Overview (Verses 13 - 19)

Having portrayed this miserable scene, the surah gives us a glimpse of the sufferer’s past which led him to this endless misery: “He lived joyfully among his people. He surely thought he would never return.” (Verses 13-14) The past tense is used here because we feel that the Day of Judgement has arrived, after this life has ended. The indulgence and the joy had taken place in this life. “He lived joyfully among his people.” He cared for nothing beyond the moment he was in, and made no preparation for the hereafter. “He surely thought he would never return,” to his Lord. Had he thought about the return at the end of his journey through life, he would have carried provisions to sustain him. “Yes, indeed; his Lord was watching over him.” (Verse 15) Indeed God has always been aware of man’s thoughts, actions and feelings. God knows that, contrary to what man may think, there will be a return to Him to receive the reward merited by actions on earth. This is indeed what happens when all return to God to meet their appointed destiny, when what God has ordained will take place.
 
“He lived joyfully among his people. He surely thought he would never return. Yes, indeed; his Lord was watching over him.” (Verses 13-15) This image of the misery of the one who was joyful among his people during his short life on earth has a counterpart in the image of the happy one who returns rejoicing to his people to live with them an eternal happy life, free from hardship: “He who is given his record in his right hand will in time have a lenient reckoning and return rejoicing to his people.” (Verses 7-9)
 
Suffering Through Life
 
The surah then refers briefly to some worldly scenes. People, however, continue to overlook the evidence such scenes provide of the deliberate planning that has gone into the making of this world. Indeed, this planning includes the creation of man himself, and his phases and transitions through life: “I swear by the twilight, and by the night and what it envelops, and by the moon in her full perfection, that you shall certainly move onward, stage after stage.” (Verses 16-19) The oath, which is indirect in the Arabic text, serves to draw man’s attention to these universal scenes. The connotations here are in perfect harmony with those of the opening of the surah and the scenes portrayed there. The twilight refers to that period of stillness after sunset when the soul is overwhelmed by a deep feeling of awe. The heart feels, at such a time, the significance of parting with a beloved companion, and the quiet sadness and deep melancholy this involves. It also experiences fear of the approaching darkness.
 
“And by the night and what it envelops.” (Verse 17) What the night envelops is left unspecified to enhance the effect. Imagination can travel far and wide as one thinks of what the night may conceal of events and feelings. But the travels of the imagination cannot capture all the images generated by the short Qur’anic verse, “And by the night and what it envelops.” We are left with an overwhelming feeling of reverence which is in perfect harmony with the stillness and awe associated with the twilight.
 
“And by the moon in her full perfection.” (Verse 18) This is another quiet and splendid scene, describing the full moon as her light descends over the earth. The full moon is always associated with tranquillity. The general impression formed here is closely associated with twilight, and the dark night as it conceals everything. The feeling is one of a complementary stillness and reverence.
 
“That you shall certainly move onward, stage after stage.” (Verse 19) This means, you will pass from one stage of suffering to another, as has been charted for you. The Qur’an uses the term ‘ride’, although we use the expression ‘move onward’, to denote the undergoing of various stages of suffering. ‘Ride’ is frequently used in Arabic to signify the passage through risk and difficulty. This usage suggests that difficulties and risks are like horses or mules to be ridden. Each one will take the rider to the stage determined for them. Thus each one will deliver the rider to a new, predetermined stage, in the same way as twilight, the night and perfect moon are predetermined. They eventually end with their meeting with God, which was mentioned in the preceding part. This coherent ordering of the parts of the surah and the smooth movement from one point to another is characteristic of the superb Qur’anic style.