Signs of Resurrection on Earth

TEHRAN (IQNA) – It has been emphasized in many religious and Quran interpretation books that certain events will take place on the earth at the end of the world.

Some of these events have been described in Surah At-Takwir of the Holy Quran.

At-Takwir is the 81^st chapter of the Quran that has 29 verses and is in the 30^th Juz.

It is Makki and the 7^th chapter revealed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Takwir means getting twisted around and going dark. The name comes from the first verse of the Surah: “(On the day) when the sun is made to cease shining.”

The chapter is about the signs of the Resurrection Day, the events that happen prior to resurrection, the characteristics of the angel Jibreel (Gabriel) and his meeting with the Holy Prophet (PBUH), and the truth of revelation and the Quran.

The main theme of the Surah is warning humans and awakening him about the Day of Judgment.

The content of the Surah shows that it was revealed in the early parts of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) prophethood, because it responds to and refutes the accusations raised by disbelievers against the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

The Verses of Surah At-Takwir can be divided into two parts, with the first describing the signs and events of the Day of Judgment and the changes that happen in the world such as the sun being woundup, stars fading away, mountains being scattered about as dust, and people being frightened.

There are 12 sentences in the early verses that underline the certainty and the sudden occurrence of events prior to the Resurrection Day.

The second topic is the greatness of the Quran, characteristics of the angel Jibreel, and the effects of the Quran on humans. For this, God separately swears by stars, the night and the day. It is emphasized in this part that the Quran has been sent down by the trusted, honest and honorable angel and that despite what disbelievers say, satan has no influence over him.

One of the verses in this Surah refers to a horrible tradition during the Jahiliyyah (Age of Ignorance, the era before the advent of Islam) when they buried female infants alive. “When the buried female infant is asked, for what sin she was killed.” (Verse 8-9)

During the Jahiliyyah, some Arabs buried their infant girls alive for different reasons such as poverty, giving no value to women and fear of dishonor. According to historical and Tafseer (interpretation) books, when the time of labor came, they would dig a hole in the ground. If the baby was a girl, they would bury her alive in that hole and if it was a boy, they would keep him.