بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
An-Naba 78:2
The Tidings · Juz 30 · Page 582
عَنِ ٱلنَّبَإِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٢
Tafsir · in English
Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 78:2–3
عَنِ النَّبَإِ الْعَظِيمِ الَّذِي هُمْ فِيهِ مُخْتَلِفُونَ (About the Great Event in which they dispute!...78:2, 3). The word naba' means 'news' but not every news is naba'. It means a 'momentous news of a great event'. This refers to the news of the Day of Judgment. The verse purports to convey that the inhabitants of Makkah ask about the Day of Judgment in which they dispute [ while some of them believed in Resurrection, others did not.]
Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ reports that when the revelation of Qur'an started, the pagan Arabs used to form circles and discuss and criticise it, especially about the tremendous import of Resurrection and Judgment referred to in the Qur'an. The pagans thought this was impossible, and they used to have protracted discussion. The disbelievers persuade themselves to believe that the predicted event will never take place, though there were others who believed in the event. The Surah opens by shunning the enquirers and the enquiry, it wonders that anyone should raise any doubts about Resurrection and Judgment. Some of the commentators express the opinion that their enquiry was not a genuine one where they were keen to learn about the truth. So they ask half-mockingly and half in doubt, when that event, so loudly pronounced, will happen. Qur'an has responded by asserting one statement twice for emphasis, thus:
Page 582
سورة النبإ
An-Naba
The Tidings · Meccan · 40 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
78:1
عَمَّ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ ١
About what are they asking one another?
78:2
عَنِ ٱلنَّبَإِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٢
About the great news1 -
1 translator’s note
- i.e., the Resurrection. ↩
78:3
ٱلَّذِي هُمۡ فِيهِ مُخۡتَلِفُونَ ٣
That over which they are in disagreement.
78:4
كـَلَّا سَيَعۡلَمُونَ ٤
No! They are going to know.
78:5
ثُمَّ كـَلَّا سَيَعۡلَمُونَ ٥
Then, no! They are going to know.
78:6
أَلَمۡ نَجۡعَلِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مِهَٰدٗا ٦
Have We not made the earth a resting place?
78:7
وَٱلۡجِبَالَ أَوۡتَادٗا ٧
And the mountains as stakes?1
1 translator’s note
- To stabilize the land and balance the earth. ↩
78:8
وَخَلَقۡنَٰكُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا ٨
And We created you in pairs
78:9
وَجَعَلۡنَا نَوۡمَكُمۡ سُبَاتٗا ٩
And made your sleep [a means for] rest
78:10
وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلَّيۡلَ لِبَاسٗا ١٠
And made the night as clothing1
1 translator’s note
- Covering you in darkness and providing rest. ↩
78:11
وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلنَّهَارَ مَعَاشٗا ١١
And made the day for livelihood
78:12
وَبَنَيۡنَا فَوۡقَكُمۡ سَبۡعٗا شِدَادٗا ١٢
And constructed above you seven strong [heavens]
78:13
وَجَعَلۡنَا سِرَاجٗا وَهَّاجٗا ١٣
And made [therein] a burning lamp
78:14
وَأَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡمُعۡصِرَٰتِ مَآءٗ ثَجَّاجٗا ١٤
And sent down from the rain clouds pouring water
78:15
لِّنُخۡرِجَ بِهِۦ حَبّٗا وَنَبَاتٗا ١٥
That We may bring forth thereby grain and vegetation
78:16
وَجَنَّٰتٍ أَلۡفَافًا ١٦
And gardens of entwined growth.
78:17
إِنَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَصۡلِ كَانَ مِيقَٰتٗا ١٧
Indeed, the Day of Judgement is an appointed time -
78:18
يَوۡمَ يُنفَخُ فِي ٱلصُّورِ فَتَأۡتُونَ أَفۡوَاجٗا ١٨
The Day the Horn is blown and you will come forth in multitudes
78:19
وَفُتِحَتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَكَانَتۡ أَبۡوَٰبٗا ١٩
And the heaven is opened and will become gateways
78:20
وَسُيِّرَتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ فَكَانَتۡ سَرَابًا ٢٠
And the mountains are removed and will be [but] a mirage.
78:21
إِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ كَانَتۡ مِرۡصَادٗا ٢١
Indeed, Hell has been lying in wait
78:22
لِّلطَّٰغِينَ مَـَٔابٗا ٢٢
For the transgressors, a place of return,
78:23
لَّٰبِثِينَ فِيهَآ أَحۡقَابٗا ٢٣
In which they will remain for ages [unending].
78:24
لَّا يَذُوقُونَ فِيهَا بَرۡدٗا وَلَا شَرَابًا ٢٤
They will not taste therein [any] coolness or drink.
78:25
إِلَّا حَمِيمٗا وَغَسَّاقٗا ٢٥
Except scalding water and [foul] purulence -
78:26
جَزَآءٗ وِفَاقًا ٢٦
An appropriate recompense.1
1 translator’s note
- In proportion to and comparable with their crimes. ↩
78:27
إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ لَا يَرۡجُونَ حِسَابٗا ٢٧
Indeed, they were not expecting an account
78:28
وَكَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا كِذَّابٗا ٢٨
And denied Our verses with [emphatic] denial.
78:29
وَكُلَّ شَيۡءٍ أَحۡصَيۡنَٰهُ كِتَٰبٗا ٢٩
But all things We have enumerated in writing.
78:30
فَذُوقُواْ فَلَن نَّزِيدَكُمۡ إِلَّا عَذَابًا ٣٠
"So taste [the penalty], and never will We increase you except in torment."1
1 translator’s note
- This announcement will be made to the companions of Hell. ↩