Revealed in Makkah, Surah An-Nazi'at (Those Who Drag Forth) begins by swearing by the angels who extract souls at death with varying degrees of severity and gentleness. It outlines the sudden, terrifying nature of the resurrection, references Moses' confrontation with the arrogant Pharaoh, and warns that the life of this world is merely a temporary passing phase compared to the eternity of the Hereafter.
Transliteration
WaalnnaziAAati gharqan
Translation
By those who snatch violently
God swears by the stern angels of death who extract the souls of unrepentant, hostile sinners with overwhelming force.
Transliteration
Waalnnashitati nashtan
Translation
And those who remove gently
God swears by the gentle angels of mercy who draw out the souls of righteous believers with serene tenderness.
Transliteration
Waalssabihati sabhan
Translation
And those who glide smoothly
God swears by the angels gliding effortlessly through cosmic dimensions to fulfill divine decrees.
Transliteration
Faalssabiqati sabqan
Translation
And those who race swiftly
God swears by the eager angels racing rapidly to carry out the commands of God and escort souls to their destinations.
Transliteration
Faalmudabbirati amran
Translation
And those who regulate events
God swears by the designated angels charged with regulating the physical and spiritual affairs of the cosmos by God's permission.
Transliteration
Yawma tarjufu alrrajifatu
Translation
On the Day when the Quake quakes
Transliteration
TatbaAAuha alrradifatu
Translation
And is followed by the Successor
Transliteration
Quloobun yawmaithin wajifatun
Translation
Hearts on that Day will be pounding
Transliteration
Absaruha khashiAAatun
Translation
Their sights downcast
Transliteration
Yaqooloona ainna lamardoodoona fee alhafirati
Translation
They say, “Are we to be restored to the original condition
Reflects the mocking skepticism of Meccan polytheists: they ridiculed the promise of bodily resurrection, laughing that if decayed, brittle bones could truly be resurrected, it would indeed be a disastrously unprofitable deal for them.
Transliteration
Aitha kunna AAithaman nakhiratan
Translation
When we have become hollow bones?”
Transliteration
Qaloo tilka ithan karratun khasiratun
Translation
They say, “This is a losing proposition.”
Transliteration
Fainnama hiya zajratun wahidatun
Translation
But it will be only a single nudge
Transliteration
Faitha hum bialssahirati
Translation
And they will be awake
Transliteration
Hal ataka hadeethu moosa
Translation
Has the story of Moses reached you
Transliteration
Ith nadahu rabbuhu bialwadi almuqaddasi tuwan
Translation
When His Lord called out to him in the sacred valley of Tuwa
Transliteration
Ithhab ila firAAawna innahu tagha
Translation
“Go to Pharaoh—he has transgressed.”
Transliteration
Faqul hal laka ila an tazakka
Translation
And say, “Do you care to be cleansed
Highlights the extraordinary diplomatic courtesy taught to prophets: when Moses was sent to confront Pharaoh—the most brutal tyrant of ancient history—God commanded him to ask politely: 'Would you be willing to purify yourself and let me guide you to your Lord?'—demonstrating that invitations to truth must begin with dignity, not insult.
Transliteration
Waahdiyaka ila rabbika fatakhsha
Translation
And I will guide you to your Lord, and you will turn reverent.”
Transliteration
Faarahu alayata alkubra
Translation
He showed him the Greatest Miracle
Transliteration
Fakaththaba waAAasa
Translation
But he denied and defied
Transliteration
Thumma adbara yasAAa
Translation
Then turned his back, and tried
Transliteration
Fahashara fanada
Translation
And gathered and proclaimed
Transliteration
Faqala ana rabbukumu alaAAla
Translation
He said, “I am your Lord, the most high.”
Recalls Pharaoh's peak megalomania: in response to Moses' gentle appeal, Pharaoh gathered his royal assembly and boldly declared: 'I am your supreme lord!' ('Ana Rabbukumu al-A'la'), sealing his historical infamy.
Transliteration
Faakhathahu Allahu nakala alakhirati waaloola
Translation
So God seized him with an exemplary punishment, in the last and in the first
Transliteration
Inna fee thalika laAAibratan liman yakhsha
Translation
In this is a lesson for whoever fears
Transliteration
Aantum ashaddu khalqan ami alssamao banaha
Translation
Are you more difficult to create, or the heaven? He constructed it
Transliteration
RafaAAa samkaha fasawwaha
Translation
He raised its masses, and proportioned it
Transliteration
Waaghtasha laylaha waakhraja duhaha
Translation
And He dimmed its night, and brought out its daylight
Transliteration
Waalarda baAAda thalika dahaha
Translation
And the earth after that He spread
Describes the formatting of Earth's topography: 'And after that He spread out the earth' ('Dahaha'). Classical linguistic roots link 'Dahw' both to smoothing out fertile land and to the rounded shape of an ostrich nest, harmonizing with modern knowledge of the Earth's oblately spherical geoid shape.
Transliteration
Akhraja minha maaha wamarAAaha
Translation
And from it, He produced its water and its pasture
Transliteration
Waaljibala arsaha
Translation
And the mountains, He anchored
Transliteration
MataAAan lakum walianAAamikum
Translation
A source of enjoyment for you and for your animals
Transliteration
Faitha jaati alttammatu alkubra
Translation
But when the Great Cataclysm arrives
Transliteration
Yawma yatathakkaru alinsanu ma saAAa
Translation
A Day when man will remember what he has endeavored
Transliteration
Waburrizati aljaheemu liman yara
Translation
And Hell will be displayed to whoever sees
Transliteration
Faamma man tagha
Translation
As for him who was defiant
Transliteration
Waathara alhayata alddunya
Translation
And preferred the life of this world
Transliteration
Fainna aljaheema hiya almawa
Translation
Then Hell is the shelter
Transliteration
Waama man khafa maqama rabbihi wanaha alnnafsa AAani alhawa
Translation
But as for him who feared the Standing of his Lord, and restrained the self from desires
Transliteration
Fainna aljannata hiya almawa
Translation
Then Paradise is the shelter
Transliteration
Yasaloonaka AAani alssaAAati ayyana mursaha
Translation
They ask you about the Hour, “When will it take place?”
Meccan skeptics repeatedly pestered the Prophet ﷺ asking for the exact date and hour of the Day of Judgment, to which God responded that knowledge of its specific timing rests exclusively with the Creator.
Transliteration
Feema anta min thikraha
Translation
You have no knowledge of it
Transliteration
Ila rabbika muntahaha
Translation
To your Lord is its finality
Transliteration
Innama anta munthiru man yakhshaha
Translation
You are just a warner for whoever dreads it
Transliteration
Kaannahum yawma yarawnaha lam yalbathoo illa AAashiyyatan aw duhaha
Translation
On the Day when they witness it—as though they only stayed an evening, or its morning
The ultimate realization of life's brevity: on the Day when humanity stands before God, their entire earthly lifetime—all decades of wealth, stress, ambition, and wars—will feel in hindsight like nothing more than a brief afternoon stroll or a single morning breeze ('Ashiyyatan aw Duhaha').