Surah At-Takwir — Verse 8

Word Meanings:

• Al-Maw'udah (الموءودة): The female infant who was buried alive, a practice common in pre-Islamic Arabia (Jahiliyyah) out of fear of poverty or shame.
• Su'ilat (سُئِلَت): She will be asked — meaning she will be questioned on the Day of Judgment.

Tafsir (Explanation):

When the sun is wound up and its light is extinguished, and when the stars fall and scatter, and when the mountains are set in motion and become like dust — at that moment, the earth and sky will be turned upside down. And when the female infant who was buried alive is asked — she, who was deprived of life before she could even speak or defend herself, will be questioned on that tremendous Day. She will be asked: "For what sin was she killed?" This question is not because she committed any wrong — for she was innocent — but rather as a means of honoring her and condemning her murderers. The very act of asking her, in front of all creation, serves to expose the injustice of those who buried her and to proclaim her innocence before the entire universe. It is a question of vindication for her and of rebuke and shame for her killers.

This verse comes within a series of cosmic upheavals that will occur on the Day of Judgment — signs that shake the heart and awaken the conscience. When the world as we know it collapses, and every hidden deed is brought to light, even the most silenced voices will be heard. The buried infant, whose cry was stifled in the darkness of the grave, will be given a voice and a platform on that Day. Her question will echo through the courts of justice, and her blood will speak louder than any words.

A Da'wah Reflection:

How profound is the justice of Allah! The One who created the heavens and the earth does not forget even the smallest, most helpless soul. If human societies have buried their daughters alive — whether literally in the sand of ignorance or figuratively through neglect, oppression, or deprivation of rights — Allah will raise them as witnesses against their oppressors. This verse is a timeless message: no act of cruelty, no matter how hidden or how small the victim, escapes Allah's knowledge and justice. It is also a message of hope for every oppressed soul — your voice may be silenced in this world, but it will be heard in the next. And for every parent, every society, it is a call to cherish and protect the vulnerable, for they are not a burden but a trust from Allah. Islam came to crush this vile practice utterly, and to elevate the status of daughters as a source of mercy and blessing. Let us reflect: if Allah asks the innocent victim about her murder, what will He ask the murderer? Fear His justice, and embrace His mercy before that Day arrives.