Tazkirul Quran · Tafsir · in English
النبإ
An-Naba
The Tidings · Meccan · 40 ayahs
78:1–3Page 582
عَمَّ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ ١
About what are they asking one another?
عَنِ ٱلنَّبَإِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٢
About the great news1 -
ٱلَّذِي هُمۡ فِيهِ مُخۡتَلِفُونَ ٣
That over which they are in disagreement.
The Arab people were not disbelievers in the Hereafter. But they did not believe in a Hereafter of such a nature as is mentioned in the Quran. In other words, they doubted that by rejecting Muhammad, they would face degradation and humiliation in the world of the Hereafter.
78:4–17Page 582
كـَلَّا سَيَعۡلَمُونَ ٤
No! They are going to know.
ثُمَّ كـَلَّا سَيَعۡلَمُونَ ٥
Then, no! They are going to know.
أَلَمۡ نَجۡعَلِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مِهَٰدٗا ٦
Have We not made the earth a resting place?
وَٱلۡجِبَالَ أَوۡتَادٗا ٧
And the mountains as stakes?1
وَخَلَقۡنَٰكُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا ٨
And We created you in pairs
وَجَعَلۡنَا نَوۡمَكُمۡ سُبَاتٗا ٩
And made your sleep [a means for] rest
وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلَّيۡلَ لِبَاسٗا ١٠
And made the night as clothing1
وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلنَّهَارَ مَعَاشٗا ١١
And made the day for livelihood
وَبَنَيۡنَا فَوۡقَكُمۡ سَبۡعٗا شِدَادٗا ١٢
And constructed above you seven strong [heavens]
وَجَعَلۡنَا سِرَاجٗا وَهَّاجٗا ١٣
And made [therein] a burning lamp
وَأَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡمُعۡصِرَٰتِ مَآءٗ ثَجَّاجٗا ١٤
And sent down from the rain clouds pouring water
لِّنُخۡرِجَ بِهِۦ حَبّٗا وَنَبَاتٗا ١٥
That We may bring forth thereby grain and vegetation
وَجَنَّٰتٍ أَلۡفَافًا ١٦
And gardens of entwined growth.
إِنَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَصۡلِ كَانَ مِيقَٰتٗا ١٧
Indeed, the Day of Judgement is an appointed time -
The physical events of the present world are indicative of the nature of the Hereafter. The ‘present’ of our world implies that it should have a ‘future’ consistent with it. Considered from this point of view, it must be accepted that there is going to be a great end to match a great beginning. This world is not going to finish without a befitting end.
78:18–25Page 582
يَوۡمَ يُنفَخُ فِي ٱلصُّورِ فَتَأۡتُونَ أَفۡوَاجٗا ١٨
The Day the Horn is blown and you will come forth in multitudes
وَفُتِحَتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَكَانَتۡ أَبۡوَٰبٗا ١٩
And the heaven is opened and will become gateways
وَسُيِّرَتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ فَكَانَتۡ سَرَابًا ٢٠
And the mountains are removed and will be [but] a mirage.
إِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ كَانَتۡ مِرۡصَادٗا ٢١
Indeed, Hell has been lying in wait
لِّلطَّٰغِينَ مَـَٔابٗا ٢٢
For the transgressors, a place of return,
لَّٰبِثِينَ فِيهَآ أَحۡقَابٗا ٢٣
In which they will remain for ages [unending].
لَّا يَذُوقُونَ فِيهَا بَرۡدٗا وَلَا شَرَابًا ٢٤
They will not taste therein [any] coolness or drink.
إِلَّا حَمِيمٗا وَغَسَّاقٗا ٢٥
Except scalding water and [foul] purulence -
In this world arrogance appears pleasurable to a man because it satisfies his ego. But, when man’s ego appears in its real shape in the Hereafter, the position will be entirely different. Whatever seemed delightful in the world will become a horrible torture for him in the Hereafter.
78:26–35Page 582
جَزَآءٗ وِفَاقًا ٢٦
An appropriate recompense.1
إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ لَا يَرۡجُونَ حِسَابٗا ٢٧
Indeed, they were not expecting an account
وَكَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا كِذَّابٗا ٢٨
And denied Our verses with [emphatic] denial.
وَكُلَّ شَيۡءٍ أَحۡصَيۡنَٰهُ كِتَٰبٗا ٢٩
But all things We have enumerated in writing.
فَذُوقُواْ فَلَن نَّزِيدَكُمۡ إِلَّا عَذَابًا ٣٠
"So taste [the penalty], and never will We increase you except in torment."1
إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ مَفَازًا ٣١
Indeed, for the righteous is attainment1 -
حَدَآئِقَ وَأَعۡنَٰبٗا ٣٢
Gardens and grapevines
وَكَوَاعِبَ أَتۡرَابٗا ٣٣
And young women [companions] of equal age.
وَكَأۡسٗا دِهَاقٗا ٣٤
And a full cup.1
لَّا يَسۡمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغۡوٗا وَلَا كِذَّٰبٗا ٣٥
No ill speech will they hear therein or any falsehood -
The atmosphere of Paradise will be free of all vain talk and falsehood. Therefore, only those who can prove that they have the inclination to live their lives in this world without indulging in trivialities and deceit, will be chosen to inhabit the pure and sublime atmosphere of Paradise.
Text: through the Quran Foundation. The ayahs: Quran Foundation. Sources and licences