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Surah An-Nazi'at

النازعات

Surah An-Nazi'at is a Meccan surah of 46 verses that swears by the angels who take souls, retells Moses' mission to Pharaoh, and describes the Day of the Great Overwhelming Event.

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Meaning
Those who drag forth
Surah
79 of 114
Verses
46
Revealed in
Mecca
Found in
Juz 30

What Surah An-Nazi'at is about

An-Nazi'at is the 79th surah of the Quran, revealed in Mecca, with 46 verses. Its name means Those Who Pull Out, from its first verse. Most commentators understand the opening five oaths as describing angels: those who pull souls out forcefully, those who draw them out gently, those who glide, those who race ahead, and those who arrange affairs by Allah's command.

Verses 6 to 14 describe the Day of Resurrection: the first blast that shakes everything and the second that follows, hearts pounding and eyes lowered. The deniers ask whether they will really be returned to life after becoming decayed bones, and call that a losing return. The surah answers that it will take only a single cry, and they will find themselves awake on the open earth.

Verses 15 to 26 tell the story of Moses (Musa). His Lord called to him in the sacred valley of Tuwa and sent him to Pharaoh, who had transgressed, with a gentle invitation: would he like to purify himself and be guided to his Lord. Moses showed him the great sign, but Pharaoh denied it, gathered his people and proclaimed himself their highest lord, and Allah seized him as an example in the Hereafter and in this world.

Verses 27 to 33 ask whether people are harder to create than the sky, and describe Allah raising it, darkening its night and bringing out its morning, then spreading the earth, bringing water and pasture from it, and setting the mountains firm. Verses 34 to 41 describe the Great Overwhelming Event and its two outcomes, with Paradise as the refuge for whoever feared standing before their Lord and held the self back from its desires. The surah ends with people asking when the Hour will be, and says that on the day they see it, it will seem as if they had stayed only an evening or a morning.

Main themes

  1. Oaths by the angels

    The first five verses describe beings sent to carry out Allah's command, understood by most commentators as the angels who take souls at death, some forcefully and some gently. They lead into the description of the Day.

    Verses 1–5

  2. A single cry

    The deniers doubt that decayed bones can be brought back. The surah replies that it will take only one cry for them to find themselves awake.

    Verses 6–14

  3. Moses and Pharaoh

    The surah retells Moses' call at Tuwa and his gentle invitation to Pharaoh to purify himself. Pharaoh's answer, claiming to be the highest lord, ends in his punishment as a lesson for anyone who fears Allah.

    Verses 15–26

  4. The sky and the earth

    Verse 27 asks whether people are harder to create than the sky, and the following verses describe the sky, night and morning, earth, water, pasture and mountains as provision for people and their animals.

    Verses 27–33

  5. Restraining the self

    Verses 37 to 41 contrast one who transgressed and preferred this life with one who feared standing before their Lord and restrained the self from desires. Paradise is the refuge of the second.

    Verses 34–46

Verses to know

ٱذۡهَبۡ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ ﴿١٧﴾ فَقُلۡ هَل لَّكَ إِلَىٰٓ أَن تَزَكَّىٰ ﴿١٨﴾ وَأَهۡدِيَكَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَتَخۡشَىٰ ﴿١٩﴾

17“Go to Pharaoh—he has transgressed.” 18And say, “Do you care to be cleansed? 19And I will guide you to your Lord, and you will turn reverent.”
An-Nazi'at 79:17–19

Moses is sent to a tyrant with an invitation framed as a gentle question: would you like to purify yourself and be guided to your Lord.

فَقَالَ أَنَا۠ رَبُّكُمُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ﴿٢٤﴾

He said, “I am your Lord, the most high.”
An-Nazi'at 79:24

Pharaoh's claim to be the highest lord of his people, the arrogance that leads to his downfall in the next verse.

وَأَمَّا مَنۡ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِۦ وَنَهَى ٱلنَّفۡسَ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰ ﴿٤٠﴾ فَإِنَّ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ هِيَ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰ ﴿٤١﴾

40But as for him who feared the standing of his Lord, and restrained the self from desires. 41Then Paradise is the shelter.
An-Nazi'at 79:40–41

A short description of the path to Paradise: fearing the standing before one's Lord and holding the self back from its desires.

كَأَنَّهُمۡ يَوۡمَ يَرَوۡنَهَا لَمۡ يَلۡبَثُوٓاْ إِلَّا عَشِيَّةً أَوۡ ضُحَىٰهَا ﴿٤٦﴾

On the Day when they witness it—as though they only stayed an evening, or its morning.
An-Nazi'at 79:46

The closing image: when people finally see the Hour, their whole life will seem to have lasted only an evening or a morning.

Surah An-Nazi'at in Arabic and English

All 46 verses, with the Arabic, a transliteration to help you read it aloud, and the English translation by Talal Itani.

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

  1. 1

    وَٱلنَّـٰزِعَٰتِ غَرۡقٗا

    WaalnnaziAAati gharqan

    By those who snatch violently.

  2. 2

    وَٱلنَّـٰشِطَٰتِ نَشۡطٗا

    Waalnnashitati nashtan

    And those who remove gently.

  3. 3

    وَٱلسَّـٰبِحَٰتِ سَبۡحٗا

    Waalssabihati sabhan

    And those who glide smoothly.

  4. 4

    فَٱلسَّـٰبِقَٰتِ سَبۡقٗا

    Faalssabiqati sabqan

    And those who race swiftly.

  5. 5

    فَٱلۡمُدَبِّرَٰتِ أَمۡرٗا

    Faalmudabbirati amran

    And those who regulate events.

  6. 6

    يَوۡمَ تَرۡجُفُ ٱلرَّاجِفَةُ

    Yawma tarjufu alrrajifatu

    On the Day when the Quake quakes.

  7. 7

    تَتۡبَعُهَا ٱلرَّادِفَةُ

    TatbaAAuha alrradifatu

    And is followed by the Successor.

  8. 8

    قُلُوبࣱ يَوۡمَئِذٖ وَاجِفَةٌ

    Quloobun yawmaithin wajifatun

    Hearts on that Day will be pounding.

  9. 9

    أَبۡصَٰرُهَا خَٰشِعَةࣱ

    Absaruha khashiAAatun

    Their sights downcast.

  10. 10

    يَقُولُونَ أَءِنَّا لَمَرۡدُودُونَ فِي ٱلۡحَافِرَةِ

    Yaqooloona ainna lamardoodoona fee alhafirati

    They say, “Are we to be restored to the original condition?

  11. 11

    أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَٰمٗا نَّخِرَةٗ

    Aitha kunna AAithaman nakhiratan

    When we have become hollow bones?”

  12. 12

    قَالُواْ تِلۡكَ إِذٗا كَرَّةٌ خَاسِرَةࣱ

    Qaloo tilka ithan karratun khasiratun

    They say, “This is a losing proposition.”

  13. 13

    فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ زَجۡرَةࣱ وَٰحِدَةࣱ

    Fainnama hiya zajratun wahidatun

    But it will be only a single nudge.

  14. 14

    فَإِذَا هُم بِٱلسَّاهِرَةِ

    Faitha hum bialssahirati

    And they will be awake.

  15. 15

    هَلۡ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰٓ

    Hal ataka hadeethu moosa

    Has the story of Moses reached you?

  16. 16

    إِذۡ نَادَىٰهُ رَبُّهُۥ بِٱلۡوَادِ ٱلۡمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى

    Ith nadahu rabbuhu bialwadi almuqaddasi tuwan

    When his Lord called out to him in the sacred valley of Tuwa.

  17. 17

    ٱذۡهَبۡ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ

    Ithhab ila firAAawna innahu tagha

    “Go to Pharaoh—he has transgressed.”

  18. 18

    فَقُلۡ هَل لَّكَ إِلَىٰٓ أَن تَزَكَّىٰ

    Faqul hal laka ila an tazakka

    And say, “Do you care to be cleansed?

  19. 19

    وَأَهۡدِيَكَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَتَخۡشَىٰ

    Waahdiyaka ila rabbika fatakhsha

    And I will guide you to your Lord, and you will turn reverent.”

  20. 20

    فَأَرَىٰهُ ٱلۡأٓيَةَ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰ

    Faarahu alayata alkubra

    He showed him the greatest miracle.

  21. 21

    فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَىٰ

    Fakaththaba waAAasa

    But he denied and defied.

  22. 22

    ثُمَّ أَدۡبَرَ يَسۡعَىٰ

    Thumma adbara yasAAa

    Then turned his back, and tried.

  23. 23

    فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَىٰ

    Fahashara fanada

    And gathered and proclaimed.

  24. 24

    فَقَالَ أَنَا۠ رَبُّكُمُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ

    Faqala ana rabbukumu alaAAla

    He said, “I am your Lord, the most high.”

  25. 25

    فَأَخَذَهُ ٱللَّهُ نَكَالَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةِ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰٓ

    Faakhathahu Allahu nakala alakhirati waaloola

    So Allah seized him with an exemplary punishment, in the last and in the first.

  26. 26

    إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبۡرَةٗ لِّمَن يَخۡشَىٰٓ

    Inna fee thalika laAAibratan liman yakhsha

    In this is a lesson for whoever fears.

  27. 27

    ءَأَنتُمۡ أَشَدُّ خَلۡقًا أَمِ ٱلسَّمَآءُۚ بَنَىٰهَا

    Aantum ashaddu khalqan ami alssamao banaha

    Are you more difficult to create, or the heaven? He constructed it.

  28. 28

    رَفَعَ سَمۡكَهَا فَسَوَّىٰهَا

    RafaAAa samkaha fasawwaha

    He raised its masses, and proportioned it.

  29. 29

    وَأَغۡطَشَ لَيۡلَهَا وَأَخۡرَجَ ضُحَىٰهَا

    Waaghtasha laylaha waakhraja duhaha

    And He dimmed its night, and brought out its daylight.

  30. 30

    وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ ذَٰلِكَ دَحَىٰهَآ

    Waalarda baAAda thalika dahaha

    And the earth after that He spread.

  31. 31

    أَخۡرَجَ مِنۡهَا مَآءَهَا وَمَرۡعَىٰهَا

    Akhraja minha maaha wamarAAaha

    And from it, He produced its water and its pasture.

  32. 32

    وَٱلۡجِبَالَ أَرۡسَىٰهَا

    Waaljibala arsaha

    And the mountains, He anchored.

  33. 33

    مَتَٰعٗا لَّكُمۡ وَلِأَنۡعَٰمِكُمۡ

    MataAAan lakum walianAAamikum

    A source of enjoyment for you and for your animals.

  34. 34

    فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلطَّآمَّةُ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰ

    Faitha jaati alttammatu alkubra

    But when the Great Cataclysm arrives.

  35. 35

    يَوۡمَ يَتَذَكَّرُ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ مَا سَعَىٰ

    Yawma yatathakkaru alinsanu ma saAAa

    A Day when man will remember what he has endeavored.

  36. 36

    وَبُرِّزَتِ ٱلۡجَحِيمُ لِمَن يَرَىٰ

    Waburrizati aljaheemu liman yara

    And Hell will be displayed to whoever sees.

  37. 37

    فَأَمَّا مَن طَغَىٰ

    Faamma man tagha

    As for him who was defiant.

  38. 38

    وَءَاثَرَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا

    Waathara alhayata alddunya

    And preferred the life of this world.

  39. 39

    فَإِنَّ ٱلۡجَحِيمَ هِيَ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰ

    Fainna aljaheema hiya almawa

    Then Hell is the shelter.

  40. 40

    وَأَمَّا مَنۡ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِۦ وَنَهَى ٱلنَّفۡسَ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰ

    Waama man khafa maqama rabbihi wanaha alnnafsa AAani alhawa

    But as for him who feared the standing of his Lord, and restrained the self from desires.

  41. 41

    فَإِنَّ ٱلۡجَنَّةَ هِيَ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰ

    Fainna aljannata hiya almawa

    Then Paradise is the shelter.

  42. 42

    يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلسَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرۡسَىٰهَا

    Yasaloonaka AAani alssaAAati ayyana mursaha

    They ask you about the Hour, “When will it take place?”

  43. 43

    فِيمَ أَنتَ مِن ذِكۡرَىٰهَآ

    Feema anta min thikraha

    You have no knowledge of it.

  44. 44

    إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ مُنتَهَىٰهَآ

    Ila rabbika muntahaha

    To your Lord is its finality.

  45. 45

    إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُنذِرُ مَن يَخۡشَىٰهَا

    Innama anta munthiru man yakhshaha

    You are just a warner for whoever dreads it.

  46. 46

    كَأَنَّهُمۡ يَوۡمَ يَرَوۡنَهَا لَمۡ يَلۡبَثُوٓاْ إِلَّا عَشِيَّةً أَوۡ ضُحَىٰهَا

    Kaannahum yawma yarawnaha lam yalbathoo illa AAashiyyatan aw duhaha

    On the Day when they witness it—as though they only stayed an evening, or its morning.

Surah An-Nazi'at PDF

The whole surah on printable pages: Arabic, transliteration and English side by side. Free to download, print and share.

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Questions about Surah An-Nazi'at

How many verses are in Surah An-Nazi'at?

Surah An-Nazi'at has 46 verses. It is a Meccan surah and the 79th in the Quran.

What does An-Nazi'at mean?

An-Nazi'at means those who pull out or drag forth. Most commentators understand it as the angels who take souls at death.

Which prophet is mentioned in Surah An-Nazi'at?

Verses 15 to 26 tell the story of Moses being sent to Pharaoh, who claimed to be the highest lord of his people and was punished.

What does Surah Naziat say about desires?

Verses 40 and 41 say that whoever feared standing before their Lord and restrained the self from its desires will have Paradise as their refuge.