Presented by Zia H Shah MD

Surah At-Takwir Predicted Cars and the Internet

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Abstract

This research report presents an exhaustive multidisciplinary analysis of Surah Takwir, the eighty-first chapter of the Qur’an, through the prism of modern history and contemporary science. Traditionally interpreted as an eschatological depiction of the Day of Judgment, this commentary adopts the “Latter Day” hermeneutic, positing that the first eighteen verses function as precise prophecies fulfilled during the 20th and 21st centuries. By synthesizing linguistic exegesis with historical data—such as the obsolescence of camel transport, the rise of global literacy, the collapse of imperial structures, and the discovery of cosmic expansion—this study demonstrates how these worldly “signs” serve as empirical proof for the divine origin of the revelation. The report traces the logical progression from these fulfilled physical portents to the theological validation of the Messenger in the Surah’s concluding verses. It argues that the realization of these prophecies transforms the Qur’an from a text of dogma into a document of scientific and historical verification, intended for a global audience in an age of reason. The analysis culminates in a thematic epilogue reflecting on the transition from spiritual darkness to the “breathing dawn” of a new era of enlightenment.

The Hermeneutic of the Latter Days: A Conceptual Framework

The interpretation of Surah Takwir has historically resided within the domain of apocalyptic literature, where its vivid imagery was seen as a description of the final dissolution of the universe. However, a significant paradigm shift in modern commentary suggests that the “resurrection” spoken of in the Qur’an often refers to a spiritual and social rebirth that occurs within the timeline of human history. In this framework, the cataclysmic descriptions in verses 1 through 18 are not merely metaphors for the end of time but are specific markers of the “Latter Days”—the period of rapid transformation leading to the global prevalence of Truth.   

This report operates under the assumption that these verses constitute a prophetic map of the 20th and 21st centuries. The linguistic structure of the Surah, utilizing the conditional particle idha (when) followed by the past tense verb, creates a sense of absolute certainty; from a divine perspective, these future events are as good as accomplished. This “proleptic” tense serves to anchor the reader’s attention on the fulfillment of these signs as a prerequisite for the realization mentioned in verse 14: “Every soul shall know what it has brought forward”.   

Verse 1: The Winding of the Solar Coil and the Eclipse of Guidance

The Surah opens with the proclamation: “When the sun is folded up” (idha al-shamsu kuwwirat). The verb kuwwirat is derived from the root kawwara, signifying the winding of a turban or the rolling up of a scroll. This suggests a process where the sun’s light is reigned in, gathered together, and extinguished.   

Scientific and Physical Dimensions

From a scientific standpoint, the folding of the sun alludes to the eventual thermodynamic exhaustion of solar energy. Modern astrophysics describes the sun as a globe of blazing gases that will eventually undergo a “takwir” of its own—shrinking and losing its luminosity. However, in the context of the 20th century, this verse has been linked to specific celestial portents. The eclipses of the sun and moon in the month of Ramadan in 1894 and 1895 CE (1311 AH) are cited by modern commentators as literal fulfillments of this sign, marking the advent of a new spiritual era. These rare twin eclipses served as an empirical “shrouding” of the sun that signaled to the world that the age of prophecy was entering its final, fulfilled phase.   

Metaphorical and Theological Implications

Theologically, the “folding up” of the sun represents the obscuration of the “sun of guidance” or the “sun of fortune” of those who oppose the Truth. In the modern era, the world experienced an unprecedented period of spiritual darkness where traditional religious values were “folded up” by the rise of aggressive materialism and secularism. The light of the ancient order was gathered in, signaling that the old world was being prepared for a complete reality shift.   

Verse 2: The Dimming of the Stars and the Crisis of Intellectual Leadership

The second sign, “And when the stars are dust-colored” (wa idha al-nujumu inkadarat), describes the loss of brilliance or the scattering of celestial bodies. The term inkadarat carries the nuance of becoming dull, falling, or being thrown into confusion.   

The Symbolism of Intellectual Guidance

In Qur’anic symbology, stars frequently represent guiding lights—be they physical stars used for desert navigation or intellectual “stars” (scholars and leaders) who provide direction to the community. The prophecy regarding the darkening of stars points toward a specific 20th-century phenomenon: the corruption or ineffectiveness of religious and intellectual elites. As the “stars” of the community lost their spiritual luster, the masses were left in a state of “dust-colored” confusion, unable to find clear direction in an increasingly complex world.   

Astrophysical Parallels

The 20th century also brought the scientific discovery of black holes and the phenomenon of stellar collapse, where stars indeed lose their light and “fall” into gravitational wells—realities unknown to the 7th-century audience. The “scattering” of stars mentioned in parallel verses [82:2] reflects the modern understanding of an expanding universe where celestial bodies are moving away from their familiar constellations.   

Verse 3: The Seismic Shift of Political Mountains

“And when the mountains are made to move” (wa idha al-jibalu suyyirat). In the traditional Arab worldview, mountains were the ultimate symbols of stability, the “pegs” that prevented the earth from shaking. For these “immovable” structures to “move casually” or be “blown away” suggests a total inversion of the natural and social order.   

The Collapse of Imperial “Mountains”

In the historical commentary of the modern era, mountains represent the great empires and entrenched powers that once blocked the path of Truth. The 20th century witnessed the most dramatic collapse of political “mountains” in recorded history. Seemingly eternal empires were uprooted and dismantled, leaving the political landscape of the world “flat and level” in a way previously unimagined.   

Empire	Date of Collapse	Nature of “Movement”	Implication
Ottoman Empire	1922	Dissolution of the Caliphate	Removal of the central Islamic political mountain
British Empire	Post-1945	Decolonization	Uprooting of global colonial stability
Soviet Union	1991	Ideological Collapse	Dissolution of the Communist “Iron Curtain”
Qing Dynasty	1912	Republican Revolution	End of two millennia of Chinese imperial “permanence”

These collapses were not mere transitions of power; they were “violent movements which left nothing in its place,” exactly as the Surah describes the rhythm of the Latter Days. The removal of these obstacles cleared the way for a new, globalized era of ideological exchange.   

Verse 4: The Obsoletion of the Camel and the Revolution of Transport

The fourth prophecy is perhaps the most specific and undeniable worldly marker: “And when the she-camels, ten months pregnant, are abandoned” (wa idha al-‘isharu ‘uṭṭilat). To the 7th-century audience, the ‘ishar (a camel ten months into its twelve-month gestation) was the single most valuable and prized possession. It represented wealth, sustenance, and the future of the tribe. The idea that such a precious asset would be “abandoned” (‘uṭṭilat) or rendered “useless” was a radical notion that implied a complete change in the mode of human existence.   

The Technological Leap: From Hoof to Rail

This verse foretold the time when swifter modes of transport would replace the camel, even in the heart of Arabia. For 1,200 years, the camel had actually defeated the wheel in the Middle East due to its efficiency as a pack animal in desert terrain. However, the arrival of the 20th century brought the “counter-attack of the wheel” in the form of the locomotive and the internal combustion engine.   

The construction of the Hejaz Railway (1900–1908) is the primary historical exhibit of this fulfillment. For centuries, the Hajj caravan from Damascus to Medina was an arduous 40-day camel trek. The railway reduced this journey to a mere five days, causing the camel caravans—the lifeblood of the Bedouin economy—to become obsolete almost overnight.   

Transport Method	Journey Time (Damascus-Medina)	Economic Status	Prophetic Status
Camel Caravan	40 Days	High Value (Pre-1900)	“Prized Possession”
Hejaz Railway	5 Days	High Efficiency (1908)	“She-camels abandoned”
Motor Car/Truck	Hours/Days	Universal (Post-1920)	“Useless and worthless”

The use of the specific term ‘ishar (pregnant camel) ensures the prophecy is understood as a worldly event. As modern commentators note, there is no mating or pregnancy on the Day of Judgment; therefore, this verse must refer to a time in this world when the most valued form of transport would be discarded in favor of “what you do not yet know”.   

Verse 5: The Gathering of Wild Beasts and the Urbanization of the Wild

The fifth sign, “And when the wild beasts are gathered together” (wa idha al-wuhushu hushirat), traditionally conjured images of animals huddling in terror. However, in the context of the 20th century, the term hushirat (gathered, herded, or collected) reflects two profound global trends: the rise of modern zoological conservation and the mass urbanization of human society.   

The Evolution of Zoos and Conservation

The 19th and 20th centuries saw the transition from royal menageries (private status symbols) to scientific “zoos” where wild animals were “gathered together” from all corners of the world for research and public display. By 1907, Carl Hagenbeck had revolutionized zoo design with bar-less enclosures, creating “panoramas” where diverse species were seen side-by-side in ways they never would be in the wild. This era also saw the first major “gatherings” for conservation, such as the American Bison Society’s efforts in 1905 to prevent extinction by breeding animals in captivity.   

The Metaphorical Gathering: Urbanization

Linguistically, wuhush can also refer to “primitive” or unrefined peoples. In this sense, the “gathering of wild beasts” refers to the unprecedented 20th-century migration of rural and nomadic populations into massive urban centers. The “swelling of cities” and the “uniting of people” are the social counterparts to the physical herding of animals, resulting in a world where the “wild” is systematically integrated into the “civilized” order.   

Verse 6: The Enigma of the Burning Seas and the Heat of Modernity

“And when the seas are set on fire” (wa idha al-biharu sujjirat). To an ancient audience, the idea of fire and water—inherent opposites—uniting was the ultimate paradox. Modern science and history have resolved this paradox through three distinct lenses.   

Undersea Volcanism and Sea-Floor Spreading

Geologically, the 20th century brought the discovery of mid-oceanic ridges, where the earth’s crust is rifted and molten magma at 1000°C pours directly into the sea. These oceanic rifts run for tens of thousands of kilometers, effectively “setting the seas on fire” at their foundations. This “striking, but deeply hidden fact” was unknown until the late 1960s, serving as a powerful scientific testimony to the Qur’anic text.   

The Era of Oil and Naval Warfare

Historically, the “setting of seas on fire” finds a literal fulfillment in the age of petroleum. The extraction of flammable oil from the seabed and the horrific spectacle of naval warfare—where oil-fueled ships exploded and oil slicks burned for miles across the ocean surface—literally set the waters ablaze during the two World Wars. Furthermore, some translate sujjirat as “swelling,” pointing to the 21st-century reality of global warming, where thermal expansion and glacial melting cause the seas to overflow their basins and threaten human settlements.   

Verse 7: The Pairing of Souls and the Global Village

The seventh sign, “And when the souls are paired” (wa idha al-nufusu zuwwijat), has been traditionally viewed as the reunion of soul and body at resurrection. However, in the “Latter Day” framework, it signifies the “uniting of people” and the “pairing” of individuals across the globe through modern technology.   

The 20th and 21st centuries created a world where “the people intermingle” and “the world becomes a smaller place”. Through the internet and global communications, “souls” are now paired with their “likes” regardless of physical distance. Social networks, professional groupings, and ideological tribes represent a literal “pairing” of human consciousness on a scale previously impossible. This global connectivity is one of the greatest achievements of modern civilization, fulfilling the prophecy of a time when humanity would be “sorted out” and “brought together” into a single, interconnected community.   

Verses 8-9: The Interrogation of Female Infanticide and the Rise of Rights

“And when the girl-child buried alive is asked, for what crime she was killed?” [81:8-9]. While this verse references the pre-Islamic practice of wa’d (burying infant girls) abolished by the Prophet, its inclusion in a list of future signs suggests a wider application.   

In the modern era, the “burying alive” of the female sex is interpreted as the general tyranny and oppression of women. The “questioning” refers to the global 20th-century movement for women’s rights and the restoration of female dignity. Furthermore, modern technologies like sex-selective abortion are seen as the contemporary extension of this “barbarous practice,” and the Surah foretells a time when these hidden crimes will be brought to light and interrogated by a global conscience. The “infant girl” here stands for the entire oppressed segment of humanity whose rights were “buried” by the powerful.   

Verse 10: The Information Revolution and the Proliferation of the Word

“And when the books are spread abroad” (wa idha al-suhufu nushirat). While eschatologically this refers to the “scrolls of deeds” being opened for judgment , it is also a stunningly accurate prophecy regarding the circulation of printed and digital information.   

The Literacy Explosion

For most of human history, books were the province of a tiny elite. The 19th and 20th centuries witnessed an unprecedented boom in literacy and publishing. In 1820, only 12% of the world could read; by 2022, that number reached 87%. This growth, coupled with the invention of the steam-powered press and later the digital “spreading” of data via the internet, has literally covered the earth in “pages”.   

Metric	1820 CE	2022 CE	Prophetic Fulfillment
Global Literacy Rate	12%	87%	“Books spread abroad”
Annual Book Titles	Thousands	Millions	“Pages laid open”
Digital Pages	Zero	Trillions	“Spreading to an incredible extent”

This proliferation of knowledge “to an incredible extent” is a hallmark of the modern age, allowing the message of the Qur’an and the secrets of the universe to reach “the remotest horizon”.   

Verse 11: The Stripping of the Atmospheric Veil and Space Exploration

The eleventh sign, “And when the sky is stripped away” (wa idha al-sama’u kushitat), describes the removal of a covering or the “laying bare” of the world on high. The term kushiṭat refers to stripping the skin from an animal, suggesting a profound and transformative “unveiling”.   

The Unveiling of the Kingdom

In the modern era, this prophecy correlates with the development of radio astronomy, telescopes, and space travel. Before the 20th century, the sky was a “veil” through which we could only see a few thousand stars. Today, through instruments like the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes, the sky has been “stripped” of its mystery. We now see billions of galaxies and the “Word in the sky” is revealed with “microscopic precision”.   

The Expanding Universe

Modern science confirms that the universe is not a static vault but is “still expanding”. This cosmological “unveiling” was proven by Edwin Hubble in 1929, showing that galaxies are receding at incredible speeds. The Qur’anic description of the sky being “stripped away” or “expanded” serves as a primary scientific miracle that confirms the revelation’s divine source.   

Verses 12-14: The Convergence of Realities and the Knowledge of the Soul

The final signs describe the “fierce flaring up” of Hellfire (su’irat) and the “bringing near” of Paradise (uzlifat) [81:12-13]. Under the “Latter Day” paradigm, these represent the culmination of the 20th-century human experience.   

Modernity as a Dual Reality

1. The Hell of Materialism and War: The development of nuclear weapons, chemical warfare, and the industrial-scale destruction of the World Wars literally “set the world in a burning hell”. The “anger and wrath” of ideological conflicts flared up with a ferocity previously unknown to history.   
2. The Proximity of Paradise: Simultaneously, the triumphs of modern medicine, technology, and civil rights “brought the Garden near” to humanity in terms of physical comfort and social justice. The possibility of a “spiritual awakening” and “solace of mind” is now more accessible than ever before through the global reach of divine guidance.   

The climax of these signs is verse 14: “Then every soul shall know what it has brought forward”. The realization of these worldly prophecies—from the abandonment of the camel to the expansion of the universe—forces the soul to recognize the truth of the divine message before the final, literal resurrection.   

Verses 15-25: The Philosophical Proof of the Messenger

Following the cinematic display of fulfilled signs, the Surah transitions to a robust defense of the revelation and its bringer. This section is not a mere change of subject but a logical inference: if the signs in verses 1–13 are demonstrably true in history, then the source from which they came must be valid.   

The Testimony of Order (Verses 15-18)

The Surah swears by the “receding stars” (al-khunnas) and the “dawn as it breathes” (wa al-subhi idha tanaffas) [81:15-18]. These oaths emphasize the order and precision of the natural world. Just as the stars follow their “rounded course” and the night inevitably gives way to the dawn, the prophecies of the Qur’an follow a divinely ordained schedule. The “breathing dawn” symbolizes the emergence of truth after the “night” of worldly upheaval.   

The Credentials of the Messenger (Verses 19-25)

The Surah then asserts the status of the “Noble Message-bearer” (Gabriel) and the human “Companion” (Muhammad).

• Philosophical Validation: The logic here is “fulfilled prophecy as legal proof”. Since the Prophet spoke of “unseen” matters (the camel’s obsolescence, the spreading of books, the burning seas) that have now become “seen” in history, his sanity and truthfulness are vindicated.   
• Rejection of Madness: The Makkans called the Prophet “mad,” but a madman could not possess “microscopic precision” regarding the future of human civilization. Verse 24 emphasizes that he “withholds not a knowledge of the Unseen,” meaning he faithfully conveyed these incredible prophecies to humanity without distortion.   

The Rejection of Demonic Influence (Verse 25)

“And it is not the word of an accursed Satan.” Satanic or chaotic forces cannot produce a message of such structural integrity and predictive accuracy. The “Golden Thread of Order” that runs through the Surah contrasts the temporary dissolution of the physical world with the absolute stability of the divine Reminder.   

Verses 26-29: The Universal Reminder and the Lord of Worlds

The Surah concludes with an interrogation: “Whither then will you go?” (fa-ayna tadhhabun). This is the ultimate philosophical question posed to a humanity that has witnessed the fulfillment of these signs.   

The Qur’an as a Global Reminder

“Surely it is naught but a Reminder for the whole world” (dhikrun lil-‘alamin). This verse establishes the universality of the message. The prophecies were not intended for the 7th-century Arab alone but were designed to be validated by the 20th-century scientist and the 21st-century historian. The global literacy, global transport, and global communication mentioned in the early verses are the very tools that allow this “Reminder” to reach all nations as a single, unified message.   

The Doctrine of the Will (Verses 28-29)

“To whoever among you wills to take the straight path; but you cannot will, except as Allah wills” [81:28-29]. This theological conclusion resolves the tension between human agency and divine sovereignty.

• Empirical Discovery: Humanity “wills” to build railways and telescopes, yet these achievements are ultimately the “will of Allah,” acting as the very signs that prove His message.   
• The Path of Certainty: After witnessing the “Twelve Signs” of the Latter Days, the “will” to follow the straight path is no longer a matter of blind faith but a rational response to empirical reality.   

Thematic Epilogue: The Breathing of the Dawn

Surah Takwir presents a cinematic and profound vision of human destiny. By interpreting the first eighteen verses as prophecies of the 20th and 21st centuries, we uncover a narrative of Unveiling—where the physical, social, and spiritual covers are stripped away to reveal a singular Truth.

The “folding up” of the old solar order and the “moving” of the imperial mountains were the necessary preludes to a world of “spread books” and “paired souls.” The obsolescence of the camel was not merely a technological anecdote but a sign that the era of isolation had ended, replaced by a “Global Village” capable of receiving a “Global Reminder.” The discovery of the “burning seas” and the “unveiled sky” are the scientific “signatures” of a Creator who encoded the secrets of the cosmos into a 7th-century text.

As we stand in the 21st century, we are the first generation to “look at the Day of Judgment” as if with our own eyes—not through death, but through the fulfillment of these signs in our living history. The Surah’s final question, “Where are you going?”, resonates with a new urgency. It challenges us to find stability not in the fleeting physical realm, which is “thrown away, smashed, and scattered,” but in the unwavering divine Reminder that predicted these very upheavals.   

The “night as it falls” was the era of spiritual darkness and world wars, but the “dawn as it breathes” is the era of Islamic triumph and global recognition of the truth. Surah Takwir is thus a message of hope: that after the cataclysms of the modern age, a new era of faith will break, guided by a revelation that has proven its own divinity through the relentless march of human history. The “winding round” of the old world is the “unveiling” of the new, where every soul finally knows what it has brought forward.