Surah Al Naba': The Tidings

October 18, 2024

Surah Al-Naba’ (Arabic: النبأ), the 78th chapter of the Qur’an, is a Meccan surah comprised of 40 verses. It focuses on the themes of resurrection, the Day of Judgment, and the consequences for both the righteous and the wicked. Its title, "Al-Naba’", which translates to "The Tidings", refers to the "great news/tidings" that people are debating—whether there will be a resurrection after death and an accounting of deeds. The surah serves as a reminder of the afterlife and divine justice, encapsulating the power of Allah ﷻ in creation and the certainty of the Day of Judgment.

Connection with Other Surahs:

In the Qur'an, Surah Al-Naba' is the first chapter of the 30th juz' (last section). This placement is significant because it introduces a series of surahs that emphasize the afterlife, with each one presenting vivid descriptions of resurrection, judgment, and the dichotomy between the rewards for believers and punishments for disbelievers. Surah Al-Naba' precedes Surah Al-Nazi’at, which continues the theme of divine reckoning. The connection between these surahs highlights a continuous narrative urging reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the permanence of the hereafter.

Revelation:

The surah was revealed in response to the disputes and disbelief of the Quraysh, particularly about the concept of resurrection. Many of the Meccan polytheists mocked the idea of life after death and reckoning. Allah ﷻ responds in Surah Al-Naba’ by laying out a logical argument about creation and nature, pointing out that if He could create the heavens and the earth, bringing humans back to life is even easier. Thus, the surah addresses their doubts and mockery about the Day of Judgment.

Translation:

Verse 1: What are they asking one another about?
Verse 2: About the momentous news/tidings,
Verse 3: Over which they dispute!
Verse 4: But no! They will come to know.
Verse 5: Then, no! They are going to know.
Verse 6: Did We not make the earth a floor,
Verse 7: And the mountains as stakes?
Verse 8: And We created you in pairs,
Verse 9: And made your sleep for rest,
Verse 10: And made the night as a covering,
Verse 11: And made the day for livelihood,
Verse 12: And We built above you seven mighty [heavens],
Verse 13: And created [therein] a luminous lamp (the sun),
Verse 14: And sent down, from the rain clouds, pouring water,
Verse 15: That We may bring forth thereby grain and vegetation,
Verse 16: And gardens of entwined growth?
Verse 17: Indeed, the Day of Judgement is an appointed time –
Verse 18: The Day the Horn is blown and you will come forth in multitudes,
Verse 19: And the heaven is opened and will become gateways,
Verse 20: And the mountains are removed and will be [but] a mirage.
Verse 21: Indeed, Hell has been lying in wait,
Verse 22: For the transgressors, a place of return,
Verse 23: In which they will remain for ages [unending].
Verse 24: They will not taste therein [any] coolness or drink
Verse 25: Except scalding water and [foul] purulence –
Verse 26: An appropriate recompense.
Verse 27: Indeed, they were not expecting an account,
Verse 28: And denied Our verses with [emphatic] denial.
Verse 29: But all things We have enumerated in writing.
Verse 30: "So taste [the penalty], and never will We increase you except in torment."
Verse 31: Indeed, for the righteous is attainment –
Verse 32: Gardens and grapevines,
Verse 33: nubile, well-matched companions,
Verse 34: And a full cup.
Verse 35: No ill speech will they hear therein or any falsehood –
Verse 36: [As] a reward from your Lord, [a generous] gift [made due by] account,
Verse 37: [From] the Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, the Most Merciful. They possess not from Him [authority for] speech.
Verse 38: The Day that the Spirit and the angels will stand in rows, they will not speak except for one whom the Most Merciful permits, and he will say what is correct.
Verse 39: That Day is the ˹ultimate˺ truth. So let whoever wills take the path leading back to their Lord.
Verse 40: Indeed, We have warned you of a near punishment on the Day when a man will observe what his hands have put forth, and the disbeliever will say, "Oh, I wish that I were dust!"

In-Depth:

Verses 1-5: The Disputation Over the "Great News"
These verses open with a rhetorical question about the topic that the disbelievers were mocking: the resurrection and the Day of Judgment. The “great news” (al-naba' al-'azim) refers to the coming of the Day of Judgment, which the Quraysh rejected.

Surah Al-Anbiya' (21:97): “And the true promise [Day of Resurrection] shall draw near. Then, behold, the eyes of those who disbelieve will stare in horror. They will say, 'Woe to us! We were indeed heedless of this – nay, we were wrongdoers!'"
Surah Al-Isra' (17:50-52): “Say, ‘Be you stones or iron, or some created thing that is yet greater in your thoughts [of being difficult to resurrect]’... they will say, ‘Who will bring us back?’ Say, ‘The One who created you the first time.’”

These verses emphasize the realization that the Day of Judgment is near, contrasting the current disputation and disbelief of the Meccans with the certainty that they will ultimately face the consequences.

Verses 6-16: The Evidence from Creation
These verses present various aspects of the natural world—earth, mountains, night and day, the heavens, and rain—as signs of Allah's ﷻ power and ability to resurrect the dead. They point to the meticulous order in creation, affirming that if Allah ﷻ can create and sustain the universe with such precision, He can also bring about the resurrection.
Surah Al-Anbiya' (21:30-33) supports this by highlighting Allah's ﷻ creative power as a means to convince humanity of His authority:

Surah Al-Anbiya' (21:30-33): “Do not those who disbelieve see that the heavens and the earth were a closed-up mass, then We opened them out? And We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe? And We have placed in the earth firm mountains lest it should shake with them, and We have made therein broad highways that they may follow the right direction. And We have made the heaven a guarded canopy; yet they turn aside from its signs. It is He who created the night and the day, the sun and the moon. Each floats along in its orbit.”

These references to creation confirm that the Day of Judgment is as possible and certain as the natural order seen in everyday life.

Verses 17-20: The Day of Judgment and Its Awe
Here, the surah transitions from the signs of creation to a vivid description of the Day of Judgment. The Day of Decision (Yawm Al-Fasl) refers to the final day when the righteous will be rewarded, and the wrongdoers will be punished. The blowing of the horn (Al-Sur) is a signal for the resurrection, echoed in Surah Al-Anbiya':

Surah Al-Anbiya' (21:104): “The Day when We will fold the heaven like the folding of a [written] sheet for the records. As We began the first creation, We will repeat it.”

This reinforces the idea that just as the heavens and earth were initially created, they will be folded up and recreated on the Day of Judgment.

Verses 21-30: The Torment of Hell
These verses present the consequences of disbelief: eternal torment in Hell. The imagery is stark, with descriptions of the unbearable heat and foul drinks. Surah Al-Anbiya' also touches upon this in its depiction of the punishments of Hell:

Surah Al-Anbiya' (21:100): “They will be screaming therein, and they will not hear [anything else].”

The intense suffering described in Surah Al-Naba' is mirrored by the hopelessness and torment found in Surah Al-Anbiya'.

Verses 31-36: The Rewards of the Righteous
After warning of Hell, the surah shifts to describe the rewards awaiting the righteous in Paradise. They are granted eternal bliss, free from suffering or falsehood. This contrast between the torments of Hell and the rewards of Paradise is a recurring theme in the Qur'an. Surah Al-Anbiya' similarly contrasts the fate of the righteous:

Surah Al-Anbiya' (21:102-103): “They will not hear its sound, while they abide in that which their souls desire. They will not be grieved by the greatest terror, and the angels will meet them, [saying], 'This is your Day which you have been promised.'"

Both surahs depict the ultimate peace and fulfillment that awaits the righteous in contrast to the torment of the disbelievers.

Verses 37-40: The Authority and Finality of Allah ﷻ
The final verses affirm the absolute authority of Allah ﷻ over all matters, including judgment. The surah concludes by affirming the finality of the Day of Judgment, with no power other than Allah’s ﷻ prevailing on that day. The disbelievers are warned that no intercession or excuses will be accepted. The surah closes with an emphatic reminder of the irreversible reality of the resurrection and emphasizes the ultimate accountability every soul will face before their Creator.

Surah Al-Anbiya' (21:47): “And We set up the balance of justice on the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be wronged at all.”

Conclusion:

One of the overarching themes in Surah Al-Naba’ is the balance between Allah's ﷻ mercy and His justice. The vivid depictions of both punishment and reward demonstrate that every action has consequences. This duality encourages believers to strive for righteousness, as their efforts will be rewarded with eternal paradise, while the disbelievers will face eternal damnation.
Another theme is the emphasis on the natural world as a sign of Allah’s ﷻ power. The detailed descriptions of the earth, mountains, and skies serve as a reminder that the same Creator who designed this world with precision is fully capable of enacting the resurrection and judgment.
In conclusion, Surah Al-Naba’ is a chapter that explains fundamental Islamic beliefs regarding the afterlife. It challenges skeptics with logical proofs of resurrection and paints a vivid picture of the contrasting fates awaiting the righteous and the wicked.

Translation and Pronunciation:

In the video below is a recitation that includes pronunciation and English translation. Kindly do not forget to leave a Like and subscribe to their channel.