Surah Al-Tariq Ramadan 2017

Surah At-Tariq Ramadan 2017
•	 The beginning of the surah, you can tell there is a link between this surah and surah buruj.
•	 In the previous surah, it was discussing of the stories of the armies of Firoun and Thamud, feeling that they can get away with crimes, but had been destroyed. Allah had been watching them.
•	In a sense, ordinary people could be oppressing others around them, be it family and/or friends.
•	Ayah 1 “By [the oath of] the sky and by that which appears by night”
•	The Arabs in the desert were mesmerised by the beauty of the stars. In the modern day, it’s hard to find places where stars are visible, due to light pollution. The Arabs were able to see the constellations every night.
•	The “by that which appears by night” could relate to shooting stars.
•	Allah could’ve specified this ayah but sometimes He leaves information out, so we can ponder. Allah is a teacher, and like in Surah Ar-Rahman, Allah says in order, Ar-Rahman, He taught the Quran. He mentioned taught the Quran before mentioning the creation of man, showing its importance on mankind.
•	Ayah 2 “How will you know what is that appears by night”
•	Ayah 3 “It is a bright [piercing] star”
•	The star which pierces through the darkness, over the landscape. You could compare those stars to angels, watching over you.
•	The Quran, being the light in the time of darkness. The Quran transformed the nations.
•	Ayah 4 “There is no soul without a watcher [an angel] appointed over it [to keep record of all its actions]”
•	This ayah can be interpreted as a straight road [path] which can’t be cut off.
•	 Allah doesn’t need to mention of the Day of Judgement as it implies, due to being watched by angels.
•	Ayah 5 “[if] Man [doubts the coming of Qiyaamah] should think about what he was created from.”
•	Ayah 6 “He was created from spurting fluid [semen]”
•	Ayah 7 “Emerging from between the backbone and the chest”
•	This could refer to the time in which birth is taking place. Others refer this ayah to the loins of man and women’s chest but the birth makes sense as scientifically, the semen doesn’t come from the backbone nor chest. When a baby is pushed out, it does come between the backbone and the chest.
•	The way people will be resurrected by the rain, rain bringing life to the dead soil, humans emerge from the mother.
•	Ayah 8 “Verily [just as Allah has the power to create man from nothing] Allah [also] has the power to raise him [on the day of Qiyaamah]
•	Allah has the ability to bring people back, summoning them for accountability.
•	Ayah 9 “[The Day of Qiyaamah will be] The day when secrets will be examined [people will be rewarded or punished”
•	The secrets of the people will be put on trial, to distinguish the good and bad among them. The secrets relate to the intention in the heart, which only Allah knows of.
•	Ayah 10 “They shall then neither be any power [to defend] nor assistant for man [against Allah’s punishment]”
•	Original meaning of strength was to be able to break through something, like a bird hatching from its egg.
•	No man will have the strength to do act upon their whims on that day. There will be no path for escape.
•	Ayah 11 “By [the oath of] the sky from which rain falls”
•	The first oath, the sky being used as a witness. The second oath, the sky which brings back life with rain. Analogy is the recognise that to understand the hereafter, you need to realise that you’re being observed and that you’ll be brought back to life.
•	Ayah 12 “and the Earth which cleaves [opens to make way for sprouting plants]”
•	The same way the Earth splits open for life, a human does when giving birth.
•	 Water can be related to the revelation of the Quran. Those who use it can create life [Imaan in the heart] or it could go wasted. Example: Water can rain onto soil or even concrete. The water that soaks into the soil can blossom life but the concrete [like a heart of stone] will not gain anything from it.
•	Ayah 13 “It [The Quran] is definitely a decisive speech [which differentiates falsehood from truth]
•	This ayah reinforces the idea that the importance of rain to the Earth, the Quran is important for mankind.
•	Ayah 14 “and it isn’t for amusement [I.e. not to be taken lightly]”
•	The Quran is powerful and the powerless disbelievers will continuously to reject.
•	Ayah 15 “They [the disbelievers] are certainly conniving [busy making] plots [to oppose Islam, making the message of Islam seem weak and false]
•	When the disbelievers have no evidence to prove that the Quran is false, they resort to insulting it. This is a tactic to mislead people.
•	Ayah 16 “And I [Allah] am also planning something [to ensure that their plots ultimately fails]
•	Allah doesn’t even need to emphasis the plot He is making. Allah only needs 1 plan to undo every plan they will ever create.
•	Ayah 17 “So give the disbelievers respite [allow them a short period from punishment]. Grant them respite for a while [for they will soon suffer terribly for their evils]
•	Allah is telling Muhammad (SAW) to forgive these people now as the love of Allah for Muhammad (SAW) is immense, for He has given him more power than any of the other prophets. Muhammad (SAW) had been sad about his opposition, the position in which he was in. The previous prophets complained to Allah, and nations were destroyed. Just by feeling some anger, angels would be at the ready to destroy nations.
•	In the previous surah, Allah mentions that He is Most Forgiving, Most Loving, and now this is Muhammad (SAW)’s turn to try and be like Allah.
•	 This ayah could be seen as one of the sources of Muhammad (SAW) humility. He deals with all the struggles and knows that a lot is happening under his watch but he should forgive and put trust in Allah. Allah says to give them more time, and he listens to Allah. Allah will take justice in the future.