Surah At-Takweer, also known as Idha As-Shamsu Kuwwirat, is unanimously regarded as a Makkan surah. It consists of twenty-nine verses and is among the earliest chapters revealed in the Qur'an. It is the sixth or seventh chapter in the order of revelation, following Surah Al-Faatihah and preceding Surah Al-A'laa.
Imam Ahmad and At-Tirmidhi narrated from Ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah Peace Upon him said:
"Whoever wishes to look at the Day of Resurrection as though he is seeing it with his own eyes, let him recite Idha As-Shamsu Kuwwirat (When the sun is folded up), Idha As-Samaa Infatarat (When the heaven is cleft asunder), and Idha As-Samaa Inshaqqat (When the heaven is split asunder)".
Upon contemplating this noble surah, one observes that its first half presents the signs and indicators of the Day of Resurrection in a strikingly impactful manner that evokes fear and awe in the hearts. In its second half, it emphasizes that the Qur'an is undoubtedly from Allah, the Exalted, and not the speech of humans, and that it was revealed by Jibreel, the trustworthy, upon the heart of the Prophet peace upon him.
The word "Idhaa" (When) is repeated twelve times in these verses, with the response to these conditional clauses being:
{عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَّا أَحْضَرَتْ}
"A soul will [then] know what it has brought [with it]."
This repeated use of "Idhaa" serves the purpose of building suspense for the response, as the listener becomes increasingly eager to hear the answer after encountering the repeated conditional phrase. When the answer is finally revealed, it deeply resonates within the listener.
The word "shams" (sun) is in the nominative case, serving as the subject of an implied verb clarified by what follows. In essence, "Idhaa kuwwirat As-shams" means, "When the sun is folded up."
The original meaning of takweer is the wrapping of something in a circular manner. For example, one says, "Kawwartu Al-imama" (I wrapped the turban) to indicate its being coiled around.
The author of Al-Kashaf mentioned two interpretations of takweer:
The first is that it refers to wrapping the light of the sun, which results in the disappearance of its spread and radiance across the horizons. This expression symbolizes its removal and obliteration. As long as the sun remains, its light extends unwrapped.
The second interpretation is that its wrapping symbolizes its removal and covering, similar to the statement of Allah Almighty:
{يَوْمَ نَطْوِي السَّمَاءَ}
"The Day when We will fold the heaven..."
Thus, when the light of the sun is removed after its spread, it becomes dark after being luminous, and veiled after being manifest.
Abdulwahab Ibn Yusuf Isah
Qur'an Chronicles
