The Returning Sky

& The Returning Nafs 

The Nightcommer (86:1-17)

وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلطَّارِقِ ١

وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلطَّارِقُ ٢

ٱلنَّجْمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ ٣

إِن كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ لَّمَّا عَلَيْهَا حَافِظٌۭ ٤

فَلْيَنظُرِ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ ٥

خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٍۢ دَافِقٍۢ ٦

يَخْرُجُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ ٱلصُّلْبِ وَٱلتَّرَآئِبِ ٧

إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَجْعِهِۦ لَقَادِرٌۭ ٨

يَوْمَ تُبْلَى ٱلسَّرَآئِرُ ٩

فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن قُوَّةٍۢ وَلَا نَاصِرٍۢ ١٠

وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلرَّجْعِ ١١

وَٱلْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ ٱلصَّدْعِ ١٢

إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلٌۭ فَصْلٌۭ ١٣

وَمَا هُوَ بِٱلْهَزْلِ ١٤

إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًۭا ١٥

وَأَكِيدُ كَيْدًۭا ١٦

فَمَهِّلِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًۢا ١٧

[https://quran.com/86/1-17]

The Sky, atTariq (The Piercing Star), Guarded Nafs, Created from Water, Able to Return, Returning Sky, are some of the key points highlighted in the Arabic text of Surah atTariq quoted above.  

1. The Sky (وَٱلسَّمَآءِ) 
2. atTariq (The Piercing Star) ((وَٱلطَّارِقِ, (ٱلنَّجْمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ) 
3. Guarded Nafs (إِن كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ لَّمَّا عَلَيْهَا حَافِظٌۭ) 
4. Created from Water (خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٍۢ دَافِقٍۢ) 
5. Able to Return (إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَجْعِهِۦ لَقَادِرٌۭ) 
6. The Returning Sky (وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلرَّجْعِ)  

The Surah begins with an oath of The Sky (وَٱلسَّمَآءِ), and later in the surah, an oath is taken by The Returning Sky (وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلرَّجْعِ). 

We can observe the sky. We see it on a daily basis. Day and night, season after season. We see how it gradually changes from day to night, from long days to shorter days, from hot summers to cool winters, changing constellations in the night sky, returning every year at approximately the same places, at the same time, as if clockwork, literally. Sun, moon, clouds, rain, and the earth's changing landscape with the seasons heralded in the sky. 

The Surah, along with The Sky (وَٱلسَّمَآءِ) also takes an oath by atTariq (وَٱلطَّارِقِ), and knowing that we cannot comprehend it, explains that it is The Piercing Star ((وَٱلطَّارِقِ, (ٱلنَّجْمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ). Then, it informs us that on every soul (nafs), there is a guard. 

The Quran informs us that our Nafs is daily taken, during sleep, and returned to all who are to continue living. It is permanently removed at the time of death. The death is given to the soul, while the body consequently disintegrates and returns to the dust it was created with, losing all the water, unable to retain it in the cells of the body, vitally critical to its functioning. 

List of posts about Nafs

Like the sky and earth, we undergo various phases, both internally and externally.

Our body keeps changing as we grow and age. 

We also experience various situations throughout our life. 

The Quran also informs us that everything that happens to us depends on Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ 's decisions: the good is all from Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ , while the bad is due to our nafs. The Quran invites us to do 'tazkiya' of our nafs, that is: make it 'grow', by obeying Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ 's guidance, so that Allah restores our nafs to its original, pristine form of Nur, as it was before the Fall of Adam.   

So, is the nafs like the sky, and the body like the earth? 

During the day, we can see the sky. 

When our nafs is restored its Nur, shall we be surrounded by a light that makes everything visible? 

At night, we cannot see the sky itself, but we can see the bright objects that decorate it. 

Presently, we cannot see our nafs, as it is in a state of 'zulm' (darkness). 

Like the sky returns, so our nafs returns, daily. 

Is the nafs then an external cloak that adorns us when we are awake?  

As the nafs grows, our personal space increases. 

As the sky expands, so the spacetime continuum increases? 

...

Surah ashShams takes seven oaths by the Sun, the Moon, the Day, the Night, the Sky, the Earth, and the Nafs: 

The Sun (91:1-15)

وَٱلشَّمْسِ وَضُحَىٰهَا ١

وَٱلْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلَىٰهَا ٢

وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذَا جَلَّىٰهَا ٣

وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰهَا ٤

وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا بَنَىٰهَا ٥

وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا طَحَىٰهَا ٦

وَنَفْسٍۢ وَمَا سَوَّىٰهَا ٧

فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَىٰهَا ٨

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا ٩

وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّىٰهَا ١٠

كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِطَغْوَىٰهَآ ١١

إِذِ ٱنۢبَعَثَ أَشْقَىٰهَا ١٢

فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ نَاقَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَسُقْيَـٰهَا ١٣

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَدَمْدَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسَوَّىٰهَا ١٤

وَلَا يَخَافُ عُقْبَـٰهَا ١٥

[https://quran.com/91/1-15]

Translating and paraphrasing, according to the Arabic grammar: 

The Sun and her brightness, the Moon when he follows her, the Day when he reveals her, the Night when he covers her, the Sky and He who constructed her, the Earth and He who spread her, the Nafs and He who سَوَّىٰهَا her: He inspired her فُجُورَهَا and تَقْوَىٰهَا:

•  Successful is the one who makes her grow; 
• Unsuccessful is the one who stuns her.    

Denied the Thamud with their rebellious pride (transgression). When rose up the one who was the most wicked of them. Their Messenger from Allah said do not harm Allah's she-camel who is pregnant, and her right to drink. So, they belied him, and made her barren, so crushed them to the ground (فَدَمْدَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ), their Lord (رَبُّهُم), for their crime (بِذَنۢبِهِمْ), levelling all to the ground (فَسَوَّىٰهَا). He has no fear of the consequences. 

...

Notice Q91:7 (سَوَّىٰهَا) and Q91:14(فَسَوَّىٰهَا). Both contain the same word. Our nafs has been levelled with our body. It should be grown to make it successful. But, we cannot make it grow. What we can do is do acts of تَقْوَىٰهَا . Then, we can hope for Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ to make it grow and glow: 

The Star (53:32)

ٱلَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَـٰٓئِرَ ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّمَمَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَٰسِعُ ٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ إِذْ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِذْ أَنتُمْ أَجِنَّةٌۭ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ ٣٢

وہ لوگ جو بڑے بڑے گناہوں اور بےحیائی سے بچتے ہیں سوائے کچھ آلودگی کے۔ یقینا آپ کا ربّ بہت ہی وسیع مغفرت والا ہے۔ وہ تمہیں خوب جانتا ہے جبکہ اس نے تمہیں زمین سے اٹھایا اور جب کہ تم اپنی مائوں کے پیٹوں میں جنین کی شکل میں تھے۔ تو تم خود کو بہت پاکباز نہ ٹھہرائو۔ وہ اسے خوب جانتا ہے جو تقویٰ اختیار کرتا ہے۔

— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)

[https://quran.com/53/32]

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Last updated on: April 6, 2026

 

The Release of The Criminals

 ...

وَلَا تُفۡسِدُوۡا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ اِصۡلَاحِهَا وَادۡعُوۡهُ خَوۡفًا وَّطَمَعًا​ ؕ اِنَّ رَحۡمَتَ اللّٰهِ قَرِيۡبٌ مِّنَ الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ‏ ٥٦

Do not spread corruption in the land after it has been set in order. And call upon Him with hope and fear. Indeed, Allah’s mercy is always close to the good-doers.

[Al-Quran 7:56, Translation: Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran]

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ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا ٩٢

Then he followed a road

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ بَيْنَ ٱلسَّدَّيْنِ وَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمَا قَوْمًۭا لَّا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ قَوْلًۭا ٩٣

Till, when he came between the two mountains, he found upon their hither side a folk that scarce could understand a saying.

قَالُوا۟ يَـٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّۭا ٩٤

They said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Lo! Gog and Magog are spoiling the land. So may we pay thee tribute on condition that thou set a barrier between us and them?

قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّى فِيهِ رَبِّى خَيْرٌۭ فَأَعِينُونِى بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا ٩٥

He said: That wherein my Lord hath established me is better (than your tribute). Do but help me with strength (of men), I will set between you and them a bank.

ءَاتُونِى زُبَرَ ٱلْحَدِيدِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا سَاوَىٰ بَيْنَ ٱلصَّدَفَيْنِ قَالَ ٱنفُخُوا۟ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَعَلَهُۥ نَارًۭا قَالَ ءَاتُونِىٓ أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْرًۭا ٩٦

Give me pieces of iron - till, when he had levelled up (the gap) between the cliffs, he said: Blow! - till, when he had made it a fire, he said: Bring me molten copper to pour thereon.

فَمَا ٱسْطَـٰعُوٓا۟ أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟ لَهُۥ نَقْبًۭا ٩٧

And (Gog and Magog) were not able to surmount, nor could they pierce (it).

قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَحْمَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى جَعَلَهُۥ دَكَّآءَ ۖ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى حَقًّۭا ٩٨

He said: This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord cometh to pass, He will lay it low, for the promise of my Lord is true.

۞ وَتَرَكْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ يَمُوجُ فِى بَعْضٍۢ ۖ وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ فَجَمَعْنَـٰهُمْ جَمْعًۭا ٩٩

And on that day we shall let some of them surge against others, and the Trumpet will be blown. Then We shall gather them together in one gathering.

[Al-Quran 18:92-99, Translation: M. Pickthall]

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وَحَرَٰمٌ عَلَىٰ قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهَآ أَنَّهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ ٩٥

And it is prohibited to [the people of] a city which We have destroyed that they will [ever] return

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ وَهُم مِّن كُلِّ حَدَبٍۢ يَنسِلُونَ ٩٦

Until when [the dam of] Gog and Magog has been opened and they, from every elevation, descend

[Al-Quran 21:95-96, Translation: Saheeh International]

The Earth-corrupting Gog and Magog (يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ) were contained behind a barrier as a Mercy from Allah عزوجل. According to a Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he informed his companions that the Gog and Magog (يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ) are trying to dig a hole in the barrier built by Dhu al Qarnayn. Every day they try, and it repairs itself. Then, one day it will so happen that they will say, 

' Go back, and we will dig it tomorrow if Allah wills.' So they will say: "If Allah wills." ' 

, and they will succeed the very next day. So, these corrupt people, they also take the name of Allah. Then, what about the so many people in our world who also take the name of Allah, and Allah allows their efforts to bear fruit? There are many criminals in our world causing a lot of corruption and other troubles for everyone on Earth. As it states in Surah al-Baqarah about a type of pilgrim: 

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُۥ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلْبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلْخِصَامِ ٢٠٤

There is the type of man whose speech about this world's life May dazzle thee, and he calls Allah to witness about what is in his heart; yet is he the most contentious of enemies.

وَإِذَا تَوَلَّىٰ سَعَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُفْسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهْلِكَ ٱلْحَرْثَ وَٱلنَّسْلَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْفَسَادَ ٢٠٥

When he turns his back, His aim everywhere is to spread mischief through the earth and destroy crops and cattle progeny. But Allah loveth not mischief.

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ أَخَذَتْهُ ٱلْعِزَّةُ بِٱلْإِثْمِ ۚ فَحَسْبُهُۥ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَلَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ ٢٠٦

When it is said to him, "Fear Allah", He is led by arrogance to (more) crime. Enough for him is Hell;-An evil bed indeed (To lie on)!

[Al-Quran 2:204-206, Translation: A. Yusuf Ali, edited in italics]

So, these criminals are so-called believers, whose speech is pleasing to the ears, but their actions are those which cause corruption. 

The wisdom behind releasing Gog and Magog (يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ) may be to generate the evidence that whenever the criminals are given a chance, they revert to their criminal behaviour, corrupting the Earth. The Earth was amended before (Q7:56), the Gog Magog were contained behind a metallic barrier (Q18:92-99). When they break that barrier, they will again corrupt the Earth (Q21:95-96). The land will be corrupted. 

For the criminals, the doors in the sky will not be opened, and they will not be able to pass through it, at least until the camel cannot pass through the eye of the needle. What does that mean? A very distant future? The devolution of species? Until the skies and earth last? ... 

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى gives everyone a chance to repent and reform. Yet, in His Knowledge and Wisdom, He knows that the criminals will not choose to repent and reform. Every time they are given some power and authority, they cause corruption. Gog and Magog are the most extreme example. When they are released, they will make the Earth hellish. When all matters are brought to an end, the Believers will be able to ascend through the gates in the sky to Gardens of Perfection, which they will inherit, to maintain and enjoy it, always and forever. 

The criminals will remain in the Hell on Earth. 

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Hadith 

حَدَّثَنَا أَزْهَرُ بْنُ مَرْوَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو رَافِعٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏"‏ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ يَحْفِرُونَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ حَتَّى إِذَا كَادُوا يَرَوْنَ شُعَاعَ الشَّمْسِ قَالَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِمُ ارْجِعُوا فَسَنَحْفِرُهُ غَدًا ‏.‏ فَيُعِيدُهُ اللَّهُ أَشَدَّ مَا كَانَ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتْ مُدَّتُهُمْ وَأَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَبْعَثَهُمْ عَلَى النَّاسِ حَفَرُوا حَتَّى إِذَا كَادُوا يَرَوْنَ شُعَاعَ الشَّمْسِ قَالَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِمُ ارْجِعُوا فَسَتَحْفِرُونَهُ غَدًا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى وَاسْتَثْنَوْا فَيَعُودُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَهُوَ كَهَيْئَتِهِ حِينَ تَرَكُوهُ فَيَحْفِرُونَهُ وَيَخْرُجُونَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَيَنْشِفُونَ الْمَاءَ وَيَتَحَصَّنُ النَّاسُ مِنْهُمْ فِي حُصُونِهِمْ فَيَرْمُونَ بِسِهَامِهِمْ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَتَرْجِعُ عَلَيْهَا الدَّمُ الَّذِي اجْفَظَّ فَيَقُولُونَ قَهَرْنَا أَهْلَ الأَرْضِ وَعَلَوْنَا أَهْلَ السَّمَاءِ فَيَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ نَغَفًا فِي أَقْفَائِهِمْ فَيَقْتُلُهُمْ بِهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏"‏ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّ دَوَابَّ الأَرْضِ لَتَسْمَنُ وَتَشْكَرُ شَكَرًا مِنْ لُحُومِهِمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Gog and Magog people dig every day until, when they can almost see the rays of the sun, the one in charge of them says: "Go back and we will dig it tomorrow." Then Allah puts it back, stronger than it was before. (This will continue) until, when their time has come, and Allah wants to send them against the people, they will dig until they can almost see the rays of the sun, then the one who is in charge of them will say: "Go back, and we will dig it tomorrow if Allah wills.' So they will say: "If Allah wills." Then they will come back to it and it will be as they left it. So they will dig and will come out to the people, and they will drink all the water. The people will fortify themselves against them in their fortresses. They will shoot their arrows towards the sky and they will come back with blood on them, and they will say: "We have defeated the people of earth and dominated the people of heaven." Then Allah will send a worm in the napes of their necks and will kill them thereby.'" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, the beasts of the earth will grow fat on their flesh."

Sunan Ibn Majah 4080

https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:4080