Revealed in Makkah, Surah Al-Mursalat (The Emissaries) opens with powerful oaths by wind, rain, and angels to confirm the absolute reality of the Day of Judgment. It is characterized by the repeating, chilling refrain: 'Woe, that Day, to the deniers!' The chapter recounts the destruction of past rejecters and points to human creation and the earth's natural design as proof of the Creator's power.
Transliteration
Waalmursalati AAurfan
Translation
By those unleashed in succession
God swears an oath by the beneficial atmospheric winds sent forth in continuous, orderly succession to refresh the earth.
Transliteration
FaalAAasifati AAasfan
Translation
Storming turbulently
God swears by catastrophic hurricane gales and storm winds that demonstrate the immense force of nature.
Transliteration
Waalnnashirati nashran
Translation
Scattering far and wide
God swears by the meteorological winds that disperse dense cloud banks across skies to facilitate rainfall.
Transliteration
Faalfariqati farqan
Translation
Separating decisively
God swears by the angels whose revealed scriptures clearly separate truth from falsehood and right from wrong.
Transliteration
Faalmulqiyati thikran
Translation
Delivering a message
God swears by the angels who convey divine messages and moral remembrance to the human prophets.
Transliteration
AAuthran aw nuthran
Translation
Excusing or warning
Transliteration
Innama tooAAadoona lawaqiAAun
Translation
Surely what you are promised will happen
Transliteration
Faitha alnnujoomu tumisat
Translation
When the stars are obliterated
Transliteration
Waitha alssamao furijat
Translation
And the sky is fractured
Transliteration
Waitha aljibalu nusifat
Translation
And the mountains are blown away
Transliteration
Waitha alrrusulu oqqitat
Translation
And the messengers are alerted
Transliteration
Liayyi yawmin ojjilat
Translation
Until which day is it deferred
Transliteration
Liyawmi alfasli
Translation
Until the Day of Decision
Transliteration
Wama adraka ma yawmu alfasli
Translation
And what will teach you what the Day of Decision is
Transliteration
Waylun yawmaithin lilmukaththibeena
Translation
Woe on that Day to the liars
Introduces the powerful recurring warning of the chapter (repeated ten times across fifty verses): 'Woe on that Day to the deniers!' ('Waylun yawma'idhin lil-mukadh-dhibin')—a solemn refrain underscoring the inevitability of moral reckoning.
Transliteration
Alam nuhliki alawwaleena
Translation
Did We not destroy the ancients
Transliteration
Thumma nutbiAAuhumu alakhireena
Translation
Then succeeded them with the others
Transliteration
Kathalika nafAAalu bialmujrimeena
Translation
This is how We deal with the guilty
Transliteration
Waylun yawmaithin lilmukaththibeena
Translation
Woe on that Day to the rejecters
Transliteration
Alam nakhluqkum min main maheenin
Translation
Did We not create you from an insignificant fluid
Transliteration
FajaAAalnahu fee qararin makeenin
Translation
Then lodged it in a secure place
Transliteration
Ila qadarin maAAloomin
Translation
For a known term
Transliteration
Faqadarna faniAAma alqadiroona
Translation
We measured precisely. We are the best to measure
Transliteration
Waylun yawmaithin lilmukaththibeena
Translation
Woe on that Day to the falsifiers
Transliteration
Alam najAAali alarda kifatan
Translation
Did We not make the earth a homestead
Describes the unique geological and ecological function of Earth: God designed the planet to be an all-encompassing container and sanctuary ('Kifat')—its surface sustaining all living human and biological societies, while its depths securely cradle the remains of the dead.
Transliteration
Ahyaan waamwatan
Translation
For the living and the dead
Transliteration
WajaAAalna feeha rawasiya shamikhatin waasqaynakum maan furatan
Translation
And set on it lofty mountains, and given you pure water to drink
Transliteration
Waylun yawmaithin lilmukaththibeena
Translation
Woe on that Day to the deniers
Transliteration
Intaliqoo ila ma kuntum bihi tukaththiboona
Translation
“Proceed to what you used to deny.”
Transliteration
Intaliqoo ila thillin thee thalathi shuAAabin
Translation
“Proceed to a shadow of three different masses.”
Describes the oppressive suffocating smoke of Hellfire: rising in three towering columns ('Thalathi Shu'ab') that provide zero cool shade and zero defense against scorching heat.
Transliteration
La thaleelin wala yughnee mina allahabi
Translation
Offering no shade, and unavailing against the flames
Transliteration
Innaha tarmee bishararin kaalqasri
Translation
It shoots sparks as castles
A striking visual depiction of Hellfire's combustion: describes its towering flames throwing out sparks as massive as castles and fortresses ('Kal-Qasr'), glowing with a dark fiery yellow-amber hue resembling galloping camels ('Jimalatun Sufr').
Transliteration
Kaannahu jimalatun sufrun
Translation
As if they were yellow camels
Transliteration
Waylun yawmaithin lilmukaththibeena
Translation
Woe on that Day to the liars
Transliteration
Hatha yawmu la yantiqoona
Translation
This is a Day when they will not speak
Transliteration
Wala yuthanu lahum fayaAAtathiroona
Translation
And they will not be allowed to apologize
Transliteration
Waylun yawmaithin lilmukaththibeena
Translation
Woe on that Day to the rejecters
Transliteration
Hatha yawmu alfasli jamaAAnakum waalawwaleena
Translation
This is the Day of Separation; We have gathered you, together with the ancients
Transliteration
Fain kana lakum kaydun fakeedooni
Translation
So if you have a strategy, use it against Me
Transliteration
Waylun yawmaithin lilmukaththibeena
Translation
Woe on that Day to the falsifiers
Transliteration
Inna almuttaqeena fee thilalin waAAuyoonin
Translation
The righteous will be amidst shades and fountains
Transliteration
Wafawakiha mimma yashtahoona
Translation
And fruits as they desire
Transliteration
Kuloo waishraboo haneean bima kuntum taAAmaloona
Translation
“Eat and drink pleasantly, for what you used to do.”
Transliteration
Inna kathalika najzee almuhsineena
Translation
This is how We reward the doers of good
Transliteration
Waylun yawmaithin lilmukaththibeena
Translation
Woe on that Day to the deniers
Transliteration
Kuloo watamattaAAoo qaleelan innakum mujrimoona
Translation
“Eat and enjoy yourselves a little; you are indeed criminals.”
Transliteration
Waylun yawmaithin lilmukaththibeena
Translation
Woe on that Day to the liars
Transliteration
Waitha qeela lahumu irkaAAoo la yarkaAAoona
Translation
And when it is said to them, “Kneel”, they do not kneel
Condemns the social arrogance of Meccan polytheists: when invited to humble their bodies and minds in prayer (Ruku') before their Creator, they haughtily refused, claiming that bowing down was beneath their aristocratic dignity.
Transliteration
Waylun yawmaithin lilmukaththibeena
Translation
Woe on that Day to the rejecters
Transliteration
Fabiayyi hadeethin baAAdahu yuminoona
Translation
In what message, beyond this, will they believe