Tafseer of The Star · An-Najm · 53:57
The Approaching Day has approached.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
And His statement azifati l-āzifa ("the imminent has drawn near") — He says: that which approaches has come close. And He means thereby: the Hour that is near to you, O people, has drawn near. Concerning this one says: "azifa the departure of so-and-so," when it comes near and is close, as al-Nābigha of Banū Dhubyān said:
"The departure has drawn near, except that our mounts have not yet set out from our tents — and it is as though they had already [departed]."
And as Kaʿb ibn Zuhayr said:
"Youth has vanished and grey hair has drawn near, and I see no replacement for departing youth."
And in accordance with what we have said concerning this, the people of interpretation (ahl al-taʾwīl) spoke.
* Mention of who said that:
ʿAlī related to me, saying: Abū Ṣāliḥ related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās azifati l-āzifa: this belongs to the names of the Day of Resurrection; Allah made it weighty and warned His servants of it.
Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us; and al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us — both of them — on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning His statement azifati l-āzifa; he said: the Hour has drawn near.
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said, concerning His statement azifati l-āzifa; he said: the Hour.
