View source for At-Tariq

{{Short description|86th chapter of the Qur'an}}
{{infobox surah
| number         = 86
| number-3       = 086
| name           = Aṭ-Ṭāriq
| name-ar        = الطارق
| name-en        = The Night Star
| prev_sura      = Quran 85
| next_sura      = Quran 87
| classification = Meccan
| othernames-ar  = <!-- alternate Arabic names -->
| othernames     = The Bright Star, The Night-Star, That Which Comes in the Night, The Nightly Visitant, The Night-comer
| juz            = 30
| rukus          = <!-- if only one ruku, skip this field -->
| verses         = 17
| words          = 61
| letters        = 254
| muqattaat      = <!-- only if applicable -->
| sajdahs        = <!-- only if applicable -->
| audio          = Chapter 86, At-Tariq (Mujawwad) - Recitation of the Holy Qur'an.mp3
}}
{{Quran}}
'''Aṭ-Ṭāriq'''<ref name = "Quran 4 U">{{cite web|url=http://www.quran4u.com/Tafsir%20Ibn%20Kathir/086%20Tariq.htm  |title=Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Surah Al Tariq |work=Quran 4 U|author= Ibn Kathir|author-link= Ibn Kathir|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref> ({{langx|ar|الطارق}}, "'''the Morning Star'''", "Nightcomer"), is the [[List of chapters in the Quran|eighty-sixth]] ''[[sura]]'' of the [[Quran]], with 17 ''[[ayat]]'' or verses. Muslims believe this chapter was revealed in [[Mecca]] at a time when the disbelievers were employing all sorts of devices and plans to defeat and frustrate the message of the Quran and [[Muhammad]]. While traditional translations render Ṭāriq as “Morning Star” or “Nightcomer” (due to its appearance at night), the root meaning of “knocker” or “striker” has led some scholars{{Who|date=June 2025}} and readers to suggest that the term could be alluding to a pulsar star—an astronomical object that “knocks” or emits regular pulses.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025}}

==Summary==
*'''1-3''' Oath by the star of piercing brightness
*'''4''' Every soul has its guardian angel
*'''5-8''' God the Creator, and therefore can raise the dead
*'''9-10''' The judgment-day shall reveal secret thoughts
*'''11-14''' Oaths by heaven and earth that the Quran is God’s word
*'''15-17''' Muhammad exhorted to bear patiently with the unbelievers plotting his ruin <ref>{{cite book |last1=Wherry |first1=Elwood Morris |author1-link=Elwood Morris Wherry |title=A Complete Index to [[Sale's Text]], Preliminary Discourse, and Notes |date=1896 |publisher=Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co |location=London}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

== Exegesis ==
The name Al-Târiq refers to anything that arrives at night. The star is called Târiq because it appears during the night. Al-Najm Al-Thâqib refers to a shining star that pierces the darkness with its light. Some scholars interpret it as the Pleiades but it could also be a pulsar, while others suggest it may refer to any bright, penetrating star.<ref name=":0" />

The verse “Indeed, every soul has no guardian over it” means that no one has absolute authority over a soul—except that it has an angelic guardian who records its good and bad deeds.<ref name=":0" />

“The secrets will be tested”—this means that the hidden thoughts of the heart, including beliefs and intentions, will be exposed and judged. The word “secrets” (sarā’ir) is the plural of sarīrah, meaning concealed matters.

“By the sky with its recurring rains”—this refers to the sky that repeatedly brings down rain, sustaining life on Earth.

“By the earth with its fissures”—this refers to the cracks in the earth from which vegetation emerges.

“A decisive statement”—this refers to the Qur’an as a clear and final declaration that distinguishes truth from falsehood.

“And it is not in jest”—it is neither frivolous nor false; rather, it is profoundly serious and purposeful.

“They plot a plot”—referring to the disbelievers who devise schemes against the truth.

“And I plot a plot”—God counteracts their schemes, revealing the truth and nullifying their falsehood, even if they resent it. This emphasizes that ultimate power and victory belong to God, for human efforts are weak compared to divine wisdom and might.

“Give them respite a little”—they are granted a short period of reprieve, but they will soon face the consequences of their deeds when divine judgment arrives.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=بن عابد |first=مختار |date=2019 |title=التغير الدلالي في "تفسير غريب القرآن" لابن قتيبة |url=https://doi.org/10.38169/0661-025-002-006 |journal=اللسانيات |pages=131 |doi=10.38169/0661-025-002-006|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==Hadith==
According to [[hadith]], Muhammad used to recite this surah in [[Zuhr prayer]] and [[Asr prayer]].

* Jabir bin Samurah narrated: "For [[Zuhr prayer|Zuhr]] and [[Asr prayer|Asr]], Allah's Messenger would recite: By the heavens, holding the Buruj [[Al-Burooj|(Surah 85)]] and (By the heavens and At-Tariq) and similar to them."<ref>[[Sunan al-Tirmidhi]] 307
In-book reference	 : Book 2, Hadith 159
English translation	 : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 307</ref><ref>[[Sunan Abu Dawud]] 805
In-book reference	 : Book 2, Hadith 415
English translation	 : Book 3, Hadith 804</ref><ref>[[Sunan an-Nasa'i]] 979
In-book reference	 : Book 11, Hadith 104
English translation	 : Vol. 2, Book 11, Hadith 980</ref>

* Abu bin Ka’b reported that the prophet (peace be upon him) said “Whoever recites Surah At-Tariq, Allah will grant him rewards equal to the number of stars in the Sky, multiplied by Ten good deeds” 

* There is a narration from  Imam Sadiq which says “Anyone who recites Surah Tariq in his obligatory prayers will have a high rank with Allah in the Hereafter and will be the prophet’s close friend and companion in heaven”. “If recited before taking medicine, then the medicine will be a sure cure. The water in which this Surah has been dissolved should be poured gently on a wound and it will heal with the grace of Allah swt.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/86/7/ Q86:7], 50+ translations, islamawakened.com
*[https://quran.com/86 Quran 86] [[Clear Quran translation]]

{{Sura|86|[[Al-Burooj]]|[[Al-Ala]]}}{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Chapters in the Quran|Tariq]]
[[Category:Islamic eschatology]]
[[Category:Judgment in Islam]]