Revealed during the late Makkan period, Surah Fussilat (Explained in Detail) defends the divine authority of the Quran against the Quraysh, who tried to ignore its recitation. It outlines the creation of the earth and the heavens in distinct phases, challenging humanity to recognize their Creator. The chapter delivers a terrifying warning regarding the fate of past nations like 'Ad and Thamud who rejected guidance. It describes a powerful scene on the Day of Judgment where the disbelievers' own ears, eyes, and skins will bear witness against them, urging humanity to persist in righteousness and respond to evil with what is best.
Transliteration
Hameem
Translation
Ha, Meem
These two disjointed letters ('Ha-Mim') are Huruf Muqatta'at, whose true divine meaning rests with Allah alone. Surah Fussilat was the exact chapter recited by the Prophet ﷺ to Utbah ibn Rabi'ah, an elite Meccan orator who came to bribe the Prophet ﷺ with wealth and power, but left trembling in awe at the sheer majesty of these verses.
Transliteration
Tanzeelun mina alrrahmani alrraheemi
Translation
A revelation from the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Transliteration
Kitabun fussilat ayatuhu quranan AAarabiyyan liqawmin yaAAlamoona
Translation
A Scripture whose Verses are detailed, a Quran in Arabic for people who know
Transliteration
Basheeran wanatheeran faaAArada aktharuhum fahum la yasmaAAoona
Translation
Bringing good news, and giving warnings. But most of them turn away, so they do not listen
Transliteration
Waqaloo quloobuna fee akinnatin mimma tadAAoona ilayhi wafee athanina waqrun wamin baynina wabaynika hijabun faiAAmal innana AAamiloona
Translation
And they say, “Our hearts are screened from what you call us to, and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a barrier. So do what you want, and so will we.”
Transliteration
Qul innama ana basharun mithlukum yooha ilayya annama ilahukum ilahun wahidun faistaqeemoo ilayhi waistaghfiroohu wawaylun lilmushrikeena
Translation
Say, “I am only a human like you; it is inspired in me that your God is One God. So be upright towards Him, and seek forgiveness from Him.” And woe to the idolaters
Transliteration
Allatheena la yutoona alzzakata wahum bialakhirati hum kafiroona
Translation
Those who do not pay the alms; and regarding the Hereafter, they are disbelievers
Transliteration
Inna allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati lahum ajrun ghayru mamnoonin
Translation
As for those who believe and do righteous deeds—for them is a reward uninterrupted
Transliteration
Qul ainnakum latakfuroona biallathee khalaqa alarda fee yawmayni watajAAaloona lahu andadan thalika rabbu alAAalameena
Translation
Say, “Do you reject the One who created the earth in two days? And you attribute equals to Him? That is the Lord of the Universe.”
Transliteration
WajaAAala feeha rawasiya min fawqiha wabaraka feeha waqaddara feeha aqwataha fee arbaAAati ayyamin sawaan lilssaileena
Translation
He placed stabilizers over it; and blessed it; and planned its provisions in four days, equally to the seekers
Transliteration
Thumma istawa ila alssamai wahiya dukhanun faqala laha walilardi itiya tawAAan aw karhan qalata atayna taiAAeena
Translation
Then He turned to the sky, and it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth, “Come, willingly or unwillingly.” They said, “We come willingly.”
Describes the early cosmic state: God turned toward the heaven while it was still primordial gas and cosmic dust ('Dukhan' - smoke), commanding both heaven and earth to come into order willingly, to which they responded in cosmic harmony.
Transliteration
Faqadahunna sabAAa samawatin fee yawmayni waawha fee kulli samain amraha wazayyanna alssamaa alddunya bimasabeeha wahifthan thalika taqdeeru alAAazeezi alAAaleemi
Translation
So He completed them as seven universes in two days, and He assigned to each universe its laws. And We decorated the lower universe with lamps, and for protection. That is the design of the Almighty, the All-Knowing
Transliteration
Fain aAAradoo fuqul anthartukum saAAiqatan mithla saAAiqati AAadin wathamooda
Translation
But if they turn away, say, “I have warned you of a thunderbolt, like the thunderbolt of Aad and Thamood.”
When the Prophet ﷺ recited this specific verse warning of a cataclysmic blast ('Sa'iqah') like that which struck 'Ad and Thamud, the pagan envoy Utbah jumped up in sheer terror, placing his hand over the Prophet's mouth and pleading by family ties to stop reciting out of fear of immediate retribution.
Transliteration
Ith jaathumu alrrusulu min bayni aydeehim wamin khalfihim alla taAAbudoo illa Allaha qaloo law shaa rabbuna laanzala malaikatan fainna bima orsiltum bihi kafiroona
Translation
Their messengers came to them, from before them and from behind them, saying, “Do not worship anyone but God.” They said, “Had our Lord willed, He would have sent down angels; Therefore, we reject what you are sent with.”
Transliteration
Faamma AAadun faistakbaroo fee alardi bighayri alhaqqi waqaloo man ashaddu minna quwwatan awalam yaraw anna Allaha allathee khalaqahum huwa ashaddu minhum quwwatan wakanoo biayatina yajhadoona
Translation
As for Aad, they turned arrogant on earth, and opposed justice, and said, “Who is more powerful than us?” Have they not considered that God, who created them, is more powerful than they? And they went on denying Our revelations
Transliteration
Faarsalna AAalayhim reehan sarsaran fee ayyamin nahisatin linutheeqahum AAathaba alkhizyi fee alhayati alddunya walaAAathabu alakhirati akhza wahum la yunsaroona
Translation
So We unleashed upon them a screaming wind, for a few miserable days, to make them taste the punishment of shame in this life; but the punishment of the Hereafter is more shameful; and they will not be saved
Transliteration
Waamma thamoodu fahadaynahum faistahabboo alAAama AAala alhuda faakhathathum saAAiqatu alAAathabi alhooni bima kanoo yaksiboona
Translation
And as for Thamood, We guided them, but they preferred blindness over guidance. So the thunderbolt of the humiliating punishment seized them, because of what they used to earn
Transliteration
Wanajjayna allatheena amanoo wakanoo yattaqoona
Translation
And We saved those who believed and were righteous
Transliteration
Wayawma yuhsharu aAAdao Allahi ila alnnari fahum yoozaAAoona
Translation
The Day when God’s enemies are herded into the Fire, forcibly
Transliteration
Hatta itha ma jaooha shahida AAalayhim samAAuhum waabsaruhum wajulooduhum bima kanoo yaAAmaloona
Translation
Until, when they have reached it, their hearing, and their sight, and their skins will testify against them regarding what they used to do
Transliteration
Waqaloo lijuloodihim lima shahidtum AAalayna qaloo antaqana Allahu allathee antaqa kulla shayin wahuwa khalaqakum awwala marratin wailayhi turjaAAoona
Translation
And they will say to their skins, “Why did you testify against us?” They will say, “God, Who made all things speak, made us speak. It is He who created you the first time, and to Him you are returned.”
Describes an astonishing scene on Judgment Day: when deniers' own skin, ears, and eyes testify against their sins, they will argue with their own bodies, asking: 'Why did you testify against us?' and their skin will respond: 'Allah has given us speech, as He gives speech to all things.'
Transliteration
Wama kuntum tastatiroona an yashhada AAalaykum samAAukum wala absarukum wala juloodukum walakin thanantum anna Allaha la yaAAlamu katheeran mimma taAAmaloona
Translation
You were unable to hide yourselves from your hearing, and your sight, and your skins, to prevent them from testifying against you, and you imagined that God was unaware of much of what you do
Transliteration
Wathalikum thannukumu allathee thanantum birabbikum ardakum faasbahtum mina alkhasireena
Translation
It is that thought of yours about your Lord that led you to ruin—so you became of the losers
Transliteration
Fain yasbiroo faalnnaru mathwan lahum wain yastaAAtiboo fama hum mina almuAAtabeena
Translation
If they endure patiently, the Fire will be their residence; and if they make up excuses, they will not be pardoned
Transliteration
Waqayyadna lahum quranaa fazayyanoo lahum ma bayna aydeehim wama khalfahum wahaqqa AAalayhimu alqawlu fee omamin qad khalat min qablihim mina aljinni waalinsi innahum kanoo khasireena
Translation
We had assigned companions for them, who glamorized to them what was in front of them, and what was behind them. And the Word proved true against them in communities of jinn and humans that have passed away before them. They were losers
Transliteration
Waqala allatheena kafaroo la tasmaAAoo lihatha alqurani wailghaw feehi laAAallakum taghliboona
Translation
Those who disbelieve say, “Do not listen to this Quran, and talk over it, so that you may prevail.”
Exposes Meccan censorship tactics: pagan leaders instructed crowds to make loud noise, chant, whistle, and clap whenever the Quran was recited in public to prevent listeners from being captivated by its sublime eloquence.
Transliteration
Falanutheeqanna allatheena kafaroo AAathaban shadeedan walanajziyannahum aswaa allathee kanoo yaAAmaloona
Translation
We will make those who disbelieve taste an intense agony, and We will recompense them according to the worst of what they used to do
Transliteration
Thalika jazao aAAdai Allahi alnnaru lahum feeha daru alkhuldi jazaan bima kanoo biayatina yajhadoona
Translation
Such is the recompense of God’s enemies—the Fire—where they will have their permanent home, in recompense for having disregarded Our revelations
Transliteration
Waqala allatheena kafaroo rabbana arina allathayni adallana mina aljinni waalinsi najAAalhuma tahta aqdamina liyakoona mina alasfaleena
Translation
Those who disbelieved will say, “Our Lord, show us those who led us astray—among jinn and humans—and we will trample them under our feet, so they become among of the lowest.”
Transliteration
Inna allatheena qaloo rabbuna Allahu thumma istaqamoo tatanazzalu AAalayhimu almalaikatu alla takhafoo wala tahzanoo waabshiroo bialjannati allatee kuntum tooAAadoona
Translation
Surely, those who say: “Our Lord is God,” and then go straight, the angels will descend upon them: “Do not fear, and do not grieve, but rejoice in the news of the Garden which you were promised
Promises that for those who maintain steadfast faith and integrity, angels will visibly descend at the moment of their passing, comforting their souls: 'Do not fear, nor grieve, but rejoice in the Paradise promised to you.'
Transliteration
Nahnu awliyaokum fee alhayati alddunya wafee alakhirati walakum feeha ma tashtahee anfusukum walakum feeha ma taddaAAoona
Translation
We are your allies in this life and in the Hereafter, wherein you will have whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you call for
Transliteration
Nuzulan min ghafoorin raheemin
Translation
As Hospitality from an All-Forgiving, Merciful One.”
Transliteration
Waman ahsanu qawlan mimman daAAa ila Allahi waAAamila salihan waqala innanee mina almuslimeena
Translation
And who is better in speech than someone who calls to God, and acts with integrity, and says, “I am of those who submit”
Transliteration
Wala tastawee alhasanatu wala alssayyiatu idfaAA biallatee hiya ahsanu faitha allathee baynaka wabaynahu AAadawatun kaannahu waliyyun hameemun
Translation
Good and evil are not equal. Repel evil with good, and the person who was your enemy becomes like an intimate friend
The golden rule of social psychology and conflict de-escalation: repel hostility with superior kindness and moral character, transforming a bitter adversary into a close, devoted ally ('Waliyyun Hamim').
Transliteration
Wama yulaqqaha illa allatheena sabaroo wama yulaqqaha illa thoo haththin AAatheemin
Translation
But none will attain it except those who persevere, and none will attain it except the very fortunate
Transliteration
Waimma yanzaghannaka mina alshshaytani nazghun faistaAAith biAllahi innahu huwa alssameeAAu alAAaleemu
Translation
When a temptation from the Devil provokes you, seek refuge in God; He is the Hearer, the Knower
Transliteration
Wamin ayatihi allaylu waalnnaharu waalshshamsu waalqamaru la tasjudoo lilshshamsi wala lilqamari waosjudoo lillahi alathee khalaqahunna in kuntum iyyahu taAAbudoona
Translation
And of His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Do not bow down to the sun, nor to the moon, but bow down to God, Who created them both, if it is Him that you serve
Condemns astral and celestial worship: explicitly forbids bowing before the sun or the moon, directing worship exclusively to the Creator who engineered and regulates their cosmic movements.
Transliteration
Faini istakbaroo faallatheena AAinda rabbika yusabbihoona lahu biallayli waalnnahari wahum la yasamoona
Translation
But if they are too proud—those in the presence of your Lord praise Him night and day, and without ever tiring
Transliteration
Wamin ayatihi annaka tara alarda khashiAAatan faitha anzalna AAalayha almaa ihtazzat warabat inna allathee ahyaha lamuhyee almawta innahu AAala kulli shayin qadeerun
Translation
And of His signs is that you see the land still. But when We send down water upon it, it stirs and grows. Surely, He Who revived it will revive the dead. He is Able to do all things
Transliteration
Inna allatheena yulhidoona fee ayatina la yakhfawna AAalayna afaman yulqa fee alnnari khayrun am man yatee aminan yawma alqiyamati iAAmaloo ma shitum innahu bima taAAmaloona baseerun
Translation
Those who despise Our revelations are not hidden from Us. Is he who is hurled into the Fire better? Or he who arrives safely on the Day of Resurrection? Do as you please; He is Seeing of everything you do
Transliteration
Inna allatheena kafaroo bialththikri lamma jaahum wainnahu lakitabun AAazeezun
Translation
Those who reject the Reminder when it has come to them—it is an invincible Book
Transliteration
La yateehi albatilu min bayni yadayhi wala min khalfihi tanzeelun min hakeemin hameedin
Translation
Falsehood cannot approach it, from before it or behind it. It is a revelation from One Wise and Praiseworthy
Affirms the divine textual integrity of the Quran: it is fundamentally immune to human tampering, corruption, or factual error from any angle, preserved eternally under divine protection.
Transliteration
Ma yuqalu laka illa ma qad qeela lilrrusuli min qablika inna rabbaka lathoo maghfiratin wathoo AAiqabin aleemin
Translation
Nothing is said to you but was said to the Messengers before you: your Lord is Possessor of Forgiveness, and Possessor of Painful Repayment
Transliteration
Walaw jaAAalnahu quranan aAAjamiyyan laqaloo lawla fussilat ayatuhu aaAAjamiyyun waAAarabiyyun qul huwa lillatheena amanoo hudan washifaon waallatheena la yuminoona fee athanihim waqrun wahuwa AAalayhim AAaman olaika yunadawna min makanin baAAeedin
Translation
Had We made it a Quran in a foreign language, they would have said, “If only its verses were made clear.” Non-Arabic and an Arab? Say, “For those who believe, it is guidance and healing. But as for those who do not believe: there is heaviness in their ears, and it is blindness for them. These are being called from a distant place.”
Transliteration
Walaqad atayna moosa alkitaba faikhtulifa feehi walawla kalimatun sabaqat min rabbika laqudiya baynahum wainnahum lafee shakkin minhu mureebin
Translation
We gave Moses the Book, but disputes arose concerning it. Were it not for a prior decree from your Lord, judgment would have been pronounced between them. But they are in perplexing doubt concerning it
Transliteration
Man AAamila salihan falinafsihi waman asaa faAAalayha wama rabbuka bithallamin lilAAabeedi
Translation
Whoever acts righteously does so for himself; and whoever works evil does so against himself. Your Lord is not unjust to the servants
Transliteration
Ilayhi yuraddu AAilmu alssaAAati wama takhruju min thamaratin min akmamiha wama tahmilu min ontha wala tadaAAu illa biAAilmihi wayawma yunadeehim ayna shurakaee qaloo athannaka ma minna min shaheedin
Translation
To Him is referred the knowledge of the Hour. No fruit emerges from its sheath, and no female conceives or delivers, except with His knowledge. And on the Day when He calls out to them, “Where are My associates?” They will say, “We admit to you, none of us is a witness.”
Transliteration
Wadalla AAanhum ma kanoo yadAAoona min qablu wathannoo ma lahum min maheesin
Translation
What they used to pray to before will forsake them, and they will realize that they have no escape
Transliteration
La yasamu alinsanu min duAAai alkhayri wain massahu alshsharru fayaoosun qanootun
Translation
The human being never tires of praying for good things; but when adversity afflicts him, he despairs and loses hope
Transliteration
Walain athaqnahu rahmatan minna min baAAdi darraa massathu layaqoolanna hatha lee wama athunnu alssaAAata qaimatan walain rujiAAtu ila rabbee inna lee AAindahu lalhusna falanunabbianna allatheena kafaroo bima AAamiloo walanutheeqannahum min AAathabin ghaleethin
Translation
And when We let him taste a mercy from Us, after the adversity that had afflicted him, he will say, “This is mine, and I do not think that the Hour is coming; and even if I am returned to my Lord, I will have the very best with Him.” We will inform those who disbelieve of what they did, and We will make them taste an awful punishment
Transliteration
Waitha anAAamna AAala alinsani aAArada wanaa bijanibihi waitha massahu alshsharru fathoo duAAain AAareedin
Translation
When We provide comfort for the human being, he withdraws and distances himself; but when adversity befalls him, he starts lengthy prayers
Transliteration
Qul araaytum in kana min AAindi Allahi thumma kafartum bihi man adallu mimman huwa fee shiqaqin baAAeedin
Translation
Say, “Have you considered? If it is from God and you reject it—who is further astray than he who is cutoff and alienated?”
Transliteration
Sanureehim ayatina fee alafaqi wafee anfusihim hatta yatabayyana lahum annahu alhaqqu awalam yakfi birabbika annahu AAala kulli shayin shaheedun
Translation
We will show them Our proofs on the horizons, and in their very souls, until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient that your Lord is witness over everything
A famous prophetic statement on scientific exploration: God promises that He will continuously unveil His signs across the vast cosmic horizons ('Afaq' - astrophysics/cosmology) and within human biology ('Anfus' - embryology/anatomy) until the divine truth of the Quran becomes undeniable.
Transliteration
Ala innahum fee miryatin min liqai rabbihim ala innahu bikulli shayin muheetun
Translation
Surely they are in doubt about the encounter with their Lord. Surely He comprehends everything