سُورَةُ الطُّورِ
Surah 52 - At-Tur
The Mount
- 49 verses
- Juz 27
- Pages 523 to 525 of the Mushaf
At-Tur lines up six oaths in its first six verses, on things of very different kinds - a mount, a written book, a house, a raised vault, a sea - then states that a punishment will come and that nothing will turn it aside. There follows the scene of the day the sky churns and the mountains move, then that of the gardens, where people turn to one another and recall what they used to fear. The second half changes form: twelve questions run on from verse 30 to verse 43, each opened by the same word, and each one sets aside a proposed explanation. The last verses order waiting, patience and praise.
The main parts
The text of the surah
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ وَٱلطُّورِ
By the mount
وَكِتَٰبٍۢ مَّسْطُورٍۢ
And [by] a Book inscribed
فِى رَقٍّۢ مَّنشُورٍۢ
In parchment spread open
وَٱلْبَيْتِ ٱلْمَعْمُورِ
And [by] the frequented House
وَٱلسَّقْفِ ٱلْمَرْفُوعِ
And [by] the heaven raised high
وَٱلْبَحْرِ ٱلْمَسْجُورِ
And [by] the sea filled [with fire],
إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ لَوَٰقِعٌۭ
Indeed, the punishment of your Lord will occur.
مَّا لَهُۥ مِن دَافِعٍۢ
Of it there is no preventer.
يَوْمَ تَمُورُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ مَوْرًۭا
On the Day the heaven will sway with circular motion
وَتَسِيرُ ٱلْجِبَالُ سَيْرًۭا
And the mountains will pass on, departing -
فَوَيْلٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Then woe, that Day, to the deniers,
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى خَوْضٍۢ يَلْعَبُونَ
Who are in [empty] discourse amusing themselves.
يَوْمَ يُدَعُّونَ إِلَىٰ نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ دَعًّا
The Day they are thrust toward the fire of Hell with a [violent] thrust, [its angels will say],
هَٰذِهِ ٱلنَّارُ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُم بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ
"This is the Fire which you used to deny.
أَفَسِحْرٌ هَٰذَآ أَمْ أَنتُمْ لَا تُبْصِرُونَ
Then is this magic, or do you not see?
ٱصْلَوْهَا فَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ أَوْ لَا تَصْبِرُوا۟ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
[Enter to] burn therein; then be patient or impatient - it is all the same for you. You are only being recompensed [for] what you used to do."
إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍۢ وَنَعِيمٍۢ
Indeed, the righteous will be in gardens and pleasure,
فَٰكِهِينَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ وَوَقَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
Enjoying what their Lord has given them, and their Lord protected them from the punishment of Hellfire.
كُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ هَنِيٓـًٔۢا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
[They will be told], "Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you used to do."
مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍۢ مَّصْفُوفَةٍۢ ۖ وَزَوَّجْنَٰهُم بِحُورٍ عِينٍۢ
They will be reclining on thrones lined up, and We will marry them to fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَٰنٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَمَآ أَلَتْنَٰهُم مِّنْ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ ۚ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٌۭ
And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith - We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he earned, is retained.
وَأَمْدَدْنَٰهُم بِفَٰكِهَةٍۢ وَلَحْمٍۢ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ
And We will provide them with fruit and meat from whatever they desire.
يَتَنَٰزَعُونَ فِيهَا كَأْسًۭا لَّا لَغْوٌۭ فِيهَا وَلَا تَأْثِيمٌۭ
They will exchange with one another a cup [of wine] wherein [results] no ill speech or commission of sin.
۞ وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ غِلْمَانٌۭ لَّهُمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ لُؤْلُؤٌۭ مَّكْنُونٌۭ
There will circulate among them [servant] boys [especially] for them, as if they were pearls well-protected.
وَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ
And they will approach one another, inquiring of each other.
قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كُنَّا قَبْلُ فِىٓ أَهْلِنَا مُشْفِقِينَ
They will say, "Indeed, we were previously among our people fearful [of displeasing Allah].
فَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَوَقَىٰنَا عَذَابَ ٱلسَّمُومِ
So Allah conferred favor upon us and protected us from the punishment of the Scorching Fire.
إِنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبْلُ نَدْعُوهُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْبَرُّ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Indeed, we used to supplicate Him before. Indeed, it is He who is the Beneficent, the Merciful."
فَذَكِّرْ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَتِ رَبِّكَ بِكَاهِنٍۢ وَلَا مَجْنُونٍ
So remind [O Muhammad], for you are not, by the favor of your Lord, a soothsayer or a madman.
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ شَاعِرٌۭ نَّتَرَبَّصُ بِهِۦ رَيْبَ ٱلْمَنُونِ
Or do they say [of you], "A poet for whom we await a misfortune of time?"
قُلْ تَرَبَّصُوا۟ فَإِنِّى مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُتَرَبِّصِينَ
Say, "Wait, for indeed I am, with you, among the waiters."
أَمْ تَأْمُرُهُمْ أَحْلَٰمُهُم بِهَٰذَآ ۚ أَمْ هُمْ قَوْمٌۭ طَاغُونَ
Or do their minds command them to [say] this, or are they a transgressing people?
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ تَقَوَّلَهُۥ ۚ بَل لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Or do they say, "He has made it up"? Rather, they do not believe.
فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِحَدِيثٍۢ مِّثْلِهِۦٓ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَٰدِقِينَ
Then let them produce a statement like it, if they should be truthful.
أَمْ خُلِقُوا۟ مِنْ غَيْرِ شَىْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ ٱلْخَٰلِقُونَ
Or were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]?
أَمْ خَلَقُوا۟ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۚ بَل لَّا يُوقِنُونَ
Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain.
أَمْ عِندَهُمْ خَزَآئِنُ رَبِّكَ أَمْ هُمُ ٱلْمُصَۣيْطِرُونَ
Or have they the depositories [containing the provision] of your Lord? Or are they the controllers [of them]?
أَمْ لَهُمْ سُلَّمٌۭ يَسْتَمِعُونَ فِيهِ ۖ فَلْيَأْتِ مُسْتَمِعُهُم بِسُلْطَٰنٍۢ مُّبِينٍ
Or have they a stairway [into the heaven] upon which they listen? Then let their listener produce a clear authority.
أَمْ لَهُ ٱلْبَنَٰتُ وَلَكُمُ ٱلْبَنُونَ
Or has He daughters while you have sons?
أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًۭا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍۢ مُّثْقَلُونَ
Or do you, [O Muhammad], ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down?
أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
Or have they [knowledge of] the unseen, so they write [it] down?
أَمْ يُرِيدُونَ كَيْدًۭا ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ هُمُ ٱلْمَكِيدُونَ
Or do they intend a plan? But those who disbelieve - they are the object of a plan.
أَمْ لَهُمْ إِلَٰهٌ غَيْرُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ سُبْحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Or have they a deity other than Allah? Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.
وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ كِسْفًۭا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ سَاقِطًۭا يَقُولُوا۟ سَحَابٌۭ مَّرْكُومٌۭ
And if they were to see a fragment from the sky falling, they would say, "[It is merely] clouds heaped up."
فَذَرْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يُلَٰقُوا۟ يَوْمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ يُصْعَقُونَ
So leave them until they meet their Day in which they will be struck insensible -
يَوْمَ لَا يُغْنِى عَنْهُمْ كَيْدُهُمْ شَيْـًۭٔا وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
The Day their plan will not avail them at all, nor will they be helped.
وَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ عَذَابًۭا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And indeed, for those who have wronged is a punishment before that, but most of them do not know.
وَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا ۖ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ
And be patient, [O Muhammad], for the decision of your Lord, for indeed, you are in Our eyes. And exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord when you arise.
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَإِدْبَٰرَ ٱلنُّجُومِ
And in a part of the night exalt Him and after [the setting of] the stars.
Key verses of the surah
It joins a line of descendants to those who came before, taking nothing away from the works of either.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَٰنٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَمَآ أَلَتْنَٰهُم مِّنْ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ ۚ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٌۭ
And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith - We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he earned, is retained.
The hinge: after the gardens, the text turns to the messenger and opens the long run of questions.
فَذَكِّرْ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَتِ رَبِّكَ بِكَاهِنٍۢ وَلَا مَجْنُونٍ
So remind [O Muhammad], for you are not, by the favor of your Lord, a soothsayer or a madman.
A question with two branches: come from nothing, or creators of themselves. It opens the tightest passage.
أَمْ خُلِقُوا۟ مِنْ غَيْرِ شَىْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ ٱلْخَٰلِقُونَ
Or were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]?
The second to last verse: an order of patience, and a sentence saying the messenger is kept under Allah's eye.
وَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا ۖ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ
And be patient, [O Muhammad], for the decision of your Lord, for indeed, you are in Our eyes. And exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord when you arise.
What is surah At-Tur about?
Of a day announced and of the answers raised against it. The text sets two scenes face to face, that of the fire and that of the gardens, then questions one by one the arguments put against the message, leaving none standing.
How is surah At-Tur built?
In two halves of opposite form. The first states: oaths, then descriptions. The second asks: twelve questions in a row, from verses 30 to 43, each brought in by the same word. Six closing verses bring back waiting and praise.
What questions does surah At-Tur ask?
They bear first on the origin of the message: would it come from a poet, a soothsayer, an invention? Then they turn back on the speakers: did they create themselves? do they own the heavens, the treasures, a ladder to the sky, another divinity?
How does surah At-Tur end?
With two orders. Leave those who refuse until their day, when nothing they have set up will serve. Then be patient, knowing the messenger is kept, and praise at the moment of rising, part of the night, and when the stars fade.
Why is surah At-Tur called that?
“At-Tur” means a mount. The word is the first of the first verse and makes the first of the six oaths that open the surah. It does not return elsewhere in the text: it occurs once only, set at the head.
How many verses does surah At-Tur have?
Surah At-Tur has 49 verses. It stands at number 52 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.