[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:1] Tariq literally is "anything coming by night; one who comes by night is being thus called because of his generally needing to knock at the door." The night visitant may be any star that appears in the night, or the morning star, or Sirius or a particular star, according to various interpretations. The query in verse 2 suggests that it is not an ordinary star. Verse 4 says that it is a star of piercing brightness. In the darkness of ignorance the light of the most brilliant (enlightening) star, carrying the revelation, brings guidance, mercy and wisdom or protect man from the evil of deception and confusion. Refer to the commentary of Baqarah: 143; Nahl: 89; Hajj: 78 and Ahzab: 45. Aqa Mahdi Puya says: Tariq means "who knocks or hammers or beats". It is also used for a nocturnal traveller who tramples the ground. Here it is used as a star of piercing brightness (see verse 3). According to the Ahl ul Bayt it refers to a star which traverses all the spheres in the universe and returns to its starting point. It can be applied figuratively to the Holy Prophet whose wisdom and mercy encompassed all the physical and spiritual spheres of the universe. As said in verse 4, the Holy Prophet is a watcher over every soul. It is in conformity with all the verses which assert the Holy Prophet as a supreme and universal witness over all witnesses. See commentary of Baqarah: 143 and other references mentioned therein.

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:2] (see commentary for verse 1)

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:3] (see commentary for verse 1)

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:4] (see commentary for verse 1)

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:5]

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:6] See commentary of Anam: 2; Araf: 12; Kahf: 37; Hajj: 5; Rum: 20; Muminun: 12 to 16 and Fatir: 11 for creation of man. In the spinal cord and in the brain is the directive energy of the nervous system, and this directs all actions, organic and psychic. Aqa Mahdi Puya says: The creator who has created man, the most complicated form of an organic being, from an emitted drop can surely let him take a higher intricate form to proceed unto its maker by making use of the special qualities and capacities given to him by Allah. Refer to Yasin: 77 to 82.

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:7] (see commentary for verse 6)

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:8] (see commentary for verse 6)

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:9] On the day of resurrection, the day of reality and truth, when all created beings will be brought back to life, all our actions, motives, thoughts of this life, however secret, will be brought into the open, for reckoning and in that severe test no advantage of this life will have any force or ability to help the examinee in any way. See Baqarah: 48; Anam: 165; Zumar: 7 and Najm: 38.

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:10] (see commentary for verse 9)

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:11] The regular and precise working of the whole universe manifests the absolute authority, justice and wisdom of the creator, and the earth, on which man lives, is so conditioned that it has been providing sustenance to him since his arrival and shall continue to do so till the day of resurrection, therefore man, if he has normal intelligence and power of observation must come to the inevitable conclusion in the light of the signs of Allah that the decisive word from Allah (the Quran), revealed to the Holy Prophet, is a mercy and a guidance to mankind in all ages. It is not what the disbelievers imagine (see commentary of Anam: 25 and Tatfif: 13).

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:12] (see commentary for verse 11)

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:13] (see commentary for verse 11)

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:14] (see commentary for verse 11)

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:15] These verses refer to the Quraysh who wanted to thwart the growth of Islam. It will be so in all ages. Allah will not allow the hypocrites and the disbelievers to succeed in their evil designs to distort or corrupt the true religion of Allah, Islam, as has been asserted in Bara-at: 33; Fat-h: 28 and Saff: 9. The merciful Lord gives respite to them in every age so that whosoever among them sees the light of true guidance and follows the true guides, chosen by Allah, may turn repentant to Him and save himself from the eternal punishment.

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:16] (see commentary for verse 15)

[Pooya/Ali Commentary 86:17] (see commentary for verse 15)