Surah Al-Infitar — Translation & Commentary

A’udhu billahi minash-shaitanir-rajim

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim

1. Idha as-samaa’un fatarat

When the sky breaks apart

2. Wa idhal-kawakibu intatharat

When the stars scatter

3. Wa idhal-biharu fujjirat

When the seas burst forth

4. Wa idhal-qubooru bu’thirat

And when the graves are overturned

5. Alimat nafsun ma qaddamat wa akhkharat

At that time every soul will know what it sent forth and what it left behind

6. Ya ayyuhal-insanu ma gharraka bi-Rabbikal-kareem

O man! What has deceived you concerning your Generous Lord?

7. Alladhi khalaqaka fa sawwaka fa’adalak

Who created you, proportioned you, and gave you balance

8. Fee ayyi sooratin ma sha’a rakkabak

In whatever form He willed, He assembled you

9. Kalla bal tukadhdhiboona bid-deen

No indeed! But you deny the Judgment

10. Wa inna alaykum lahafizheen

And indeed, over you are appointed watchers (angels)

11. Kiraman katibeen

Noble ones, recording

12. Ya’lamoona ma taf’aloon

They know whatever you do

13. Innal-abrara lafee na’eem

Indeed, the righteous will be in bliss

14. Wa innal-fujjara lafee jaheem

And indeed, the wicked will be in the Blazing Fire

15. Yaslawnaha yawmad-deen

They will enter it on the Day of Recompense

16. Wa ma hum anha bighaa’ibeen

And they will not be absent from it

17. Wa ma adraka ma yawmud-deen

And what can make you know what the Day of Recompense is?

18. Thumma ma adraka ma yawmud-deen

Again, what can make you know what the Day of Recompense is?

19. Yawma la tamliku nafsul-linafsin shay’a, wal-amru yawma’idhil-lillah

It is the Day when no soul will be of any help to another soul, and the command that Day will belong entirely to Allah

Commentary on Surah Al-Infitar

Verses 1-4: When the sky splits open, the stars break apart and scatter, the calmly-flowing seas erupt into turmoil, and the graves are broken open in such a way that their lower layers come to the surface and the dead are brought out from within them.

Verse 5: “What it sent forth” refers to the deeds a person did in this world and sent ahead — stored for the Hereafter. “What it left behind” refers to the deeds a person should have done but didn’t, leaving them undone in this world.

Verse 7: This means Allah Ta’ala took full care in creating you — making small what needed to be small, and large what needed to be large. The human body needs many things in the right balance, like salt and sugar, stone and iron, lime and clay — too much or too little of any of these is harmful. Keeping all of this in mind, the human being was created in perfect balance.

Verse 8: Meaning, He made whoever He willed male, and whoever He willed female.

Verse 9: Meaning, one should not be deceived about Allah’s power into thinking He cannot bring people back to life again.

Verse 10: Those are the angels who continuously record all of a person’s deeds, and from this their record of deeds (a’maal-nama) is prepared.

Verses 13-19: From here begins the mention of the people of Jannah and the people of Jahannam.