Al-Inshiqaq (The Splitting Asunder): (6) O mankind...

Know that His Exalted Saying: {When the heaven is split asunder} up to {Indeed, man is striving toward his Lord} (Al-Inshiqaq: 6, 1) is a conditional clause, and it must have a response (the jawab). They differed regarding this response in several ways:

1. The view of the author of Al-Kashshaf: The response to idhā (when) was omitted so that the imagination might wander to everything, making the warning more impactful.
2. The view of Al-Farra': The response was omitted because this meaning is well-known, having been repeated in the Qur'an. An example is His saying: {Indeed, We sent it down on the Night of Decree} (Al-Qadr: 1). The mention of the Qur'an was omitted because it was already explicitly stated in other places.
3. The view of some verifiers: The response is His saying: {he will meet it} (implied, referring to the result of his striving), and the verse {And indeed, O mankind, you are striving toward your Lord, a striving} (Al-Inshiqaq: 6) is an inserted clause (i'tirāḍ). This is like someone saying: "If such and such happens, O mankind, you will see then what you have done of good or evil." So it is here. The meaning is: When the Day of Resurrection comes, man will meet his deeds.
4. The view based on transposition: The meaning is understood through the transposition of clauses (taqdīm wa ta'khīr). It is as if it were said: {And it is true, O mankind, that you are striving toward your Lord, a striving, and you will meet it} {when the heaven is split asunder} (Al-Inshiqaq: 1) and the Resurrection occurs.
5. The view of Al-Kisā'ī: The response is in His saying: {But as for him who is given his record in his right hand} (Al-Inshiqaq: 7). The verse {And indeed, O mankind, you are striving toward your Lord, a striving} is an inserted clause. The meaning is: When the heaven is split asunder, and such and such happens, {then as for him who is given his record in his right hand} he will be thus, and as for him who is given his record behind his back, he will be thus. This is analogous to His saying: {So if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My guidance will neither be lost nor come to misery} (Al-Baqarah: 38).
6. The view of Al-Qāḍī: The response is what is indicated by {Indeed, you are striving}. It is as if the Almighty said: O mankind, you will see what you have done, so strive for that Day, O mankind, so that you may attain bliss.

As for His saying: {Indeed, man is striving...}:

There are two opinions regarding the address "O mankind" (Yā ayyuhā al-insān):

• First: It refers to the human species in general, just as one says, "O man," and everyone is included in that man. Al-Qaffāl said this is more eloquent than a general term because it stands in place of specifying and addressing each individual by name, unlike a general phrase which does not achieve that.
• Second: It refers to a specific man. Here too, there are two opinions:
  • First: It refers to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The meaning is that you strive in conveying Allah's messages, guiding His servants, and enduring harm from the disbelievers. So rejoice, for you will meet Allah with this deed, and it will not be lost with Him.
  • Second: Ibn 'Abbās said it refers to Ubayy ibn Khalaf. His striving was his intense pursuit of worldly gain, harming the Messenger (PBUH), and persisting in disbelief.

The most probable view is that it refers to the human species in general because it yields greater benefit, and because His saying {But as for him who is given his record in his right hand} (Al-Inshiqaq: 7) and {But as for him who is given his record behind his back} (Al-Inshiqaq: 10) are like two categories for this general group, which is only complete if the address is general.

As for His saying: {Indeed, you are striving} (Inna-ka kādiḥ):

Know that kadḥ (striving) is the exertion of people in their actions, striving in it until it leaves a mark, derived from kadḥ al-jild (scratching the skin).

As for His saying: {toward your Lord} (ilā rabbika):

There are three interpretations:

1. You are striving until you meet your Lord, which is death. This means this striving continues until this time. I find a subtle point in this interpretation: it implies that man in this worldly life, from beginning to end, is never free from toil, hardship, and fatigue. Since the word ilā denotes the end of a limit, it indicates that the striving and hardship must cease upon the end of this life, and what follows this world must be pure bliss and mercy. This is rational, for the relationship of the Hereafter to this world is like the relationship of this world to the mother's womb. Just as it is correct to say, "O fetus, you are striving until you are separated from the womb," then what comes after separation from the womb, relative to what preceded it, is pure, free from toil and darkness. Thus, we hope from Allah's bounty that the state after death will be likewise.
2. Al-Qaffāl said: The meaning is: You are striving in your worldly life with a striving by which you reach your Lord. With this interpretation, the use of the preposition ilā here is sound.
3. It is possible that the preposition ilā enters with the meaning of seeking or moving towards, as if He said: Strive with your deeds toward your Lord.

As for His saying: {he will meet it} (fa-mulāqīhi):

There are two opinions:

1. Al-Zajjāj said: He will meet the judgment of his Lord; there is no escape from it.
2. Others said: The pronoun refers back to the striving (al-kadḥ). However, striving is an action, which is an accident that does not endure, so meeting it is impossible. Therefore, it must mean meeting the record (al-kitāb) which contains the explanation of those deeds. This interpretation is confirmed by the subsequent verse: {But as for him who is given his record in his right hand}.

7 < {But as for him who is given his record in his right hand, then he will be subjected to an easy account, and he will return to his family rejoicing.} > 7 !

As for His saying: {But as for him who is given his record in his right hand, then he will be subjected to an easy account, and he will return to his family rejoicing}.