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سُورَةُ الإِنسَانِ

Surah 76 - Al-Insaan

Man

  • 31 verses
  • Juz 29
  • Pages 578 to 580 of the Mushaf

Al-Insaan opens on a question about a time when the human being was not yet anything spoken of. Three verses then state his forming, the test he is meant for, the hearing and sight given him, and the way pointed out - his to be thankful for or not. The fourth says in one line what awaits those who refuse; the eighteen that follow describe at length those who keep their pledges and give food to the poor, the orphan and the captive expecting nothing back. Cups, springs, shade, garments: the description takes its time. The text at last returns to the one it addresses, tells him to wait and to call upon, then leaves the choice open.

The main parts

  1. A time with no mention, then the way pointed out1-4
  2. What awaits those who give food5-22
  3. The instruction given to the one addressed23-26
  4. The leaning toward the immediate, and the choice left27-31

The text of the surah

  1. بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْإِنسَٰنِ حِينٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُن شَيْـًۭٔا مَّذْكُورًا

    Has there [not] come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing [even] mentioned?

  2. إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍۢ نَّبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَٰهُ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًا

    Indeed, We created man from a sperm-drop mixture that We may try him; and We made him hearing and seeing.

  3. إِنَّا هَدَيْنَٰهُ ٱلسَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًۭا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا

    Indeed, We guided him to the way, be he grateful or be he ungrateful.

  4. إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ سَلَٰسِلَا۟ وَأَغْلَٰلًۭا وَسَعِيرًا

    Indeed, We have prepared for the disbelievers chains and shackles and a blaze.

  5. إِنَّ ٱلْأَبْرَارَ يَشْرَبُونَ مِن كَأْسٍۢ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُورًا

    Indeed, the righteous will drink from a cup [of wine] whose mixture is of Kafur,

  6. عَيْنًۭا يَشْرَبُ بِهَا عِبَادُ ٱللَّهِ يُفَجِّرُونَهَا تَفْجِيرًۭا

    A spring of which the [righteous] servants of Allah will drink; they will make it gush forth in force [and abundance].

  7. يُوفُونَ بِٱلنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًۭا كَانَ شَرُّهُۥ مُسْتَطِيرًۭا

    They [are those who] fulfill [their] vows and fear a Day whose evil will be widespread.

  8. وَيُطْعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسْكِينًۭا وَيَتِيمًۭا وَأَسِيرًا

    And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive,

  9. إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ ٱللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَآءًۭ وَلَا شُكُورًا

    [Saying], "We feed you only for the countenance of Allah. We wish not from you reward or gratitude.

  10. إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوْمًا عَبُوسًۭا قَمْطَرِيرًۭا

    Indeed, We fear from our Lord a Day austere and distressful."

  11. فَوَقَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمِ وَلَقَّىٰهُمْ نَضْرَةًۭ وَسُرُورًۭا

    So Allah will protect them from the evil of that Day and give them radiance and happiness

  12. وَجَزَىٰهُم بِمَا صَبَرُوا۟ جَنَّةًۭ وَحَرِيرًۭا

    And will reward them for what they patiently endured [with] a garden [in Paradise] and silk [garments].

  13. مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ ۖ لَا يَرَوْنَ فِيهَا شَمْسًۭا وَلَا زَمْهَرِيرًۭا

    [They will be] reclining therein on adorned couches. They will not see therein any [burning] sun or [freezing] cold.

  14. وَدَانِيَةً عَلَيْهِمْ ظِلَٰلُهَا وَذُلِّلَتْ قُطُوفُهَا تَذْلِيلًۭا

    And near above them are its shades, and its [fruit] to be picked will be lowered in compliance.

  15. وَيُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِـَٔانِيَةٍۢ مِّن فِضَّةٍۢ وَأَكْوَابٍۢ كَانَتْ قَوَارِيرَا۠

    And there will be circulated among them vessels of silver and cups having been [created] clear [as glass],

  16. قَوَارِيرَا۟ مِن فِضَّةٍۢ قَدَّرُوهَا تَقْدِيرًۭا

    Clear glasses [made] from silver of which they have determined the measure.

  17. وَيُسْقَوْنَ فِيهَا كَأْسًۭا كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا زَنجَبِيلًا

    And they will be given to drink a cup [of wine] whose mixture is of ginger

  18. عَيْنًۭا فِيهَا تُسَمَّىٰ سَلْسَبِيلًۭا

    [From] a fountain within Paradise named Salsabeel.

  19. ۞ وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَٰنٌۭ مُّخَلَّدُونَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ حَسِبْتَهُمْ لُؤْلُؤًۭا مَّنثُورًۭا

    There will circulate among them young boys made eternal. When you see them, you would think them [as beautiful as] scattered pearls.

  20. وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ثَمَّ رَأَيْتَ نَعِيمًۭا وَمُلْكًۭا كَبِيرًا

    And when you look there [in Paradise], you will see pleasure and great dominion.

  21. عَٰلِيَهُمْ ثِيَابُ سُندُسٍ خُضْرٌۭ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٌۭ ۖ وَحُلُّوٓا۟ أَسَاوِرَ مِن فِضَّةٍۢ وَسَقَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ شَرَابًۭا طَهُورًا

    Upon the inhabitants will be green garments of fine silk and brocade. And they will be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord will give them a purifying drink.

  22. إِنَّ هَٰذَا كَانَ لَكُمْ جَزَآءًۭ وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُم مَّشْكُورًا

    [And it will be said], "Indeed, this is for you a reward, and your effort has been appreciated."

  23. إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ تَنزِيلًۭا

    Indeed, it is We who have sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Qur'an progressively.

  24. فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تُطِعْ مِنْهُمْ ءَاثِمًا أَوْ كَفُورًۭا

    So be patient for the decision of your Lord and do not obey from among them a sinner or ungrateful [disbeliever].

  25. وَٱذْكُرِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ بُكْرَةًۭ وَأَصِيلًۭا

    And mention the name of your Lord [in prayer] morning and evening

  26. وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَٱسْجُدْ لَهُۥ وَسَبِّحْهُ لَيْلًۭا طَوِيلًا

    And during the night prostrate to Him and exalt Him a long [part of the] night.

  27. إِنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ يُحِبُّونَ ٱلْعَاجِلَةَ وَيَذَرُونَ وَرَآءَهُمْ يَوْمًۭا ثَقِيلًۭا

    Indeed, these [disbelievers] love the immediate and leave behind them a grave Day.

  28. نَّحْنُ خَلَقْنَٰهُمْ وَشَدَدْنَآ أَسْرَهُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا شِئْنَا بَدَّلْنَآ أَمْثَٰلَهُمْ تَبْدِيلًا

    We have created them and strengthened their forms, and when We will, We can change their likenesses with [complete] alteration.

  29. إِنَّ هَٰذِهِۦ تَذْكِرَةٌۭ ۖ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ سَبِيلًۭا

    Indeed, this is a reminder, so he who wills may take to his Lord a way.

  30. وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًۭا

    And you do not will except that Allah wills. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.

  31. يُدْخِلُ مَن يَشَآءُ فِى رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۚ وَٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ أَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًۢا

    He admits whom He wills into His mercy; but the wrongdoers - He has prepared for them a painful punishment.

Key verses of the surah

  • The opening question: a time when the one in question was not yet anything spoken of.

    بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْإِنسَٰنِ حِينٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُن شَيْـًۭٔا مَّذْكُورًا

    Has there [not] come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing [even] mentioned?

  • The verse that names one by one the three who receive the food offered, at the heart of the portrait.

    وَيُطْعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسْكِينًۭا وَيَتِيمًۭا وَأَسِيرًا

    And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive,

  • The only verse of the surah to give a proper name to a spring, in the middle of the description.

    عَيْنًۭا فِيهَا تُسَمَّىٰ سَلْسَبِيلًۭا

    [From] a fountain within Paradise named Salsabeel.

  • The verse that breaks off the long description and brings the text back to the one it addresses.

    إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ تَنزِيلًۭا

    Indeed, it is We who have sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Qur'an progressively.

What is surah Al-Insaan about?

Of a creature put to the test and of what follows. The text spends one line on those who refuse and eighteen verses on those who hold firm, which makes it a description rather than a warning.

What does surah Al-Insaan say about those who give food?

Verse 8 names three who are served: the poor, the orphan and the captive. Verse 9 reports what the givers say: they expect neither payment nor thanks. Everything after that, as far as verse 22, describes what is given them in exchange.

How is surah Al-Insaan built?

Around a deliberate imbalance. Four opening verses, a very long descriptive stretch, then nine verses returning to the present and to an instruction. The descriptive part alone takes up more than half the text.

How does surah Al-Insaan end?

With five verses taking up the theme of choice. The next to last at once tempers it: that willing depends on Allah. The last splits the two outcomes in one sentence, without returning to the long description before it.

Why is surah Al-Insaan called that?

“Al-Insaan” means “Man”, in the sense of the human being in general. The word opens verse 76:1 and returns in verse 76:2, where his origin and the test he is meant for are stated. It does not appear again: the rest of the text speaks of two groups.

How many verses does surah Al-Insaan have?

Surah Al-Insaan has 31 verses. It stands at number 76 in the order of the Mushaf, which holds 114.

The Arabic text is that of the Mushaf. The summary, the outline and the answers on this page describe the text and how it is built: they are not religious commentary.

Themes that quote this surah

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