Commentary on Sūrat al-Infitār (The Cleaving)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

“When the sky is split open; when the stars are scattered; when the seas burst forth; when the graves are overturned; every soul will know what it sent ahead and left behind. O man! What has deceived you concerning your Generous Lord, who created you, fashioned you, and proportioned you, composing you in whatever form He willed? No indeed! Rather, you deny the Judgment, though there are guardians over you—noble scribes—who know all that you do.”

The basmala has already been discussed.

“When the sky is split open” means that it will be rent asunder, as Allah, Exalted is He, says:

“When the sky is split open and obeys its Lord, as it must” [al-Inshiqāq: 1, 2].

“When the stars are scattered” means that all the stars, large and small, will be scattered, dispersed, and will fall, for the world will have come to an end.

“When the seas burst forth” means that they will burst into one another and the earth will be flooded.

“When the graves are overturned” means that the dead within them will be brought forth until they stand before Allah, Mighty and Majestic.

When these four events occur, “every soul will know what it sent ahead and left behind.” The word “soul” is indefinite here, but it conveys universality; the meaning is that every soul will know what it sent ahead and left behind. This will occur through the record presented to it. Allah has fastened every person’s deeds to his neck, and on the Day of Resurrection He will bring forth for him a record which he will find spread open:

“Read your record. Today your own soul is sufficient to call you to account.”

On that Day the evildoers will say:

“What is the matter with this record? It leaves nothing small or great without having counted it.”

Thus, a person will know what he sent ahead and left behind, whereas he