The bursting of the heavenly bodies

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The Signs of the Beginning of the Day of ReckoningThe darkening of the sun, moon and the stars

Another sign of the end of the world will be the dissipation of this system of stars and the bursting and destruction of the heavenly bodies. Many verses of the Qura’n speak about this and we find many interpretations like that of “Inshiqaq”. See verse 1 that says:

“When the heaven is split asunder.”

The same meaning is found in verse 16 of Surah Haqqa that says:

“And the heaven will split asunder for on that day it will be frail and torn up.”

Verse 25 of Surah Furqan too has the same meaning:

“And remember the day when the heaven shall be rent asunder.”

The word “Sama” in these verses means the heavenly bodies that will burst at the end of this universe. But what have the clouds got to do with this? The explanation we find is that there will be large formations of clouds after the heaven is split asunder and they will be like smog. (As far as linguistics is concerned the “Ba” before “Ghanaam” suggests it means “together” and this has been suggested in Tafsir Al Mizan. (1)

The Late Allama Tabatabai does not feel it wrong that this des c r i p tion may a symbolism and may mean the dissipation of ignorance and simplicity by which the unseen world will become visible. The clouds will disappear and the unseen world will be manifest and visible.

But this symbolist explanation cannot be accepted if you do not have valid proof. The point to note that Imam Ali said: “the heavens will split around the cluster of stars.”(2)

This beautiful des c r i p tion is compatible to those revelations that the scientists have made about the galaxies. They say that solar systems that we observe are part of the greater galaxies like the Milky Way and which can be seen without binoculars. The bursting of our sun and moon will simultaneous with the destruction of these galaxies. (Reflect)

Some times the word “Infitaar” has been used as in verse 1 of the Surah that says:

“When the heaven is cleft asunder.”

Verse 18 of Surah Muzammil says:

“Whereon the heaven will be cleft asunder?”

We have noted earlier that the word “Infitaar” is derived from “Fatr” which means to split.

Verse 11 of Surah Takwir conveys the same meaning as:

“And when the heaven will be stripped on and taken from its place.”

This may be referring to the screens that prevent us from seeing the glory of the heavens, the angels, the Paradise and Hell. On that Day all these screens shall be removed and man will witness the reality of this universe. But in this condition the des c r i p tion of the heaven being destroyed has no compatibility.

Some commentators like Tabrisi in Majmaul Bayan have described it the scattering of the heavenly bodies and this will result in the universe being in disarray and that it will be folded. (3)

Verse 9 of Surah Mursilaat says:

“And when the heaven is cleft asunder”

The origin of Fatr and Faraj is the same or with a minor difference and this why the opening of the doors for difficulties is called “Faraj”. The opposite word is Shiddat which means being surrounded by hardships.

Verse 19 of Surah Nabaa says:

“The heaven shall be opened and it shall be like many doors”

Some commentators have taken its meaning in the symbolic sense and said that it means the opening of the gates of the unseen universe, the removal of the screens and the meeting of the angels and the humans. (4)

In verse 9 of Surah Tur the Book says:

“On the day the heaven will shake in a terrible manner.”

The word “Mawr” is sometimes used to denote fast movement and some times as orbit.

At times is used to denote movement to and fro while at others it means despair. This is why the dust that the wind carries in all directions is called “Mawr”

This interpretation is about the trembling of the heavenly objects, about their system going haywire and their destruction.

Verse 8 of Surah Maarij says:

“The day the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil.”

The commentators have taken the word “Muhil” to means the filth of the oil that remains at the bottom and the harmful sap of the trees. This word is often used for molten silver and gold. The last meaning is the best for this verse. The heavenly bodies being subjected to such occurrences will only be for their destruction.

There is a terrifying des c r i p tion in the end that says in verses 104 of Surah Anbiya:

“And remember the Day when We shall roll up the heavens like a scroll for books, We shall repeat as We began the first creation.”

This describes the various manner of the destruction of the stars on the day the universe will be destroyed and tells us that the all stars and their systems will be rolled up like scrolls. And they will become like the mound they were before the creation. God will once again re-0fashion this universe and the Day of Reckoning will occur in this new universe.

From the previous verses we can conclude that the Day of Reckoning does not mean the ever lasting life of this universe but this universe will be totally destroyed because continuous explosions and earthquakes will utterly destroy its system. Then according to a new plan anew world will be created on the relics of this one and the Day of Reckoning will occur in it.

 


 

1. Tafsir Al Mizan vol.15 page 202
2. Tafsir Kabeer vol. 13 page 103
3. Tafsir Majmaul Bayan vol.10 page 444
4. The first interpretation is that of late Tabrisi, Fakhruddin Razi and others and the second is the explanation of this verse given by Allama Tabatabai in Al Mizan.

 

The Signs of the Beginning of the Day of ReckoningThe darkening of the sun, moon and the stars
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