Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Anbya Verse 104

Mufti Taqi Usmani

- the Day when We roll up the sky like a scroll rolls up the writings. Just as We originated the first creation, so We shall bring it back again - a promise (undertaken to be binding) on Us. We are sure to do it.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

On that Day We will roll up the heavens like a scroll of writings. Just as We produced the first creation, ˹so˺ shall We reproduce it. That is a promise binding on Us. We truly uphold ˹Our promises˺!

Ruwwad Translation Center

On the Day when We roll up the heavens like a scroll of records. Just as We originated the first creation, so We will bring it back. That is Our binding promise, which We will surely do.

A. J. Arberry

On the day when We shall roll up heaven as a scroll is rolled for the writings; as We originated the first creation, so We shall bring it back again -- a promise binding on Us; so We shall do.

Abdul Haleem

On that Day, We shall roll up the skies as a writer rolls up [his] scrolls. We shall reproduce creation just as We produced it the first time: this is Our binding promise. We shall certainly do all these things.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

The Day whereon We shall roll up the heaven like as the rolling up of a scroll for books. Even as We began the first creation, We shall restore it: a promise binding upon Us; verily We have been the Doers.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Day that We roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books (completed),- even as We produced the first creation, so shall We produce a new one; a promise We have undertaken; truly shall We fulfil it.

Abul Ala Maududi

On that Day We shall roll up the heavens like a scroll for writing. Even as We originated the creation first so We shall repeat it. This is a promise binding on Us; and so We shall do.

Ahmed Ali

The day We shall roll up the heavens like a written scroll, We shall revert it (to nothing) as it was before We first created it. This is a promise incumbent on Us; We will certainly fulfil it.

Ahmed Raza Khan

The day when We shall roll up the heavens as the recording angel rolls up the register of deeds; We shall make him similar to Our making him the first time; this is a promise upon Us; We certainly have to do it.

Ali Quli Qarai

The day We shall roll up the heaven, like rolling of the scrolls [meant] for writings. We will bring it back just as We began the first creation—a promise [binding] on Us. [That] indeed We will do.

Ali Ünal

The Day when We will roll up heaven as written scrolls are rolled up. We will bring the creation back into existence as easily as We originated it in the first instance. This is a binding promise on Us, and assuredly We fulfill whatever We promise.

Amatul Rahman Omar

This is the day when We shall roll up the heavens like the rolling up of the written scrolls by a scribe. Just as We started the process of the first creation so shall We reproduce it. This is a promise binding on Us; We shall certainly bring it about.

English Literal

A day/time We fold/coil the sky/space as/like the record/register book`s folding/coiling to the books/scriptures (print); as/like We began/initiated (the) first/beginning creation, We repeat/return it, a promise on Us, We (E) were making/doing (it).

Faridul Haque

The day when We shall roll up the heavens as the recording angel rolls up the register of deeds; We shall make him similar to Our making him the first time; this is a promise upon Us; We certainly have to do it.

Hamid S. Aziz

The Great Terror shall not grieve them; but the angels shall greet them, saying, "This is your day, the one which you were promised!"

Hilali & Khan

And (remember) the Day when We shall roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books, as We began the first creation, We shall repeat it, (it is) a promise binding upon Us. Truly, We shall do it.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

The great Terror will not grieve them, and the angels will meet them: This is your day which you were promised.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

On the day when We will roll up heaven like the rolling up of the scroll for writings, as We originated the first creation, (so) We shall reproduce it; a promise (binding on Us); surely We will bring it about.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

The Day when We shall roll up the heavens as a recorder rolleth up a written scroll. As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise (binding) upon Us. Lo! We are to perform it.

Muhammad Sarwar

(This will happen) on the day when We roll up the heavens as if it were a written scroll and bring it back into existence just as though We had created it for the first time. This is what We have promised and We have always been true to Our promise.

Qaribullah & Darwish

On that Day, We shall roll up the heaven like a written scroll is rolled. As We originated the first creation, so will We bring it back again. This is a binding promise on Us which We shall assuredly fulfill.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And (remember) the Day when We shall roll up the heaven like a Sijill for books. As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise binding upon Us. Truly, We shall do it.

Wahiduddin Khan

On that Day We shall roll up the heavens like a scroll of parchment. As We originated the first creation, so shall We repeat it. This is a promise binding on Us. Truly, We shall fulfill it.

Talal Itani

On the Day when We fold the heaven, like the folding of a book. Just as We began the first creation, We will repeat it—a promise binding on Us. We will act.

Tafsir jalalayn

The day (yawma is in the accusative because of an implied preceding udhkur, `mention') when We shall roll up the heaven as the Scribe, [al-sijill being] the name of an angel, rolls up the written scroll, that is, the scroll of the son of Adam when he dies (the lm [of li'l-kitb] is extra; alternatively, [one may read the verse so that] al-sijill is `the scroll', and al-kitb means al-maktb `what is written', in which case the lm [of li'l- kitb] has the sense of [the particle] `al, `over'; a variant reading [for li'l-kitb] has the plural, li'l-kutub, `the books'). As We began the first creation, from non-existence, We shall repeat it, after making it non-existent (the kf [of ka-m, `as'] is semantically connected to nu`du, `We shall repeat [it]', and its [suffixed] pronoun [-hu, `it'] refers back to awwala, `the first'; the m relates to the verbal noun) -- a promise binding on Us (wa`dan is in the accusative because [it is the direct object] of an implied preceding wa`adn, `We promised', and [the clause] constitutes a confirmation of the import of the preceding [verse, 103]). Truly We shall do [that], which We have promised.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Heavens will be rolled up on the Day of Resurrection

Allah says;this will happen on the Day of Resurrection;

يَوْمَ نَطْوِي السَّمَاء كَطَيِّ السِّجِلِّ لِلْكُتُبِ

And (remember) the Day when We shall roll up the heaven like a Sijill for books.

This is like the Ayah;

وَمَا قَدَرُواْ اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَالاٌّرْضُ جَمِيعـاً قَبْضَـتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ وَالسَّمَـوَتُ مَطْوِيَّـتٌ بِيَمِينِهِ سُبْحَـنَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

They made not a just estimate of Allah such as is due to Him. And on the Day of Resurrection the whole of the earth will be grasped by His Hand and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Glorified be He, and High be He above all that they associate as partners with Him! (39;67)

Al-Bukhari recorded that Nafi` reported from Ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah said;

إِنَّ اللهَ يَقْبِضُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الاَْرَضِينَ وَتَكُونُ السَّمَوَاتُ بِيَمِينِه

On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will seize the earth and the heavens will be in His Right Hand.

This was recorded by Al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him.

كَطَيِّ السِّجِلِّ لِلْكُتُبِ


like a Sijill rolled up for books.

What is meant by Sijill is book.

As-Suddi said concerning this Ayah;

"As-Sijill is an angel who is entrusted with the records; when a person dies, his Book (of deeds) is taken up to As-Sijill, and he rolls it up and puts it away until the Day of Resurrection."

But the correct view as narrated from Ibn Abbas is that;
As-Sijill refers to the record (of deeds).

This was also reported from him by Ali bin Abi Talhah and Al-`Awfi.

This was also stated by Mujahid, Qatadah and others.

This was the view favored by Ibn Jarir, because this usage is well-known in the (Arabic) language.

Based on the above, the meaning is;

the Day when the heaven will be rolled up like a scroll. This is like the Ayah;

فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ

Then, when they had both submitted themselves (to the will of Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead. (37;103)

There are many more linguistic examples in this respect.

Allah knows best.

كَمَا بَدَأْنَا أَوَّلَ خَلْقٍ نُّعِيدُهُ وَعْدًا عَلَيْنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ



As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise binding upon Us. Truly, We shall do it.

means, this will inevitably come to pass on the Day when Allah creates His creation anew. As He created them in the first place, He is surely able to re-create them. This must inevitably come to pass because it is one of the things that Allah has promised, and He does not break His promise. He is able to do that. Because He says;
إِنَّا كُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ
(Truly, We shall do it).

Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn Abbas said;

"The Messenger of Allah stood among us exhorting us, and said;

إِنَّكُمْ مَحْشُورُونَ إِلَى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ حُفَاةً عُرَاةً غُرْلاً

كَمَا بَدَأْنَا أَوَّلَ خَلْقٍ نُّعِيدُهُ وَعْدًا عَلَيْنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ

You will be gathered before Allah barefoot, naked and uncircumcised.

As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise binding upon Us. Truly, We shall do it.

And he mentioned the entire Hadith.

It was also recorded in the Two Sahihs, and Al-Bukhari mentioned it in his Tafsir of this Ayah