Revealed in Madinah, Surah Al-Insan (The Man) focuses on human choice and the path to ultimate success. It details the creation of humans from a mixed drop and their testing with free will. The chapter paints a beautiful, detailed portrait of the righteous who feed the needy, orphans, and captives purely for the sake of God, detailing their elaborate rewards in Paradise, including silk garments, silver bracelets, and a pure drink.
Transliteration
Hal ata AAala alinsani heenun mina alddahri lam yakun shayan mathkooran
Translation
Has there come upon man a period of time when he was nothing to be mentioned
Opens with a humbling philosophical reality check: reminds humanity of the billions of years of cosmic history prior to human creation when humankind was completely non-existent and not even a mentioned concept in the universe.
Transliteration
Inna khalaqna alinsana min nutfatin amshajin nabtaleehi fajaAAalnahu sameeAAan baseeran
Translation
We created man from a liquid mixture, to test him; and We made him hearing and seeing
Scientifically captures the biological moment of fertilization: describes human conception from 'mixed drops' ('Nutfatin Amshaj')—the precise biological union of paternal sperm and maternal ovum carrying combined genetic chromosomes.
Transliteration
Inna hadaynahu alssabeela imma shakiran waimma kafooran
Translation
We guided him to the way, be he appreciative or unappreciative
Transliteration
Inna aAAtadna lilkafireena salasila waaghlalan wasaAAeeran
Translation
We have prepared for the faithless chains, and yokes, and a Searing Fire
Transliteration
Inna alabrara yashraboona min kasin kana mizajuha kafooran
Translation
But the righteous will drink from a cup whose mixture is aroma
Transliteration
AAaynan yashrabu biha AAibadu Allahi yufajjiroonaha tafjeeran
Translation
A spring from which the servants of God will drink, making it gush abundantly
Transliteration
Yoofoona bialnnathri wayakhafoona yawman kana sharruhu mustateeran
Translation
They fulfill their vows, and dread a Day whose ill is widespread
Transliteration
WayutAAimona alttaAAama AAala hubbihi miskeenan wayateeman waaseeran
Translation
And they feed, for the love of Him, the poor, and the orphan, and the captive
The gold standard of selfless charity: describes feeding the impoverished, the orphan, and the prisoner of war despite having an intense personal craving and need for the food oneself. Early commentators record this as honoring Ali, Fatimah, and sincere companions who fasted three days and gave away their only barley loaves to hungry strangers at their door three evenings in a row, subsisting solely on water.
Transliteration
Innama nutAAimukum liwajhi Allahi la nureedu minkum jazaan wala shukooran
Translation
“We only feed you for the sake of God. We want from you neither compensation, nor gratitude
The supreme statement of pure altruistic sincerity: 'We feed you exclusively for the sake of Allah; we desire from you neither financial compensation nor even a word of thanks ('La nuridu minkum jaza'an wa-la shukura')'—the highest pinnacle of humanitarian service devoid of ego or PR.
Transliteration
Inna nakhafu min rabbina yawman AAaboosan qamtareeran
Translation
We dread from our Lord a frowning grim Day.”
Transliteration
Fawaqahumu Allahu sharra thalika alyawmi walaqqahum nadratan wasurooran
Translation
So God will protect them from the ills of that Day, and will grant them radiance and joy
Transliteration
Wajazahum bima sabaroo jannatan wahareeran
Translation
And will reward them for their patience with a Garden and silk
Transliteration
Muttakieena feeha AAala alaraiki la yarawna feeha shamsan wala zamhareeran
Translation
Reclining therein on the thrones; experiencing therein neither sun, nor frost
Describes the perfect climate of Paradise: inhabitants experience absolute thermal comfort, free from scorching desert heat and free from biting, shivering cold ('Zamharir').
Transliteration
Wadaniyatan AAalayhim thilaluha wathullilat qutoofuha tathleelan
Translation
Its shade hovering over them, and its fruit brought low within reach
Transliteration
Wayutafu AAalayhim bianiyatin min fiddatin waakwabin kanat qawareera
Translation
Passing around them are vessels of silver, and cups of crystal
Transliteration
Qawareera min fiddatin qaddarooha taqdeeran
Translation
Crystal of silver—they measured them exactly
Transliteration
Wayusqawna feeha kasan kana mizajuha zanjabeelan
Translation
They will be served therein with a cup whose flavor is Zanjabeel
Transliteration
AAaynan feeha tusamma salsabeelan
Translation
A spring therein named Salsabeel
Transliteration
Wayatoofu AAalayhim wildanun mukhalladoona itha raaytahum hasibtahum luluan manthooran
Translation
Passing among them are eternalized youths. If you see them, you would think them sprinkled pearls
Transliteration
Waitha raayta thamma raayta naAAeeman wamulkan kabeeran
Translation
Wherever you look, you see bliss, and a vast kingdom
Transliteration
AAaliyahum thiyabu sundusin khudrun waistabraqun wahulloo asawira min fiddatin wasaqahum rabbuhum sharaban tahooran
Translation
Upon them are garments of green silk, and satin. And they will be adorned with bracelets of silver. And their Lord will offer them a pure drink
Transliteration
Inna hatha kana lakum jazaan wakana saAAyukum mashkooran
Translation
“This is a reward for you. Your efforts are well appreciated.”
Transliteration
Inna nahnu nazzalna AAalayka alqurana tanzeelan
Translation
It is We who sent down the Quran upon you—a gradual revelation
Transliteration
Faisbir lihukmi rabbika wala tutiAA minhum athiman aw kafooran
Translation
So be patient for the decision of your Lord, and do not obey the sinner or the blasphemer among them
Counsels the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to remain resilient, rejecting tempting financial bribes and political compromises offered by Meccan chieftains (such as Utbah and al-Walid) seeking to dilute the message of truth.
Transliteration
Waothkuri isma rabbika bukratan waaseelan
Translation
And mention the Name of your Lord, morning and evening
Transliteration
Wamina allayli faosjud lahu wasabbihhu laylan taweelan
Translation
And for part of the night, prostrate yourself to Him, and glorify Him long into the night
Transliteration
Inna haolai yuhibboona alAAajilata wayatharoona waraahum yawman thaqeelan
Translation
As for these: they love the fleeting life, and leave behind a Heavy Day
Transliteration
Nahnu khalaqnahum washadadna asrahum waitha shina baddalna amthalahum tabdeelan
Translation
We created them, and strengthened their frame; and whenever We will, We can replace them with others like them
Transliteration
Inna hathihi tathkiratun faman shaa ittakhatha ila rabbihi sabeelan
Translation
This is a reminder; so whoever wills, let him take a path to his Lord
Transliteration
Wama tashaoona illa an yashaa Allahu inna Allaha kana AAaleeman hakeeman
Translation
Yet you cannot will, unless God wills. God is Knowing and Wise
Transliteration
Yudkhilu man yashao fee rahmatihi waalththalimeena aAAadda lahum AAathaban aleeman
Translation
He admits into His mercy whomever He wills. But as for the wrongdoers, He has prepared for them a painful punishment