Living Quran

Surah Al-Inshiqaq (The Sundering)

Al-Inshiqaq means "The Splitting Open" or "The Sundering" — referring to the sky splitting apart at the end of time.

Al-Inshiqaq is the 84th chapter of the Quran, a Meccan surah of 25 ayat. Its name comes from the opening depiction of the sky being torn open as the created order responds in submission to its Lord at the end of time. The surah portrays cosmic upheaval — the heavens splitting and the earth being stretched out and emptying what it holds — as the setting for humanity's return to God. It describes people laboring toward their Lord and then being sorted by how they receive the record of their deeds: those given it in a manner of ease and those who face a very different outcome. The chapter reflects on the stages and transitions of human life and questions why some refuse to believe. It contains a verse of prostration traditionally observed during recitation. Its subject matter is resurrection, accountability, and the two ultimate destinies.
Surah number
84
Revelation
Meccan
Ayahs
25
Arabic
الإنشقاق

Read Surah Al-Inshiqaq online — full Arabic text with the Pickthall English translation.

Main themes

  • Cosmic upheaval and the end of the created order
  • Humanity's toil and return to God
  • Receiving the record of deeds — ease versus loss
  • Resurrection and accountability
  • Reflection on the stages of human life
  • A verse of prostration during recitation

Why this surah matters

Al-Inshiqaq is recognized as one of the short, powerful Meccan chapters that vividly evoke the Day of Judgment through cosmic imagery. It is among the surahs containing a place of prostration (sajdat al-tilawa), which many Muslims traditionally observe when reciting or hearing it. Commentators note its striking movement from the collapse of the physical universe to the intimate question of each person's final accounting.

Frequently asked questions

Does Surah Al-Inshiqaq contain a prostration?

Yes. It is among the chapters that include a verse of prostration (sajdat al-tilawa). Many Muslims traditionally prostrate when reciting or listening to that verse, a well-known practice noted across scholarly traditions.

What does Al-Inshiqaq describe?

It describes the sky splitting open and the earth being leveled at the end of time, then turns to humanity's return to God and the sorting of people by how they receive their record of deeds.

Is it a Meccan surah?

Yes, it is commonly held to be Meccan, sharing the vivid eschatological themes and concise style typical of chapters revealed during the Meccan period.

Read Surah Al-Inshiqaq

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