Tafsir of At-Tariq 86:1-3

{وَالسَّمَاءِ وَالطَّارِقِ}

{النَّجْمُ الثَّاقِبُ}: The luminous one. It is as if it pierces the darkness with its light, penetrating through it, just as it is said: darīʾ (repelling), because it repels it—meaning it pushes it away. It is described as al-ṭāriq (the night-comer) because it appears at night, just as one who comes at night is called a ṭāriq. Or, it is because it strikes (yaṭruqu) the darkness, meaning it hits it. The intended meaning is the genus of stars, or the genus of meteors with which [the devils] are pelted.

If you ask: "What is the difference between saying 'What will make you know what the Night-Comer is? The Piercing Star'—is this not merely translating one word with another? Explain to me what benefit lies beneath this."

I say: Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, intended to swear by the Piercing Star to magnify it, due to the wondrous power and subtle wisdom known to be within it. He wished to draw attention to this, so He brought forth a term that is a shared attribute between it and others, which is al-ṭāriq. Then He said, {And what will make you know what the Night-Comer is?}, then He explained it by saying, {The Piercing Star}. All of this is to manifest the grandeur of its status, just as He said: {So I swear by the setting of the stars, and indeed, it is a great oath if you could know} (Al-Wāqiʿah: 75–76).

It is narrated: That Abu Talib was with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when a star descended, and the place became filled with light. Abu Talib was alarmed and said, "What is this?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: "This is a star that has been thrown; it is one of the signs of Allah." Abu Talib was amazed, and so this [verse] was revealed.

{إِن كُلُّ نَفْسٍ لَّمَّا عَلَيْهَا حَافِظٌ}