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Surah Al-Insan

The Man

Chapter 76 of 114

Beautiful Quran Recitation

Surah Al-Insan

Recited by Salaah Bukhaatir

Overview

About this Surah

The name, An-Nahl, of this Surah has been taken from v. 68. This is merely to distinguish it from other Surahs.

At a glance

Surah 76 of 114

Translation
English
Recitation
Salaah Bukhaatir

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Commentary

Tafsir

<h2>Name</h2>
<p>The name, An-Nahl, of this Surah has been taken from <a href=/16/68>v. 68</a>. This is merely to distinguish it from other Surahs.</p>
<h2>Period of Revelation</h2>
<p>The following internal evidence shows that this Surah was revealed during the last Makkan stage of Prophethood:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p><a href=/16/41>41</a> clearly shows that persecution had forced some Muslims to emigrate to Habash before the revelation of this Surah.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>It is evident from <a href=/16/106>v. 106</a> that at that time the persecution of the Muslims was at its height. Therefore a problem had arisen in regard to the utterance of a blasphemous word, without actual disbelief, under unbearable conditions. The problem was that if one did so how he should be treated.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><a href=/16/112-114>vv. 112-114</a> clearly refer to the end of seven year famine that had struck Makkah some years after the appointment of the Holy Prophet as Allah's Messenger.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>There is a reference to <a href=/16/116>v. 116</a> of this Surah in VI: 145, and v. 118 of this Surah contains a reference to VI: 146. This is a proof that both these Surahs (VI and XVI) were sent down in the same period.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>The general style of the Surah also supports the view that this was revealed during the last stage at Makkah.</p>
<h2>Central Theme</h2>
<p>All the topics of the Surah revolve round different aspects of the Message, ie., refutation of <em>shirk</em>, proof of <em>Tauhid</em>, and warning of the consequences of the rejection of and opposition and antagonism to the Message.</p>
<h2>Topics of Discussion</h2>
<p>The very first verse gives direct and strict warning to those who were rejecting the Message outright, as if to say, "Allah's decision has already been made concerning your rejection of the Message. Why are you then clamoring for hastening it? Why don't you make use of the respite that is being given to you!" And this was exactly what the disbelievers of Makkah needed at the time of the revelation of this Surah. For they challenged the Holy Prophet over and over again: "Why don't you bring that scourge with which you have been threatening us! For we have not only rejected your Message but have been openly opposing it for a long time." Such a challenge had become a by-word with them, which they frequently repeated as a clear proof that Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) was not a true Prophet.</p>
<p>Immediately after this warning they have been admonished to give up <em>shirk</em>, for this false creed was the main obstacle in the way of the Message. Then the following topics come over and over again, one after the other:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<p>Very convincing proofs of <em>Tauhid</em> and refutation of <em>shirk</em> have been based on the plain signs in the universe and in man's own self.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The objections of the disbelievers have been answered, their arguments refuted, their doubts removed and their false pretexts exposed.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Warnings have given of the consequences of persistence in false ways and antagonism to the Message.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The moral changes which the Message of the Holy Prophet aims to bring practically in human life have been presented briefly in an appealing manner. The <em>mushriks</em> have been told that belief in Allah, which they also professed, demanded that it should not be confined merely to lip service, but this creed should take a definite shape in moral and practical life.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>The Holy Prophet and his companions have been comforted and told about the attitude they should adopt in the face of antagonism and persecution by the disbelievers.</p>
</li>
</ol>;

Verse by verse

Surah Al-Insan · The Man

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

  1. Ayah 1

    بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى الْإِنسَانِ حِينٌ مِّنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُن شَيْئًا مَّذْكُورًا

    Has there not been over Man a long period of Time, when he was nothing - (not even) mentioned?

  2. Ayah 2

    إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَّبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا

    Verily We created Man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try him: So We gave him (the gifts), of Hearing and Sight.

  3. Ayah 3

    إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا

    We showed him the Way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful (rests on his will).

  4. Ayah 4

    إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ سَلَاسِلَ وَأَغْلَالًا وَسَعِيرًا

    For the Rejecters we have prepared chains, yokes, and a blazing Fire.

  5. Ayah 5

    إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ يَشْرَبُونَ مِن كَأْسٍ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُورًا

    As to the Righteous, they shall drink of a Cup (of Wine) mixed with Kafur,-

  6. Ayah 6

    عَيْنًا يَشْرَبُ بِهَا عِبَادُ اللَّهِ يُفَجِّرُونَهَا تَفْجِيرًا

    A Fountain where the Devotees of Allah do drink, making it flow in unstinted abundance.

  7. Ayah 7

    يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيرًا

    They perform (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil flies far and wide.

  8. Ayah 8

    وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا

    And they feed, for the love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan, and the captive,-

  9. Ayah 9

    إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورًا

    (Saying),"We feed you for the sake of Allah alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks.

  10. Ayah 10

    إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوْمًا عَبُوسًا قَمْطَرِيرًا

    "We only fear a Day of distressful Wrath from the side of our Lord."

  11. Ayah 11

    فَوَقَاهُمُ اللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَٰلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَلَقَّاهُمْ نَضْرَةً وَسُرُورًا

    But Allah will deliver them from the evil of that Day, and will shed over them a Light of Beauty and (blissful) Joy.

  12. Ayah 12

    وَجَزَاهُم بِمَا صَبَرُوا جَنَّةً وَحَرِيرًا

    And because they were patient and constant, He will reward them with a Garden and (garments of) silk.

  13. Ayah 13

    مُّتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ ۖ لَا يَرَوْنَ فِيهَا شَمْسًا وَلَا زَمْهَرِيرًا

    Reclining in the (Garden) on raised thrones, they will see there neither the sun's (excessive heat) nor (the moon's) excessive cold.

  14. Ayah 14

    وَدَانِيَةً عَلَيْهِمْ ظِلَالُهَا وَذُلِّلَتْ قُطُوفُهَا تَذْلِيلًا

    And the shades of the (Garden) will come low over them, and the bunches (of fruit), there, will hang low in humility.

  15. Ayah 15

    وَيُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِآنِيَةٍ مِّن فِضَّةٍ وَأَكْوَابٍ كَانَتْ قَوَارِيرَا

    And amongst them will be passed round vessels of silver and goblets of crystal,-

  16. Ayah 16

    قَوَارِيرَ مِن فِضَّةٍ قَدَّرُوهَا تَقْدِيرًا

    Crystal-clear, made of silver: they will determine the measure thereof (according to their wishes).

  17. Ayah 17

    وَيُسْقَوْنَ فِيهَا كَأْسًا كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا زَنجَبِيلًا

    And they will be given to drink there of a Cup (of Wine) mixed with Zanjabil,-

  18. Ayah 18

    عَيْنًا فِيهَا تُسَمَّىٰ سَلْسَبِيلًا

    A fountain there, called Salsabil.

  19. Ayah 19

    وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ حَسِبْتَهُمْ لُؤْلُؤًا مَّنثُورًا

    And round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness): If thou seest them, thou wouldst think them scattered Pearls.

  20. Ayah 20

    وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ثَمَّ رَأَيْتَ نَعِيمًا وَمُلْكًا كَبِيرًا

    And when thou lookest, it is there thou wilt see a Bliss and a Realm Magnificent.

  21. Ayah 21

    عَالِيَهُمْ ثِيَابُ سُندُسٍ خُضْرٌ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٌ ۖ وَحُلُّوا أَسَاوِرَ مِن فِضَّةٍ وَسَقَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ شَرَابًا طَهُورًا

    Upon them will be green Garments of fine silk and heavy brocade, and they will be adorned with Bracelets of silver; and their Lord will give to them to drink of a Wine Pure and Holy.

  22. Ayah 22

    إِنَّ هَـٰذَا كَانَ لَكُمْ جَزَاءً وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُم مَّشْكُورًا

    "Verily this is a Reward for you, and your Endeavour is accepted and recognised."

  23. Ayah 23

    إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ تَنزِيلًا

    It is We Who have sent down the Qur'an to thee by stages.

  24. Ayah 24

    فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تُطِعْ مِنْهُمْ آثِمًا أَوْ كَفُورًا

    Therefore be patient with constancy to the Command of thy Lord, and hearken not to the sinner or the ingrate among them.

  25. Ayah 25

    وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا

    And celebrate the name of thy Lord morning and evening,

  26. Ayah 26

    وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَاسْجُدْ لَهُ وَسَبِّحْهُ لَيْلًا طَوِيلًا

    And part of the night, prostrate thyself to Him; and glorify Him a long night through.

  27. Ayah 27

    إِنَّ هَـٰؤُلَاءِ يُحِبُّونَ الْعَاجِلَةَ وَيَذَرُونَ وَرَاءَهُمْ يَوْمًا ثَقِيلًا

    As to these, they love the fleeting life, and put away behind them a Day (that will be) hard.

  28. Ayah 28

    نَّحْنُ خَلَقْنَاهُمْ وَشَدَدْنَا أَسْرَهُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا شِئْنَا بَدَّلْنَا أَمْثَالَهُمْ تَبْدِيلًا

    It is We Who created them, and We have made their joints strong; but, when We will, We can substitute the like of them by a complete change.

  29. Ayah 29

    إِنَّ هَـٰذِهِ تَذْكِرَةٌ ۖ فَمَن شَاءَ اتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ سَبِيلًا

    This is an admonition: Whosoever will, let him take a (straight) Path to his Lord.

  30. Ayah 30

    وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا

    But ye will not, except as Allah wills; for Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.

  31. Ayah 31

    يُدْخِلُ مَن يَشَاءُ فِي رَحْمَتِهِ ۚ وَالظَّالِمِينَ أَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا

    He will admit to His Mercy whom He will; But the wrong-doers,- for them has He prepared a grievous Penalty.

About the Quran

The Quran

The Quran is the holy scripture of Islam. Muslims believe that it is the literal word of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) over a period of 23 years. The Quran is composed of 114 Surahs (chapters) and contains 6,236 Ayat (verses). Muslim beliefs and practices are based on the Quran and the Sunnah, the teachings and example of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

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Meccan Surahs

The Meccan Surahs are the earliest revelations sent down to the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم). They were revealed in Mecca, hence their name. These revelations form the foundation of the Islamic faith and contain guidance for Muslims on how to live their lives. The Meccan Surahs are also notable for their poetic beauty and lyrical prose.

Medinan Surahs

The Medinan Surahs are the later Surahs that, according to Islamic tradition, were revealed in Medina after the Prophet Muhammad's (صلى الله عليه وسلم) hijra from Mecca. They were revealed by Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) when the Muslim community was larger and more developed, as opposed to their minority position in Mecca.

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