshaqqat (انشقت) is one of the chapters of the 30^th juz’ of the Quran  and with many chapters of this part of the Quran, it also addresses the important topic of Qiyamah and the Hereafter and the events that will precede and happen on that day.

Facts about Surah Inshiqaq

Arabic Text and Translation of Surah Inshiqaq

The topics covered in this article are:

Benefits of Reciting Surah Inshiqaq

1. Forgiveness of Sins: Prophet Muhammad has said, “Whoever performs four units of prayer, that is, two two-unit prayers and recites surah Inshiqaq after surah Fatiha in each unit, his sins will be forgiven like the day he was born. And, Allah will give him the reward of a year of worship for every letter of the Quran that he recites. ²
2. Ease of Childbirth: His holiness has also said, if surah Inshiqaq is written and worn around the neck of a woman who is giving birth, or is recited to her, she will give birth soon. ³

Heralding Qiyamah in Surah Inshiqaq

إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انشَقَّتْ ﴿1﴾

When the sky is split open

وَأَذِنَتْ لِرَبِّهَا وَحُقَّتْ ﴿2﴾

And gives ear to its Lord as it should.

وَإِذَا الْأَرْضُ مُدَّتْ ﴿3﴾

When the earth is spread out

وَأَلْقَتْ مَا فِيهَا وَتَخَلَّتْ ﴿4﴾

And throws out what is in it, emptying itself,

These four verses of Surah Inshiqaq are mentioning some of the events that will take place prior to Qiyamah.

The Splitting of the Sky in Surah Inshiqaq

Imagine a space where there are hundreds of balls, big and small tied together and turning on their own axis and circling each other at specific distances. If a huge explosion takes place, these balls will burst and scatter in the air. It seems the rendering apart of the skies will be something like this. ⁴

According to a narration from Ali bin Abi Taleb (peace be on him), the sky will be rendered apart from the galaxies. ⁵

What Does the Word Izn (اذن) Mean?

The word ‘izn’ (إذن), lexically, does not mean to give permission; rather, it means to listen and the use of this word for listening is metaphorical to indicate submission and obedience.

The word ‘huqqat’ (حُقَّت) indicates that the sky becomes worthy and true in listening and obeying the commands of God.

The verse, therefore, means that the sky submits and obeys God and therefore, is worthy and true in listening and obeying the commands of God. ⁶

Unearthing that Hidden in the Earth

In Surah Zalzalah, it has been stated:

إِذا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزالَها ﴿1﴾

When the earth is shaken with its [final] earthquake

وَ أَخْرَجَتِ الْأَرْضُ أَثْقالَها ﴿2﴾

and the earth discharges its burdens, ⁷

What we understand from these verses and the aforementioned verses of Surah Inshiqaq is that the earth will be stretched out and will throw out that which has been hidden within it; like the dead and other things. It is also possible the discharging may refer to the resurrection and coming out of the graves of the dead as is mentioned in the following verse in Surah Maarij:

يَوْمَ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ الْأَجْدَاثِ سِرَاعًا … ﴿43﴾

The day when they emerge from graves, hastening… ⁸ , ⁹

Resurrection and Reckoning in Surah Inshiqaq

The following verses discuss how all creation and man is moving towards God and the Day of Reckoning

Moving on a Course towards God

يَا أَيُّهَا الْإِنسَانُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدْحًا فَمُلَاقِيهِ ﴿6﴾

O man! You are labouring toward your Lord laboriously, and you will encounter Him.

The end point of man’s life and journey is reaching God, i.e. reaching either His punishments or His rewards and arriving at a point where there is no judgment or dominance except that of God.

In the same way that the sky and the earth are subjugated to God’s will; man is also subjugated to His will and must continue this journey. This verse is also a consequent to the word ‘iza’ (إذا) to mean when, which was repeated in the previous verses and indicates that when those events are realized, man will meet God and will receive his deserved rewards or punishment. ¹⁰

The Book of Deeds of the Good Doers in Surah Inshiqaq

فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ ﴿7﴾

Then, as for him who is given his record [of deeds] in his right hand,

فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا ﴿8﴾

He will receive an easy reckoning,

وَيَنقَلِبُ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ مَسْرُورًا ﴿9﴾

And he will return to his folks joyfully.

The issue of the record or book of deeds being given in the right or left hand has been mentioned in many verses of the Quran.

The easy reckoning mentioned in the verse of Surah Inshiqaq is a reckoning without any dispute or dissension. Perhaps the angels will only suffice at seeing if the book of deeds is in the right hand.

In a narration from Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir (peace be on him) it has been narrated that the Prophet (peace be on him and his household) has said that every reckoned person will be uncomfortable and tormented. A person asked, O prophet of God! Then what does ‘he will receive an easy reckoning’ mean? He replied, it is that it (his book of deeds) will only be opened. ¹¹

The word ‘ahl’ (أهل) refers to the people that a believer will live with in Heaven, like the Heavenly partners (Hoor (حور) and Gilman (غلمان) ). ¹²

The Book of Deeds of the Evil Doers in Surah Inshiqaq

وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِهِ ﴿10﴾

But as for him who is given his record from behind his back,

إِنَّهُ ظَنَّ أَن لَّن يَحُورَ ﴿14﴾

And he thought that he would never return.

بَلَىٰ إِنَّ رَبَّهُ كَانَ بِهِ بَصِيرًا ﴿15﴾

Yes, his Lord had been watching him.

The evil doers will be given their book of deeds from behind their back. And if this is different from what is mentioned in other verses which indicate that they will be given their book of deeds in their left hand, it must be noted that Qiyamah has many stations and not just one or two.

The evil doers would become happy when they received something of the world and their hearts were pulled by worldly adornments and this is why they forgot the Hereafter and due to this God is admonishing these people.

They thought they would never return to Him for reckoning and to receive their just rewards and this is because they were drowning in sins which made them forget the Hereafter. However, God’s knowledge always encompasses us and He knows what we do and therefore, whatever good or bad we will certainly receive the determined rewards or punishments for them. ¹³

Admonishing the Disbelievers in Surah Inshiqaq

لَتَرْكَبُنَّ طَبَقًا عَن طَبَقٍ ﴿19﴾

You will surely fare from stage to stage.

فَمَا لَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿20﴾

What is the matter with them that they will not believe,

وَإِذَا قُرِئَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقُرْآنُ لَا يَسْجُدُونَ ۩ ﴿21﴾

And will not prostrate when the Quran is recited to them?

The first of these verses is a consequent to the oaths used in the verses prior to this and is addressing man. The word ‘tabaq’ (طَبَق) in the verse refers to the stages of life that man traverses in his journey towards God, i.e. the worldly life, death, Barzakh (برزخ) which is the life between the worldly life and the Hereafter, and finally Qiyamah and reckoning.

The question in the next verse is to show amazement for the disbelief of the disbelievers and is admonishing them. Perhaps the reason why the verse changes the address from direct to indirect and speaks instead to the Prophet is because it is as though when God sees that the disbelievers are not heeding His words and reminders, He turns away from them and addresses the prophet instead. ¹⁴

God is All-Aware

بَلِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يُكَذِّبُونَ ﴿22﴾

Indeed, the faithless impugn [the Apostle],

وَاللَّـهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يُوعُونَ ﴿23﴾

And Allah knows best what they keep to themselves.

The reason why the disbelievers and deniers turned away from faith and belief was not because the Prophet was unable or his proofs were not sufficient; rather, it was because the disbelievers adhered to the traditions of their predecessors and ancestors and this is why they disbelieved and continued in their denial.

However, God is aware of what is in their hearts and knows of the disbelief and hypocrisy that they have hidden in them. ¹⁵

As a result, as the next verse states, a severe punishment awaits them; however, a great reward awaits those who believe and do good deeds.

Summary of Surah Inshiqaq

Surah Inshiqaq or Inshaqqat is narrating the incidents that will take place before Qiyamah – like the splitting of the sky and the earth spitting out what is within it, and on Qiyamah. One of the important events on that day is that the doers of good and evil will be given their book of deeds; the good doers in their right hand the evil doers from behind their back.

The chapter then admonishes the disbelievers for their denial and states the reason for it as them adhering to the traditions of their predecessors and informs of the grave punishment that awaits them and the reward that is for the good doers.