86:11

وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلرَّجۡعِ

Waalssamai thati alrrajAAi

By the sky which returns [rain]

Word by word
  1. وَٱلسَّمَآءِBy the sky
  2. ذَاتِwhich
  3. ٱلرَّجۡعِreturns
At-Tariq · 86:11Makkah

By the sky that returns the rain.

A second oath, about provision


The sky's return
the skywith rain clouds
returns
rainagain and again
Why swear by it
sustenance returnedevery year
like
the Quranserious and true

Ibn Abbas said it means rain that falls and then falls again. Qatadah said it returns the sustenance of the creatures every year; without it they and their cattle would perish.

You turn the tap and water comes. Bread is on the supermarket shelf. Every bit of it traces back to rain that keeps returning.

Rain is just weather, nothing to think about.

Every rainfall is Allah returning my provision to me.

Try this

Next time it rains, say the dua for rain or simply thank Allah for it.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

By the sky which gives rain, again and again (11)And the earth which splits (12)Verily, this is the Word that separates (13)And it is not a thing for amusement (14)Verily, they are but plotting a plot (15)And I am planning a plan (16)So, give a respite to the disbelievers; deal gently with them for a while (17)

Swearing to the Truthfulness of the Qur'an and the Failure of Those Who oppose it

Ibn 'Abbas said, "Ar-raj' means rain." It has also been narrated from him that he said, "It means the clouds that contain rain." He also said,

وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الرَّجْعِ

(By the sky (having rain clouds) which gives rain, again and again.)

"This means that it rains and then it rains (again)." Qatadah said, "It returns the sustenance of the servants (creatures) every year. Were it not for this, they would all be destroyed and so would their cattle."

وَالْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ الصَّدْعِ

(And the earth which splits.) Ibn 'Abbas said, "Splitting to bring forth plant growths." This was also said by Sa'id bin Jubayr, 'Ikrimah, Abu Malik, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, As-Suddi and others. Concerning Allah's statement,

إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ

(Verily, this is the Word that separates.)

Ibn 'Abbas said (Fasl is), "True." Qatadah also said the same. Someone else said, "A just ruling."

وَمَا هُوَ بِالْهَزْلِ

(And it is not a thing for amusement.)

meaning, rather it is serious and true. Then Allah informs about the disbelievers saying that they reject Him and hinder others from His path. Allah says,

إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًا

(Verily, they are but plotting a plot.) meaning, they plot against the people in their calling them to oppose the Qur'an. Then Allah says,

فَمَهِّلِ الْكَافِرِينَ

(So, give a respite to the disbelievers;) meaning, wait for them and do not be in haste concerning them.

أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًا

(deal gently with them for a while.) meaning, a little while. This means that you will see what befalls them of torment, punishment and destruction. This is as Allah says,

نُمَتِّعُهُمْ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ نَضْطَرُّهُمْ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍ

(We let them enjoy for a little while, then in the end We shall oblige them to (enter) a great torment.)(31:24)

This is the end of the Tafsir Surat At-Tariq, and unto Allah is all praise and thanks.