Sūrah 84 · Meccan

How Sūrah Al-Inshiqaaq was revealed.

Where and when it came down, what it teaches, and the hadith about it — all on one calm page.

Read Al-Inshiqaaq → The revelation story
Where revealed Meccan

Revealed in the Meccan period, before the migration to Madīnah.

Order of revelation #83

Its place in the traditional order in which the sūrahs were revealed.

Length 25 ayahs

1 reading sections in the Muṣḥaf.

The revelation story

How and when it came down.

This Makkan surah is dedicated to proving the certainty of the Resurrection and Judgment. It achieves this by describing the dramatic cosmic dissolution that precedes the Hour, questioning humanity's failure to prepare for the meeting with their Lord, and vividly contrasting the ease of the rewarded believer with the severe fate of the rejecter.

Themes and purpose:

This Makkan surah is dedicated to proving the certainty of the Resurrection and Judgment. It achieves this by describing the dramatic cosmic dissolution that precedes the Hour, questioning humanity's failure to prepare for the meeting with their Lord, and vividly contrasting the ease of the rewarded believer with the severe fate of the rejecter.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Makkan by consensus.

Context: The surah was revealed to strongly affirm the reality of the Hereafter, which the polytheists consistently denied. The surah's recitation caused the early believers to perform a prostration.

Chronology: It is counted as the 83rd surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Infiṭār and before al-Rūm.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah is known both as "Sūrat al-Inshiqāq" (The Splitting Asunder) and "Sūrat Idhā al-samā’u inshaqqat" (When the Heaven is Split Asunder) due to its opening.

Important Feature: Its recitation includes a prostration [21], a practice attested to by the Prophet (ﷺ).

Ayah Count: 25 ayahs (Madinah/Makkah/Kūfah) or 23 (Baṣrah/Shām).

Surah Overview:

  • Describing the cosmic collapse that signals the arrival of the Hour. [1-5]
  • Establishing the reality of the Resurrection and the gathering of deeds. [6-12]
  • The Journey to Allah: Warning humanity that their life is a continuous, hard struggle toward their Lord. [6]
  • Detailing the two different ways humans receive their book of deeds (by the right hand or behind the back). [7-12]
  • Contrasting the eternal pleasure of the righteous (who return to their families happily) with the torment of the wicked (who desired only worldly pleasure). [9, 13-15]
  • Affirming that Allah is observant of all deeds and will bring them forth for judgment. [17-19]
  • Concluding with a warning of the painful punishment for deniers and a promise of eternal reward for the believers. [22-25]

Sūrah background — via the Quran Foundation Content API. Shown as supplied by the provider. We do not edit, summarise or generate it.

Hadith about this sūrah

What the hadith say.

These 9 narrations in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī are connected to specific āyāt of this sūrah — a linkage reviewed by the Quran Foundation. Open any one to read it in full, in Arabic and English.

  1. Relates to āyah1
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 766

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ بَكْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ الْعَتَمَةَ فَقَرَأَ ‏﴿‏إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انْشَقَّتْ‏﴾‏ فَسَجَدَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَالَ سَجَدْتُ خَلْفَ أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلاَ أَزَالُ أَسْجُدُ بِهَا حَتَّى أَلْقَاهُ‏.‏

    Narrated Abu Rafi`: I offered the `Isha' prayer behind Abu Huraira and he recited, "Idha s-samaa'u n-shaqqat" (84) and prostrated. On my inquiring, he said, "I prostrated behind Abul-Qasim (the Prophet) (when he recited that Sura) and I will go on doing it till I meet him."

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 768

    حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي التَّيْمِيُّ، عَنْ بَكْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ الْعَتَمَةَ فَقَرَأَ ‏﴿‏إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انْشَقَّتْ‏﴾‏ فَسَجَدَ فَقُلْتُ مَا هَذِهِ قَالَ سَجَدْتُ بِهَا خَلْفَ أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلاَ أَزَالُ أَسْجُدُ بِهَا حَتَّى أَلْقَاهُ‏.‏

    Narrated Abu Rafi`: Once I prayed the `Isha' prayer with Abu Huraira and he recited, "Idha s-samaa'u n-shaqqat" (84) and prostrated. I said, "What is that?" He said, "I prostrated behind Abul-Qasim, (the Prophet) (when he recited that Sura) and I will go on doing it till I meet him."

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1074

    حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمٌ، وَمُعَاذُ بْنُ فَضَالَةَ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَرَأَ ‏﴿‏إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انْشَقَّتْ‏﴾‏ فَسَجَدَ بِهَا فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، أَلَمْ أَرَكَ تَسْجُدُ قَالَ لَوْ لَمْ أَرَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَسْجُدُ لَمْ أَسْجُدْ‏.‏

    Narrated Abu Salma: I saw Abu Huraira reciting Idha-Sama' un-Shaqqat and he prostrated during its recitation. I asked Abu Huraira, "Didn't I see you prostrating?" Abu Huraira said, "Had I not seen the Prophet (ﷺ) prostrating, I would not have prostrated."

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1078

    حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرٌ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنِي بَكْرٌ، عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ الْعَتَمَةَ فَقَرَأَ ‏﴿‏إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انْشَقَّتْ‏﴾‏ فَسَجَدَ فَقُلْتُ مَا هَذِهِ قَالَ سَجَدْتُ بِهَا خَلْفَ أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلاَ أَزَالُ أَسْجُدُ فِيهَا حَتَّى أَلْقَاهُ‏.‏

    Narrated Abu Rafi`: I offered the `Isha' prayer behind Abu Huraira and he recited Idhas-Sama' Un-Shaqqat, and prostrated. I said, "What is this?" Abu Huraira said, "I prostrated behind Abul-Qasim and I will do the same till I meet him."

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  2. Relates to āyah7–8
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4939

    حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ الأَسْوَدِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَبِي يُونُسَ، حَاتِمِ بْنِ أَبِي صَغِيرَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ يُحَاسَبُ إِلاَّ هَلَكَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَتْ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ جَعَلَنِي اللَّهُ فِدَاءَكَ، أَلَيْسَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ‏﴿‏فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ * فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا‏﴾‏‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ ذَاكَ الْعَرْضُ يُعْرَضُونَ، وَمَنْ نُوقِشَ الْحِسَابَ هَلَكَ ‏"‏‏.‏

    Narrated Aisha: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said," (On the Day of Resurrection) any one whose account will be taken will be ruined (i.e. go to Hell)." I said, "O Allah's Messenger! May Allah make me be sacrificed for you. Doesn't Allah say: "Then as for him who will be given his record in his right hand, he surely will receive an easy reckoning.?" (84.7-8) He replied, "That is only the presentation of the accounts; but he whose record is questioned, will be ruined." (This hadith is also narrated through two other chains)

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6537

    حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمُ بْنُ أَبِي صَغِيرَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، حَدَّثَنِي الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَتْنِي عَائِشَةُ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ يُحَاسَبُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلاَّ هَلَكَ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلَيْسَ قَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى ‏﴿‏فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ * فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا‏﴾‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِنَّمَا ذَلِكِ الْعَرْضُ، وَلَيْسَ أَحَدٌ يُنَاقَشُ الْحِسَابَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلاَّ عُذِّبَ ‏"‏‏.‏

    Narrated `Aisha: Allah's Messenger, said, "None will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection, but will be ruined." I said "O Allah's Messenger! Hasn't Allah said: 'Then as for him who will be given his record in his right hand, he surely will receive an easy reckoning? (84.7-8) -- Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "That (Verse) means only the presentation of the accounts, but anybody whose account (record) is questioned on the Day of Resurrection, will surely be punished."

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  3. Relates to āyah8
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 103

    حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا نَافِعُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَتْ لاَ تَسْمَعُ شَيْئًا لاَ تَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ رَاجَعَتْ فِيهِ حَتَّى تَعْرِفَهُ، وَأَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ مَنْ حُوسِبَ عُذِّبَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقُلْتُ أَوَ لَيْسَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى ‏﴿‏فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا‏﴾‏ قَالَتْ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ الْعَرْضُ، وَلَكِنْ مَنْ نُوقِشَ الْحِسَابَ يَهْلِكْ ‏"‏‏.‏

    Narrated Ibn Abu Mulaika: Whenever `Aisha (the wife of the Prophet) heard anything which she did not understand, she used to ask again till she understood it completely. Aisha said: "Once the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever will be called to account (about his deeds on the Day of Resurrection) will surely be punished." I said, "Doesn't Allah say: "He surely will receive an easy reckoning." (84.8) The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "This means only the presentation of the accounts but whoever will be argued about his account, will certainly be ruined."

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6536

    حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُوسَى، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ مَنْ نُوقِشَ الْحِسَابَ عُذِّبَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَتْ قُلْتُ أَلَيْسَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى ‏﴿‏فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا‏﴾‏‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ ذَلِكِ الْعَرْضُ ‏"‏‏.‏ حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ الأَسْوَدِ، سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِثْلَهُ‏.‏ وَتَابَعَهُ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمٍ وَأَيُّوبُ وَصَالِحُ بْنُ رُسْتُمٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏

    Narrated Ibn Abi Mulaika: `Aisha said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Anybody whose account (record) is questioned will surely be punished.' I said, 'Doesn't Allah say: 'He surely will receive an easy reckoning?' (84.8) The Prophet (ﷺ) replied. 'This means only the presentation of the account."' Narrated `Aisha: The Prophet (ﷺ) said (as above, 543).

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The link between each āyah and these narrations is the Quran Foundation's reviewed reference map. The wording is reproduced verbatim from a public-domain edition of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and is not edited, summarised or generated; every narration also opens at Sunnah.com so it can be checked against another copy.

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