NAME: الإنشقاق, Al-Inshiqaq.
Name taken from Verse 1 where there is a mention of the word ”Shaqqat” from which the word Inshiqaq is derived.
١ إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انْشَقَّتْ
1 When the sky has split [open]
But It does not mean that this name is the actual topic discussed in the whole Surah. It is just a reference and mark/symbol to distinguish this Surah from others as is with most other Surahs of Quran. While there are diversified topics discussed in these Surahs.
ENGLISH NAME: The Bursting Open/The Rupture.
CHAPTER NUMBER: 84
SURAH INSHIQAQ TOTAL VERSES: 25
SURAH INSHIQAQ TOTAL WORDS: 108
TOTAL UNIQUE WORDS WITHOUT REPETITION: 91
TOTAL LETTERS: 445
REVELATION PERIOD:
Meccan, Approx. 613 – 616 AD.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
God, Mankind, Those given their record in right hand, Those given their record From behind back.
SURAH INSHIQAQ MAIN TOPICS:
Description of The Last Day, Those given their record in right hand Will Be Happy, Those given their record From behind back Will be Doomed.
SURAH INSHIQAQ KEY VERSES:
١ إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انْشَقَّتْ
1 When the sky has split [open]
٢ وَأَذِنَتْ لِرَبِّهَا وَحُقَّتْ
2 And has responded to its Lord and was obligated [to do so]
٣ وَإِذَا الْأَرْضُ مُدَّتْ
3 And when the earth has been extended
٤ وَأَلْقَتْ مَا فِيهَا وَتَخَلَّتْ
4 And has cast out that within it and relinquished [it]
٧ فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ
7 Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand,
٩ وَيَنْقَلِبُ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ مَسْرُورًا
9 And return to his people in happiness.
١٩ لَتَرْكَبُنَّ طَبَقًا عَنْ طَبَقٍ
19 [That] you will surely experience state after state.
SUMMARY OF TOPICS
1-5(Description of The Last Day: Heaven Will Split, Earth Will Empty Its Burden, Heaven And Earth Will Obey God’s Command In Truth), 6-9(Mankind, indeed you are laboring toward your Lord, Those Tried Well To Meet Their Lord, Will Get Their Deeds In Right Hand, They Will Happily Return To Their Family),10-15(Those Given Their Records From Behind Their Back, They Doomed, And Will Burn In Blaze),16-19(Swear By Twilight, Moon And Night: Mankind Will Travel & Experience Events Stage By Stage, Plane By Plane), 20-25(Tidings Of Punishment And Reward)
SURAH INSHIQAQ BRIEF COMMENTARY & BACKGROUND
This Surah has 25 verses. It takes its name from verse 1: “إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انْشَقَّتْ” (When the sky has split [open]) where the word “شَقَّتْ” from which the word “الإنشقاق” is derived meaning “The Bursting Open/The Rupture” appears. This Surah was revealed in Mecca most probably during the early days of Muhammad’s proclamation of his Prophethood.
Ahmad bin Hanbal recorded from Ibn Umar that the Prophet of God said, One who likes to see the Day of Judgment as if he is seeing it with his eyes, then let him read “إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ” Surah Takwir, and “إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انْفَطَرَتْ” Surah Infitar and “إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انْشَقَّتْ” Surah Inshiqaq.
The Surah begins with a mighty opening and narrates a description of the Last Day; This is followed by an address to Mankind and their meeting with their Lord on the Judgement Day. Those given their record in the right hand will be happy. Those given their record from behind back will be doomed.
There is also a prostration of recitation in this Surah. As per ahadith and traditions, Prophet Muhammed had prostrated when reciting this chapter, particularly after the verse 21 “وَإِذَا قُرِئَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقُرْآنُ لَا يَسْجُدُونَ” “And when the Quran is recited to them, they do not prostrate [to Allah]?”
Recorded by Nasai and Muslim on the authority of Malik and Bukhari recorded from Abu Rafi that he prayed the Night prayer with Abu Hurairah recited, إِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ ٱنشَقَّتۡ When the heaven is split asunder.) Then Abu Hurairah prostrated. So Abu Rafi asked him about it. Abu Hurayrah replied, “I prostrated behind Abul Qasim (The Prophet ), and I will never cease prostrating during its recitation until I meet him.”
