Surah At-Takwir — Verse 9

Word Meanings:

• Biaiy (بِأَيِّ): "For what" or "by which" — an interrogative expressing astonishment and rebuke.
• Dhambin (ذَنبٍ): A sin, crime, or offense deserving punishment.
• Qutilat (قُتِلَت): She was killed — referring to the female infant buried alive.

Tafsir (Explanation):

On the Day of Judgment, when the sun is folded up and its light is extinguished, when the stars fall and scatter, when the mountains are set in motion and become like scattered dust, when the pregnant camels are left untended, when the wild beasts are gathered together, when the seas are set ablaze, when the souls are paired with their likes, and when the records of deeds are laid open — at that moment, a most poignant scene unfolds: the infant girl who was buried alive in the earth will be asked a question. She will be asked: "For what sin was she killed?"

This question is not because she committed any wrong — for she was an innocent child, incapable of sin. Rather, it is a question that serves two purposes: it honors her and exposes the injustice of those who buried her. The question is posed to her as a testimony against her murderers, to shame them and to demonstrate the magnitude of their crime. The answer is implicit: she was killed for no sin at all — only because she was female, a practice of ignorance and cruelty that Islam came to abolish completely.

This verse highlights the sanctity of human life in Islam, especially the lives of the most vulnerable. The fact that Allah Himself will raise this question on the Day of Judgment shows how much He cares for the oppressed and how severely He will hold oppressors accountable. No act of injustice, no matter how hidden or how long ago it occurred, escapes Allah's knowledge and justice.

A Call to Reflection:

Dear reader, contemplate the mercy of your Lord — the One who will not let even a single drop of the oppressed's tears go unaddressed. If Allah questions the murderers of innocent infants on the Day of Judgment, how much more will He defend the rights of those who are wronged in our own times? This verse is a powerful reminder that justice is not lost, and that every soul will find before it what it has done — good or evil. Let this instill in you a profound sense of accountability and a deep trust in Allah's perfect justice. And let it move your heart to protect the weak, to stand against oppression, and to live a life that will make you rejoice when your own record is presented before your Lord.