Surah An-Naziat is the 79th chapter of the Quran, revealed in Makkah. It contains 46 verses that emphasize resurrection, divine accountability, and the outcomes of human deeds. It urges reflection and preparation for eternal life.
Scholars view this surah as a profound lesson on humility and submission to divine power. Researchers highlight its detailed descriptions of the universe as evidence supporting God’s mastery. Analysts often focus on its imagery of angels and the warnings given through Pharaoh’s story. Previous studies praise its balanced approach to faith and fear.
Surah An-Naziat holds timeless relevance. Its vivid depictions and strong moral messages inspire change and reflection. By exploring themes of resurrection and accountability, it challenges individuals to reassess priorities. This powerful chapter encourages growth, righteousness, and preparation for ultimate reckoning. Every verse resonates deeply with life’s purpose.
Themes of Surah An-Naziat
Central to Surah An-Naziat is the theme of resurrection. The chapter projects this truth with unwavering clarity, emphasizing that no barrier can prevent the reawakening of all creation on the Day of Judgment. The discourse begins with oaths highlighting the angels’ divine tasks, painting a dramatic picture of how the soul transitions beyond life.
Resurrection’s inevitability remains intertwined with warnings against pride and disbelief. Historical accounts, such as Pharaoh’s arrogance during his encounter with Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him), enforce the consequences of rejecting guidance. Pharaoh’s hubris led to his destruction, serving as a timeless metaphor for what happens when power blinds individuals to the reality of their Creator.
These signs demand human beings acknowledge their vulnerability and the impossibility of escaping divine accountability. Another key feature is the contrast between people who prioritize worldly gains over eternal prosperity and those who fear their Lord. This juxtaposition reflects the divergent realities of life in submission versus disobedience. For the righteous, the surah shines a light on the reward of paradise. For transgressors, it vividly foretells punishment through scenes of hellfire.
The Structure
The surah organizes its themes into several distinct sections, each reinforcing its message systematically.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Bismillah hir rahman nir raheem
اللہ کے نام سے شروع جو نہایت مہربان ، رحمت والاہے ۔
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
وَٱلنَّـٰزِعَٰتِ غَرۡقٗا
Wan naazi ‘aati gharqa
سختی سے جان کھینچنے والوں کی قسم۔
By those [angels] who extract with violence
وَٱلنَّـٰشِطَٰتِ نَشۡطٗا
Wan naa shi taati nashta
اور نرمی سے بند کھولنے والوں کی۔
And [by] those who remove with ease
وَٱلسَّـٰبِحَٰتِ سَبۡحٗا
Wass saabi-haati sabha
اور آسانی سے تیرنے والوں کی۔
And [by] those who glide [as if] swimming
فَٱلسَّـٰبِقَٰتِ سَبۡقٗا
Fass saabi qaati sabqa
پھر آگے بڑھنے والوں کی۔
And those who race each other in a race
فَٱلۡمُدَبِّرَٰتِ أَمۡرٗا
Fal mu dab-bi raati amra
پھر کائنات کا نظام چلانے والوں کی (اے کافرو!تم پرقیامت ضرور آئے گی) ۔
And those who arrange [each] matter,
يَوۡمَ تَرۡجُفُ ٱلرَّاجِفَةُ
Yawma tarjufur raajifa
جس دن تھرتھرانے والی تھر تھرائے گی ۔
On the Day the blast [of the Horn] will convulse [creation],
تَتۡبَعُهَا ٱلرَّادِفَةُ
Tatba’u har raadifa
اس کے پیچھے آئے گی پیچھے آنے والی۔
There will follow it the subsequent [one].
قُلُوبٞ يَوۡمَئِذٖ وَاجِفَةٌ
Quloobuny-yau maaiziw-waaji-fa
دل اس دن خوفزدہ ہوں گے۔
Hearts, that Day, will tremble,
أَبۡصَٰرُهَا خَٰشِعَةٞ
Absaa ruhaa khashi’ah
ان کی آنکھیں جھکی ہوئی ہوں گی۔
Their eyes humbled.
يَقُولُونَ أَءِنَّا لَمَرۡدُودُونَ فِي ٱلۡحَافِرَةِ
Ya qoo loona a-inna lamar doo doona fil haafirah
کافر کہتے ہیں : کیابیشک ہم ضرور پھر الٹے پاؤں پلٹیں گے۔
They are [presently] saying, “Will we indeed be returned to [our] former state [of life]?
أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَٰمٗا نَّخِرَةٗ
Aizaa kunna ‘izaa man-nakhirah
کیا اس وقت جب ہم گلی ہڈیاں ہوجائیں گے؟
Even if we should be decayed bones?
قَالُواْ تِلۡكَ إِذٗا كَرَّةٌ خَاسِرَةٞ
Qaalu tilka izan karratun khaasirah.
کہنے لگے: جب تویہ پلٹنا نقصان کا پلٹنا ہے۔
They say, “That, then, would be a losing return.”
فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ زَجۡرَةٞ وَٰحِدَةٞ
Fa inna ma hiya zajratuw-waahida
تو وہ (پھونک) تو ایک جھڑکنا ہی ہے۔
Indeed, it will be but one shout,
فَإِذَا هُم بِٱلسَّاهِرَةِ
Faizaa hum biss saahirah
تو فوراً وہ کھلے میدان میں آپڑے ہوں گے۔
And suddenly they will be [alert] upon the earth’s surface.
هَلۡ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰٓ
Hal ataaka hadeethu Musaa
کیا تمہیں موسیٰ کی خبر آئی۔
Has there reached you the story of Moses? –
إِذۡ نَادَىٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ بِٱلۡوَادِ ٱلۡمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى
Iz nadaahu rabbuhu bil waadil-muqad dasi tuwa
جب اسے اس کے رب نے پاک جنگل طویٰ میں ندا فرمائی۔
When his Lord called to him in the sacred valley of Tuwa,
ٱذۡهَبۡ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ
Izhab ilaa fir’auna innahu taghaa.
(فرمایا) کہ فرعون کے پاس جا، بیشک وہ سرکش ہوگیا ہے۔
“Go to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed.
فَقُلۡ هَل لَّكَ إِلَىٰٓ أَن تَزَكَّىٰ
Faqul hal laka ilaa-an tazakka.
تواس سے کہہ: کیا تجھے اس بات کی طرف کوئی رغبت ہے کہ تو پاکیزہ ہوجائے ؟
And say to him, ‘Would you [be willing to] purify yourself
وَأَهۡدِيَكَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَتَخۡشَىٰ
Wa ahdi yaka ila rabbika fatakh sha
اور یہ کہ میں تجھے تیرے رب کی طرف راہ بتاؤں تو تو ڈرے۔
And let me guide you to your Lord so you would fear [Him]?’”
فَأَرَىٰهُ ٱلۡأٓيَةَ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰ
Fa araahul-aayatal kubra.
پھر موسیٰ نے اسے بہت بڑی نشانی دکھائی۔
And he showed him the greatest sign,
فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَىٰ
Fa kazzaba wa asaa.
تو اس نے جھٹلایا اور نافرمانی کی۔
But Pharaoh denied and disobeyed.
ثُمَّ أَدۡبَرَ يَسۡعَىٰ
Thumma adbara yas’aa.
پھر اس نے (مقابلے کی) کوشش کرتے ہوئے پیٹھ پھیر دی ۔
Then he turned his back, striving.
فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَىٰ
Fa hashara fanada.
تو (لوگوں کو) جمع کیا پھر پکارا۔
And he gathered [his people] and called out
فَقَالَ أَنَا۠ رَبُّكُمُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ
Faqala ana rabbu kumul-a’laa.
پھر بولا: میں تمہارا سب سے اعلیٰ رب ہوں ۔
And said, “I am your most exalted lord.”
فَأَخَذَهُ ٱللَّهُ نَكَالَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ
Fa-akha zahul laahu nakalal aakhirati wal-oola.
تو اللہ نے اسے دنیا و آخرت دونوں کے عذاب میں پکڑا۔
So Allah seized him in exemplary punishment for the last and the first [transgression].
إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبۡرَةٗ لِّمَن يَخۡشَىٰٓ
Inna fee zaalika la’ibratal limaiy-yaksha
بیشک اس میں ڈرنے والے کے لئے ضرورعبرت ہے۔
Indeed in that is a warning for whoever would fear [Allah].
ءَأَنتُمۡ أَشَدُّ خَلۡقًا أَمِ ٱلسَّمَآءُۚ بَنَىٰهَا
A-antum a shaddu khalqan amis samaa-u banaaha.
کیا (تمہاری سمجھ کے مطابق) تمہارا بنانا مشکل ہے یا آسمان کا ؟اسے اللہ نے بنایا ۔
Are you a more difficult creation or is heaven? Allah constructed it.
رَفَعَ سَمۡكَهَا فَسَوَّىٰهَا
Raf’a sam kaha fasaw waaha
اس کی چھت اونچی کی پھر اسے ٹھیک کیا۔
He raised its ceiling and proportioned it.
وَأَغۡطَشَ لَيۡلَهَا وَأَخۡرَجَ ضُحَىٰهَا
Wa aghtasha lailaha wa akhraja duhaaha.
اور اس کی رات کو تاریک کیا اور اس کے نورکوظاہر کیا ۔
And He darkened its night and extracted its brightness.
وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ دَحَىٰهَآ
Wal arda b’ada zaalika dahaaha.
اور اس کے بعد زمین پھیلائی۔
And after that He spread the earth.
أَخۡرَجَ مِنۡهَا مَآءَهَا وَمَرۡعَىٰهَا
Akhraja minha maa-aha wa mar ‘aaha.
اس میں سے اس کا پانی اور اس کاچارہ نکا لا۔
He extracted from it its water and its pasture,
وَٱلۡجِبَالَ أَرۡسَىٰهَا
Wal jibala arsaaha.
اور پہاڑوں کو جمایا۔
And the mountains He set firmly
مَتَٰعٗا لَّكُمۡ وَلِأَنۡعَٰمِكُمۡ
Mataa’al lakum wali an ‘aamikum.
تمہارے اور تمہارے چوپایوں کے فائدہ کے لئے ۔
As provision for you and your grazing livestock.
فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلطَّآمَّةُ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰ
Fa-izaa jaaa’atit taaam matul kubraa.
پھر جب وہ عام سب سے بڑی مصیبت آئے گی۔
But when there comes the greatest Overwhelming Calamity –
يَوۡمَ يَتَذَكَّرُ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ مَا سَعَىٰ
Yauma Yata zakkarul insaanu ma sa’aa.
اس دن آدمی یاد کرے گا جو اس نے کوشش کی تھی۔
The Day when man will remember that for which he strove,
وَبُرِّزَتِ ٱلۡجَحِيمُ لِمَن يَرَىٰ
Wa burrizatil-jaheemu limany-yaraa.
اور جہنم ہر دیکھنے والے کے لئے ظاہر کردی جائے گی۔
And Hellfire will be exposed for [all] those who see –
فَأَمَّا مَن طَغَىٰ
Fa ammaa man taghaa.
تو بہر حال وہ جس نے سرکشی کی۔
So as for he who transgressed
وَءَاثَرَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا
Wa aasaral hayaatad dunyaa
اور دنیا کی زندگی کو ترجیح دی۔
And preferred the life of the world,
فَإِنَّ ٱلۡجَحِيمَ هِيَ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰ
Fa innal jaheema hiyal maawaa.
تو بیشک جہنم ہی (اس کا) ٹھکانہ ہے۔
Then indeed, Hellfire will be [his] refuge.
وَأَمَّا مَنۡ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِۦ وَنَهَى ٱلنَّفۡسَ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰ
Wa ammaa man khaafa maqaama Rabbihee wa nahan nafsa ‘anil hawaa
اوررہا وہ جو اپنے رب کے حضور کھڑے ہونے سے ڈرا اور نفس کو خواہش سے روکا۔
But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination,
فَإِنَّ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ هِيَ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰ
Fa innal jannata hiyal ma’waa
تو بیشک جنت ہی (اس کا) ٹھکانہ ہے۔
Then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge.
يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلسَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرۡسَىٰهَا
Yas’aloonaka ‘anis saa’ati ayyaana mursaahaa
تم سے قیامت کے بارے پوچھتے ہیں کہ وہ کب کے لیے ٹھہری ہوئی ہے۔
They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the Hour: when is its arrival?
فِيمَ أَنتَ مِن ذِكۡرَىٰهَآ
Feema anta min zikraahaa
تمہارا اس کے بیان سے کیا تعلق؟
In what [position] are you that you should mention it?
إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ مُنتَهَىٰهَآ
Ilaa Rabbika muntahaa haa
تمہارے رب ہی تک اس کی انتہا ہے۔
To your Lord is its finality.
إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُنذِرُ مَن يَخۡشَىٰهَا
Innamaaa anta munziru maiy yakshaahaa
تم تو فقط اسے ڈرا نے والے ہو جو اس سے ڈرے۔
You are only a warner for those who fear it.
كَأَنَّهُمۡ يَوۡمَ يَرَوۡنَهَا لَمۡ يَلۡبَثُوٓاْ إِلَّا عَشِيَّةً أَوۡ ضُحَىٰهَا
Ka annahum Yawma yarawnahaa lam yalbasooo illaa ‘ashiyyatan aw duhaahaa
گویا جس دن وہ اسے دیکھیں گے (تو سمجھیں گے کہ) وہ صرف ایک شام یا ایک دن چڑھے کے وقت برابر ہی ٹھہرے تھے۔
It will be, on the Day they see it, as though they had not remained [in the world] except for an afternoon or a morning thereof.
Lessons and Reflections
Inevitability of Resurrection
No matter how much denial surrounds this concept, the Quran assures its certainty. Human accomplishments, intellect, and might hold no value against divine will. These verses form a call to prepare consistently for what lies beyond this temporal existence.
Arrogance Leads to Ruin
His refusal to submit stood in stark contrast to the miracles presented to him. Today, his narrative reminds us that clinging to worldly power often accelerates spiritual loss.
Reflecting on Creation
The earth’s vastness, the seamless design of heavens, and nature’s balance invite introspection. For believers, this intellectual engagement establishes stronger faith. The Quran actively encourages engaging with the natural world to understand divine magnificence and align life with this awareness.
Choice Defines Fate
Surah An-Naziat clarifies life’s simplicity. Pursue fleeting material desires or respond to the call of guidance. The rewards for the latter amplify immeasurably. Responsibility towards faith becomes not just an obligation but a compass shaping interactions with life’s trials.
Immediate Accountability
The warning of sudden judgment emphasizes urgency. Delaying repentance, action, or good deeds bears eternal risks.
How to Internalize the Message
Understanding the core themes is essential, but applying them in modern contexts personalizes the surah. Begin by questioning priorities. What pursuits dominate attention? Are they transient or lasting? Anchor daily reflection on creation. Allow natural wonders, from the sky to the smallest of organisms, to rekindle gratitude and reinforce trust in divine plans. Humility should follow, rejecting stubborn attachment to worldly notions of superiority. Lastly, share narratives like that of Pharaoh to encourage others to tread the path of truth. Use these stories as testimonies of unparalleled divine justice and mercy.
Conclusion
The resonance of Surah An-Naziat lies in its relevance to every age. This chapter transcends mere recital, extending a personal invitation to confront life’s impermanence. Taken as a whole, it calls believers to revise their assumptions about power, wealth, and identity. Reflecting on Pharaoh, one sees pride’s ability to veil the obvious truth. His story remains universal. Whether ancient rulers or modern influencers, the human struggle against arrogance remains identical. Recognizing this can dismantle ego-driven impulses and instill the virtues of submission.
Additionally, the consistent transitions between awe and accountability in this surah remind believers of balance. Faith demands remembering grandeur alongside fear of judgment. These two elements engage the heart while grounding aspirations. Ultimately, Surah An-Naziat reorients believers to remember that our purpose surpasses material existence. Moving beyond our short lives requires letting eternal concerns govern every decision we make here and now.
Conclusion
Surah An-Naziat is a call to the soul. It remains striking not only for its imagery but also for its insistence on personal responsibility. Arguing its case with both reason and revelation, this chapter acts as a mirror that reflects our choices. By inspiring submission, warning transgression, and portraying resurrection’s inevitability, it leaves no room for indifference.
This chapter of the Quran is not merely an account. Instead, it is a lifeline—a deeply spiritual, philosophical, and practical text capable of silencing doubts and igniting faith. Each moment spent dwelling on these verses unfolds clarity, leaving one with the choice to either prepare for eternity or risk regret upon facing that destined day. That choice, as Surah An-Naziat reminds us, defines everything.
