1. By Heaven and the Night-Comer! The word tariq is said to mean a nything that comes at night. This includes the stars, because they rise at night.

2. And what will convey to you what the Night-Comer is? What will teach you what it is? This repetition stresses its importance.

3. The Piercing Star! Possibly the Pleiades, or any star which emits light that pierces through the darkness.

4. There is no self that (read as lamma and lama) has no guardian over it. This refers to the guardian angels who record all our good and evil actions.

5. Man has only to look at – reflect on and consider – what he was created from.

6. He was created from a spurting fluid – the liquid proceeding from the sexual union of the man and the woman within the womb –

7. … a liquid emerging from between the back-bone of a man and the breast-bone of a woman.

8. He (Allah) certainly has the power to return him to life – to resurrect human beings after death. If a human being reflects on his origin, he will know that the One who is able to bring him into being must also have the power to resurrect him –

9. …on the Day when the secrets are sought out – tested and then exposed. “Secrets” means the innermost beliefs of the heart with respect to its faith and its intentions –

10. …and man – anyone who denies the Resurrection – will have no strength or helper – no power to defend himself against the Punishment or to avert it from himself.

11. By Heaven with its cyclical systems – the word used here, raj‘, can also mean rain, because it recurs again and again –

12. …and the earth with its splitting seeds – plants which split open the earth,

13. …it is truly a Decisive Word. The Qur’an is a Word which distinguishes truth from falsehood.

14. It is no joke. It is neither a game nor vain falsehood.

15. They (the unbelievers) are hatching a plot – scheming against the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

16. I too am hatching a plot. I am leading them on from where they do not know.

17. So bear with the unbelievers – bear with them for a while. This is addressed to Muhammad. The repetition is for emphasis. He is instructed to go easy with them. Then Allah seized them in the Battle of Badr. Bearing with them was abrogated by the ◊yat of the Sword, when the command to fight and engage in jihad was given.