Quran: At-Takweer (The Folding Up)
Background
At-Takweer is Surah number 81 in the Quran. The word At-takweer means to gather one part of something with another part (folding). This surah was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Mekkah during the very early days of Islam. This surah describes many of the events that will take place on the Day of Judgement. Imam Ahmad recorded from Ibn 'Umar that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever wishes to look at the Day of Judgement as if he is seeing it with his own eyes then let him read this surah."
Events Taking Place on the Day of Judgement
The Sun will be rolled up
The Sun will be rolled up
The sun on the day of judgement will be rolled up. One part of the sun will be folded up into the other part. Then it will be rolled up and thrown away. When this is done, its light will go away. Al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) recorded from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet said: "The sun and the moon will be rolled up on the Day of Judgement."
The Stars will be dispersed, Mountains will Fall and The Earth will Move
Ar-Rabi' bin Anas reported from Abu Al-'Aliyah, who reported from Ubayy bin Ka'b that he said, "Six things will take place on the Day of Judgement. The people will be in their marketplaces when the sun's light will go away. When they are in that situation, the stars will be scattered. When they are in that situation, the mountains will fall down upon the face of the earth, and the earth will move, quake and be in a state of mixed up confusion. So the Jinns will then flee in fright to the humans and the humans will flee in fright to the Jinns.
The Creatures will Gather and The Blazing of the Seas
The domestic beasts, birds and wild animals will mix together, and they will surge together in a wave of chaos. Then he went on to say, "The Jinns will say, 'We come to you with news.' So they will all go to the sea, and it will be a blazing fire. While they are in that state, the earth will be split with one huge crack from the lowest, seventh earth, to the highest, seventh heaven. So while they are in that state, a wind will come that will kill all of them."
Abandoning of the Pregnant She-Camels
'Ishar is a type of camel. It is actually the best type of camel, and particularly the pregnant females of them when they reach the tenth month of their pregnancies. So the people will be too busy to tend this camel, take care of her or benefit from her, after she used to be the most impotant thing to them. This will be due to what will suddenly overtake them of the great, terrifying, horrible situation. It is because of the arrival of the Day of Judgement.
Joining of the Souls
Every kind of soul will be gathered with its peer (or mate). Also, the prophet (peace be upon him said) that: Every kind of man will be with every group of people who performed the same deeds that he did. This is because Allah says in the Quran that mankind and jinn will be in split into three groups: Those on the right hand, those on the left hand, and those who are alike.
Questioning of the Female Infant Who was Buried Alive
In verse 8, Al-Mawudah is the female infant that the people of the pre-Islamic time of ignorance would bury in the dirt due to their hatred of girls. Therefore, on the Day of Judgement, the female infant will be asked what sin she committed that caused her to be murdered. This will be a means of frightening her murder. Ibn 'Abbas said that "she will ask, meaning she will demand restitution for her blood." There was a man at the time of the prophet (peace be upon him) named Qays bin 'Asem who buried some of his daughters alive in the pre-Islamic time. The prophet (peace be upon him) told him to free a slave for each of them, but when the man said he owns camels the prophet (peace be upon him) told him to slaughter a camel for each of them.
The Distribution of the Pages
Ad-Dahhak said, "Every person will be given his paper in his right hand or in his left hand." If a person's book of deeds falls in his right hand then he has received glad tidings of paradise. But if a person's book of deeds falls in his left hand or behind his back then Allah has stated that he will enter hell-fire. It has been stated that the moment when a person is looking up at the sky waiting to see which hand his book will fill into will cause his hair to turn white. This moment signifies each person's destiny and their eternal happiness or punishment.
Removing of the Heavens, Kindling of the Fire, and Paradise brought near
As-suddi has stated that verse 11 means that the heaven will be stripped off. In verse 12, As-suddi comments that this means that the fire will be heated. Ad-dahhak, Abu Malik, Qatadah, and Ar-Rabi' bin Khuthaym all said regarding verse 13 that paradise will be brought near to its inhabitants.
Every Person will know what has done in his life
At the moment when all of these horrific events occur, each person will know what they have done of good and evil in their lives. Allah states that every person will be confronted with all the good he has done, and all the evil he has done, he will wish there was a great distance between him and his evil.
Jibril Descended with the Quran and it is not Insanity
In this chapter Allah states that this Qur'an is being revealed by a noble messenger, which is referring to an honorable angel, who has good character and radiant appereance, and that is Jibreel. It is also stated that Jibreel is mighty in creation, mighty in strength, and mighty in actions. Also it is said that Jibreel has a high status and lofty rank with Allah and is prestigious and obeyed among the most high gathering of angels. This means he is not one of the low ranking angels, rather he is from the high ranking angels who is prestigious, respected, and has been chosen for the delivery of the Quran and other divine books. During the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be upon him) he saw Jibreel in his original form and stated that he has six-hundred wings. Allah also states in other parts of the Quran that the Prophet (peace be upon him) is not stingy in conveying the revelation and is not following false conjecture about what Allah revealed. Rathers, he conveyed the Quran and Islam to everyone and did not withold it from the people.
The Quran is a Reminder For All Worlds and Is not From Shaytan
Allah says in this surah that the Quran is not from shaytan, who is not able to produce such a miracle. Allah addresses people and tells them that this is a reminder for all of mankind for whoever wishes to follow the true guidance. Finally, Allah is the one who guides whomever he wills and it is not in our capability to even guide our ownselves if it was not for Allah's will. And All praise be to Allah.
Removing of the Heavens, Kindling of the Fire, and Paradise brought near
As-suddi has stated that verse 11 means that the heaven will be stripped off. In verse 12, As-suddi comments that this means that the fire will be heated. Ad-dahhak, Abu Malik, Qatadah, and Ar-Rabi' bin Khuthaym all said regarding verse 13 that paradise will be brought near to its inhabitants.
Every Person will know what has done in his life
At the moment when all of these horrific events occur, each person will know what they have done of good and evil in their lives. Allah states that every person will be confronted with all the good he has done, and all the evil he has done, he will wish there was a great distance between him and his evil.
Jibril Descended with the Quran and it is not Insanity
In this chapter Allah states that this Qur'an is being revealed by a noble messenger, which is referring to an honorable angel, who has good character and radiant appereance, and that is Jibreel. It is also stated that Jibreel is mighty in creation, mighty in strength, and mighty in actions. Also it is said that Jibreel has a high status and lofty rank with Allah and is prestigious and obeyed among the most high gathering of angels. This means he is not one of the low ranking angels, rather he is from the high ranking angels who is prestigious, respected, and has been chosen for the delivery of the Quran and other divine books. During the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be upon him) he saw Jibreel in his original form and stated that he has six-hundred wings. Allah also states in other parts of the Quran that the Prophet (peace be upon him) is not stingy in conveying the revelation and is not following false conjecture about what Allah revealed. Rathers, he conveyed the Quran and Islam to everyone and did not withold it from the people.
The Quran is a Reminder For All Worlds and Is not From Shaytan
Allah says in this surah that the Quran is not from shaytan, who is not able to produce such a miracle. Allah addresses people and tells them that this is a reminder for all of mankind for whoever wishes to follow the true guidance. Finally, Allah is the one who guides whomever he wills and it is not in our capability to even guide our ownselves if it was not for Allah's will. And All praise be to Allah.
