إِنَّ يَومَ الفَصلِ كانَ ميقاتًا
Indeed the Day of Judgement is the tryst.
EXEGESIS
Faṣl literally means separation. A decision or judgement is called a faṣl because it divides and separates between truth and falsehood or right and wrong.
Mīqāt is the appointed time for something. It is similar in both form and meaning to mīʿād (time or place of promise), from the root waʿd (promise). There can be a few factors in calling the Day of Judgement a tryst: 1. Its time of occurrence has been set and fixed by God when He created the universe. This is seen in verses that talk about Adam’s creation and Satan’s refusal to prostrate to him (7:14-15, 15:35-38, 38:78-81). 2. It is called a tryst because everyone will be gathered and will meet on that day (44:40, 56:49-50). 3. It is the time that God has promised for the settlement of disputes and retribution of actions, as seen in many verses in the Quran.
The verb in this verse is in the past tense (kāna) even though it talks about a future event. This is to emphasise the inevitability and truth of its occurrence. Another possible explanation for this usage is that the time and occurrence of that day is eternally known to God. Hence, the verb here is effectively timeless as it pertains to God’s eternal knowledge. The first explanation is more congruent with the Quran’s expressions about the hereafter, and it also justifies the use of the past tense in verses 19 and 20. Another possibility for the use of the past tense in those two verses is that their verbs add to you will come in groups (verse 18), which is a description of a future event.
EXPOSITION
The previous set of verses presented a long list of the orderly creation of several phenomena in the universe as the signs and bounties of God. All this order has an end, and that end is the Day of Judgement. That day will involve a gathering and a separation. It will be a day of gathering of all human beings (and possibly other beings) that came to this world since its beginning to its end, followed by their classification into groups according to their beliefs, actions, and realisations (42:7, 64:9); Indeed the Day of Judgement is the tryst for them all (44:40). Say: ‘Indeed the former and latter generations will all be gathered for the tryst of a known day’ (56:49-50).
Indeed the Day of Judgement is the tryst. This could relate to the first verse of the chapter: What is it about which they question each other?! Their answer is postponed to the Day of Judgement, which is their tryst. He is only granting them respite until the day when the eyes will be glazed (14:42). It could also be that since the previous verses proved the inevitability of resurrection, some people may ask about when it will occur (7:187, 10:48, 21:38, 27:71, 34:29, 36:48, 51:12, 67:25, 75:6, 79:42). So this verse replies: Indeed the Day of Judgement is the tryst.
The Day of Resurrection is a day of separation (faṣl) in many aspects: 1. It is a day of separation between truth and falsehood, or right beliefs and wrong beliefs. 2. It separates between believers and disbelievers, good-doers and evildoers, monotheists and polytheists. In fact, there will be multiple levels and stages of separation, especially among the disbelievers and wrongdoers, who will be subject to total disunity. Not only will they be separated from the believers, but they will also be separated from one another. They will be commanded: Get apart today, you guilty ones! (36:59). On the day when We gather them all together, We shall say to those who ascribe partners [to Allah]: ‘Stay where you are – you and your partners!’ Then We shall set them apart from one another (10:28). 3. Worldly connections and family ties will be severed on that day: Your relatives and your children will not avail you on the Day of Resurrection: He will separate you [from one another] (60:3); Certainly you have come to Us alone, just as We created you the first time, and left behind whatever We had bestowed on you. We do not see your intercessors with you – those whom you claimed to be [Our] partners in [deciding] you[r] [fate]. Certainly all links between you have been cut, and what you used to claim has forsaken you! (6:94). 4. People will be separated from their might, plans, and schemes: This is the Day of Judgement. We have brought together you and the ancients. If you have any stratagems [left], try out your stratagems against Me! (77:38-39).
[1] Raghib, under w-q-t; Bahrayn, under w-q-t; Farhang, under w-q-t.
[2] Tibyan, 10/242.
[3] Mizan, 20/165.
[4] Alusi, 15/211.
[5] Alusi, 15/212.
[6] Alusi, 15/211.
[7] Furqan, 30/33.