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Surah At-Tur

الطور

Surah At-Tur is a Meccan surah of 49 verses that swears by Mount Sinai that judgment is coming, describes believers reunited with their families, and challenges deniers with a chain of questions.

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Meaning
The Mount
Surah
52 of 114
Verses
49
Revealed in
Mecca
Found in
Juz 27

What Surah At-Tur is about

Surah At-Tur is the 52nd surah of the Quran, a Meccan surah of 49 verses. Its name, "The Mount", comes from its opening oath, generally understood as Mount Sinai where Allah spoke to Moses (Musa). It opens with five oaths, by the Mount, an inscribed Book on an unrolled scroll, the much-frequented House, the raised roof and the swelling sea, followed by the statement that the punishment of your Lord will certainly come and nothing can stop it (52:1-8).

Verses 9-16 describe the sky shaking and the mountains moving, and those who once called the Fire magic being pushed into it. Verses 17-28 then describe those mindful of Allah in gardens and bliss. A tender detail comes in verse 21: believers whose children followed them in faith will be joined with their children, without any loss to their own deeds. The people of Paradise remember that they used to be fearful for their families, and thank Allah for His grace (52:25-28).

The Prophet ﷺ is told to keep reminding, for he is neither a soothsayer nor a madman (52:29). Verses 30-43 form a famous series of questions, each beginning with "or": did they claim he was a poet, did they make it up, were they created from nothing, are they the creators, did they create the heavens and earth, do they hold the treasuries of your Lord? The questions corner the listener and end with the declaration that Allah is far above what they associate with Him.

The surah ends by telling the Prophet ﷺ to wait patiently for his Lord's judgment, for he is under Allah's eyes, and to glorify his Lord when he rises, in the night, and as the stars fade (52:48-49).

Main themes

  1. Five oaths and a certain punishment

    The surah swears by the Mount, a written Book, the frequented House, the raised roof and the swelling sea. All of these lead to a short, firm statement that the punishment of Allah will come and cannot be averted.

    Verses 1–16

  2. Families reunited in Paradise

    The righteous enjoy gardens, food and companionship. Verse 21 promises that Allah will join believers with their children who followed them in faith, and the people of Paradise recall how anxious they were for their families in this life.

    Verses 17–28

  3. A chain of questions

    The surah answers the claims that the Prophet ﷺ was a soothsayer, madman or poet with a rapid series of questions. Were they created by nothing, or did they create themselves, or the heavens and earth? Each question leaves no comfortable answer.

    Verses 29–43

  4. Under Allah's eyes

    Even if they saw a piece of the sky falling they would call it piled-up clouds. The Prophet ﷺ is told to wait patiently, knowing he is under Allah's care, and to glorify Him morning and night.

    Verses 44–49

Verses to know

وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱتَّبَعَتۡهُمۡ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَٰنٍ أَلۡحَقۡنَا بِهِمۡ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمۡ وَمَآ أَلَتۡنَٰهُم مِّنۡ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَيۡءٖۚ كُلُّ ٱمۡرِيِٕۭ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينࣱ ﴿٢١﴾

Those who believed, and their offspring followed them in faith—We will unite them with their offspring, and We will not deprive them of any of their works. Every person is hostage to what he has earned.
At-Tur 52:21

A comfort for parents: believers will be reunited with their children who followed them in faith, and nothing of their own deeds will be reduced.

قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا كُنَّا قَبۡلُ فِيٓ أَهۡلِنَا مُشۡفِقِينَ ﴿٢٦﴾ فَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡنَا وَوَقَىٰنَا عَذَابَ ٱلسَّمُومِ ﴿٢٧﴾ إِنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبۡلُ نَدۡعُوهُۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡبَرُّ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿٢٨﴾

26They will say, “Before this, we were fearful for our families. 27But Allah blessed us, and spared us the agony of the Fiery Winds. 28Before this, we used to pray to Him. He is the Good, the Compassionate.”
At-Tur 52:26–28

The people of Paradise remember being anxious about their families in this world and thank Allah for His grace. It shows that worry for loved ones is part of faith.

أَمۡ خُلِقُواْ مِنۡ غَيۡرِ شَيۡءٍ أَمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقُونَ ﴿٣٥﴾ أَمۡ خَلَقُواْ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَۚ بَل لَّا يُوقِنُونَ ﴿٣٦﴾

35Or were they created out of nothing? Or are they the creators? 36Or did they create the heavens and the earth? In fact, they are not certain.
At-Tur 52:35–36

Two short questions about creation, whether people came from nothing or created themselves, that moved a non-Muslim listener toward faith, as reported in Sahih al-Bukhari.

وَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعۡيُنِنَاۖ وَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ ﴿٤٨﴾

So patiently await the decision of your Lord, for you are before Our eyes; and proclaim the praises of your Lord when you arise.
At-Tur 52:48

The Prophet ﷺ is told to be patient because he is under Allah's eyes, a reassurance that many believers take for themselves in hard times.

When Surah At-Tur is recited

Sahih al-Bukhari reports that Jubayr ibn Mut'im, before he became Muslim, heard the Prophet ﷺ recite Surah At-Tur in the Maghrib prayer. When the recitation reached the questions about whether they were created from nothing or were the creators (52:35-37), he said his heart nearly flew, and he described this as the first time faith settled in his heart. Reciting it in Maghrib is therefore part of the Prophet ﷺ's practice, though not a fixed rule.

Surah At-Tur in Arabic and English

All 49 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

    وَٱلطُّورِ

    Waalttoori

    By the Mount.

  2. 2

    وَكِتَٰبٖ مَّسۡطُورٖ

    Wakitabin mastoorin

    And a Book inscribed.

  3. 3

    فِي رَقّٖ مَّنشُورٖ

    Fee raqqin manshoorin

    In a published scroll.

  4. 4

    وَٱلۡبَيۡتِ ٱلۡمَعۡمُورِ

    Waalbayti almaAAmoori

    And the frequented House.

  5. 5

    وَٱلسَّقۡفِ ٱلۡمَرۡفُوعِ

    Waalssaqfi almarfooAAi

    And the elevated roof.

  6. 6

    وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ ٱلۡمَسۡجُورِ

    Waalbahri almasjoori

    And the seething sea.

  7. 7

    إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ لَوَٰقِعࣱ

    Inna AAathaba rabbika lawaqiAAun

    The punishment of your Lord is coming.

  8. 8

    مَّا لَهُۥ مِن دَافِعٖ

    Ma lahu min dafiAAin

    There is nothing to avert it.

  9. 9

    يَوۡمَ تَمُورُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ مَوۡرٗا

    Yawma tamooru alssamao mawran

    On the Day when the heaven sways in agitation.

  10. 10

    وَتَسِيرُ ٱلۡجِبَالُ سَيۡرٗا

    Wataseeru aljibalu sayran

    And the mountains go into motion.

  11. 11

    فَوَيۡلࣱ يَوۡمَئِذٖ لِّلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ

    Fawaylun yawmaithin lilmukaththibeena

    Woe on that Day to the deniers.

  12. 12

    ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ فِي خَوۡضٖ يَلۡعَبُونَ

    Allatheena hum fee khawdin yalAAaboona

    Those who play with speculation.

  13. 13

    يَوۡمَ يُدَعُّونَ إِلَىٰ نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ دَعًّا

    Yawma yudaAAAAoona ila nari jahannama daAAAAan

    The Day when they are shoved into the Fire of Hell forcefully.

  14. 14

    هَٰذِهِ ٱلنَّارُ ٱلَّتِي كُنتُم بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ

    Hathihi alnnaru allatee kuntum biha tukaththiboona

    “This is the Fire which you used to deny.

  15. 15

    أَفَسِحۡرٌ هَٰذَآ أَمۡ أَنتُمۡ لَا تُبۡصِرُونَ

    Afasihrun hatha am antum la tubsiroona

    Is this magic, or do you not see?

  16. 16

    ٱصۡلَوۡهَا فَٱصۡبِرُوٓاْ أَوۡ لَا تَصۡبِرُواْ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡۖ إِنَّمَا تُجۡزَوۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

    Islawha faisbiroo aw la tasbiroo sawaon AAalaykum innama tujzawna ma kuntum taAAmaloona

    Burn in it. Whether you are patient, or impatient, it is the same for you. You are only being repaid for what you used to do.”

  17. 17

    إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّـٰتٖ وَنَعِيمٖ

    Inna almuttaqeena fee jannatin wanaAAeemin

    But the righteous will be amid gardens and bliss.

  18. 18

    فَٰكِهِينَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡ وَوَقَىٰهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ

    Fakiheena bima atahum rabbuhum wawaqahum rabbuhum AAathaba aljaheemi

    Enjoying what their Lord has given them, and their Lord has spared them the suffering of Hell.

  19. 19

    كُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ هَنِيٓـَٔۢا بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

    Kuloo waishraboo haneean bima kuntum taAAmaloona

    Eat and drink happily, for what you used to do.

  20. 20

    مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ سُرُرٖ مَّصۡفُوفَةٖۖ وَزَوَّجۡنَٰهُم بِحُورٍ عِينٖ

    Muttakieena AAala sururin masfoofatin wazawwajnahum bihoorin AAeenin

    Relaxing on luxurious furnishings; and We will couple them with gorgeous spouses.

  21. 21

    وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱتَّبَعَتۡهُمۡ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَٰنٍ أَلۡحَقۡنَا بِهِمۡ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمۡ وَمَآ أَلَتۡنَٰهُم مِّنۡ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَيۡءٖۚ كُلُّ ٱمۡرِيِٕۭ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينࣱ

    Waallatheena amanoo waittabaAAathum thurriyyatuhum bieemanin alhaqna bihim thurriyyatahum wama alatnahum min AAamalihim min shayin kullu imriin bima kasaba raheenun

    Those who believed, and their offspring followed them in faith—We will unite them with their offspring, and We will not deprive them of any of their works. Every person is hostage to what he has earned.

  22. 22

    وَأَمۡدَدۡنَٰهُم بِفَٰكِهَةٖ وَلَحۡمٖ مِّمَّا يَشۡتَهُونَ

    Waamdadnahum bifakihatin walahmin mimma yashtahoona

    And We will supply them with fruit, and meat; such as they desire.

  23. 23

    يَتَنَٰزَعُونَ فِيهَا كَأۡسٗا لَّا لَغۡوࣱ فِيهَا وَلَا تَأۡثِيمࣱ

    YatanazaAAoona feeha kasan la laghwun feeha wala tatheemun

    They will exchange therein a cup; wherein is neither harm, nor sin.

  24. 24

    ۞وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ غِلۡمَانࣱ لَّهُمۡ كَأَنَّهُمۡ لُؤۡلُؤࣱ مَّكۡنُونࣱ

    Wayatoofu AAalayhim ghilmanun lahum kaannahum luluon maknoonun

    Serving them will be youths like hidden pearls.

  25. 25

    وَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ

    Waaqbala baAAduhum AAala baAAdin yatasaaloona

    And they will approach one another, inquiring.

  26. 26

    قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا كُنَّا قَبۡلُ فِيٓ أَهۡلِنَا مُشۡفِقِينَ

    Qaloo inna kunna qablu fee ahlina mushfiqeena

    They will say, “Before this, we were fearful for our families.

  27. 27

    فَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡنَا وَوَقَىٰنَا عَذَابَ ٱلسَّمُومِ

    Famanna Allahu AAalayna wawaqana AAathaba alssamoomi

    But Allah blessed us, and spared us the agony of the Fiery Winds.

  28. 28

    إِنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبۡلُ نَدۡعُوهُۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡبَرُّ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

    Inna kunna min qablu nadAAoohu innahu huwa albarru alrraheemu

    Before this, we used to pray to Him. He is the Good, the Compassionate.”

  29. 29

    فَذَكِّرۡ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَتِ رَبِّكَ بِكَاهِنٖ وَلَا مَجۡنُونٍ

    Fathakkir fama anta biniAAmati rabbika bikahin wala majnoonin

    So remind. By the grace of your Lord, you are neither a soothsayer, nor a madman.

  30. 30

    أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ شَاعِرࣱ نَّتَرَبَّصُ بِهِۦ رَيۡبَ ٱلۡمَنُونِ

    Am yaqooloona shaAAirun natarabbasu bihi rayba almanooni

    Or do they say, “A poet—we await for him a calamity of time”?

  31. 31

    قُلۡ تَرَبَّصُواْ فَإِنِّي مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡمُتَرَبِّصِينَ

    Qul tarabbasoo fainnee maAAakum mina almutarabbiseena

    Say, “Go on waiting; I will be waiting with you.”

  32. 32

    أَمۡ تَأۡمُرُهُمۡ أَحۡلَٰمُهُم بِهَٰذَآۚ أَمۡ هُمۡ قَوۡمࣱ طَاغُونَ

    Am tamuruhum ahlamuhum bihatha am hum qawmun taghoona

    Or is it that their dreams compel them to this? Or are they aggressive people?

  33. 33

    أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ تَقَوَّلَهُۥۚ بَل لَّا يُؤۡمِنُونَ

    Am yaqooloona taqawwalahu bal la yuminoona

    Or do they say, “He made it up”? Rather, they do not believe.

  34. 34

    فَلۡيَأۡتُواْ بِحَدِيثٖ مِّثۡلِهِۦٓ إِن كَانُواْ صَٰدِقِينَ

    Falyatoo bihadeethin mithlihi in kanoo sadiqeena

    So let them produce a discourse like it, if they are truthful.

  35. 35

    أَمۡ خُلِقُواْ مِنۡ غَيۡرِ شَيۡءٍ أَمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقُونَ

    Am khuliqoo min ghayri shayin am humu alkhaliqoona

    Or were they created out of nothing? Or are they the creators?

  36. 36

    أَمۡ خَلَقُواْ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَۚ بَل لَّا يُوقِنُونَ

    Am khalaqoo alssamawati waalarda bal la yooqinoona

    Or did they create the heavens and the earth? In fact, they are not certain.

  37. 37

    أَمۡ عِندَهُمۡ خَزَآئِنُ رَبِّكَ أَمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡمُصَۜيۡطِرُونَ

    Am AAindahum khazainu rabbika am humu almusaytiroona

    Or do they possess the treasuries of your Lord? Or are they the controllers?

  38. 38

    أَمۡ لَهُمۡ سُلَّمࣱ يَسۡتَمِعُونَ فِيهِۖ فَلۡيَأۡتِ مُسۡتَمِعُهُم بِسُلۡطَٰنٖ مُّبِينٍ

    Am lahum sullamun yastamiAAoona feehi falyati mustamiAAuhum bisultanin mubeenin

    Or do they have a stairway by means of which they listen? Then let their listener produce a clear proof.

  39. 39

    أَمۡ لَهُ ٱلۡبَنَٰتُ وَلَكُمُ ٱلۡبَنُونَ

    Am lahu albanatu walakumu albanoona

    Or for Him the daughters, and for you the sons?

  40. 40

    أَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُهُمۡ أَجۡرٗا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمٖ مُّثۡقَلُونَ

    Am tasaluhum ajran fahum min maghramin muthqaloona

    Or do you demand a payment from them, and they are burdened by debt?

  41. 41

    أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبُ فَهُمۡ يَكۡتُبُونَ

    Am AAindahumu alghaybu fahum yaktuboona

    Or do they know the future, and they are writing it down?

  42. 42

    أَمۡ يُرِيدُونَ كَيۡدٗاۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ هُمُ ٱلۡمَكِيدُونَ

    Am yureedoona kaydan faallatheena kafaroo humu almakeedoona

    Or are they planning a conspiracy? The conspiracy will befall the disbelievers.

  43. 43

    أَمۡ لَهُمۡ إِلَٰهٌ غَيۡرُ ٱللَّهِۚ سُبۡحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ

    Am lahum ilahun ghayru Allahi subhana Allahi AAamma yushrikoona

    Or do they have a god besides Allah? Allah transcends what they associate.

  44. 44

    وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ كِسۡفٗا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ سَاقِطٗا يَقُولُواْ سَحَابࣱ مَّرۡكُومࣱ

    Wain yaraw kisfan mina alssamai saqitan yaqooloo sahabun markoomun

    Even if they were to see lumps of the sky falling down, they would say, “A mass of clouds.”

  45. 45

    فَذَرۡهُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يُلَٰقُواْ يَوۡمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِي فِيهِ يُصۡعَقُونَ

    Fatharhum hatta yulaqoo yawmahumu allathee feehi yusAAaqoona

    So leave them until they meet their Day in which they will be stunned.

  46. 46

    يَوۡمَ لَا يُغۡنِي عَنۡهُمۡ كَيۡدُهُمۡ شَيۡـٔٗا وَلَا هُمۡ يُنصَرُونَ

    Yawma la yughnee AAanhum kayduhum shayan wala hum yunsaroona

    The Day when their ploys will avail them nothing; and they will not be helped.

  47. 47

    وَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ عَذَابٗا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ

    Wainna lillatheena thalamoo AAathaban doona thalika walakinna aktharahum la yaAAlamoona

    For those who do wrong, there is a punishment besides that; but most of them do not know.

  48. 48

    وَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعۡيُنِنَاۖ وَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ

    Waisbir lihukmi rabbika fainnaka biaAAyunina wasabbih bihamdi rabbika heena taqoomu

    So patiently await the decision of your Lord, for you are before Our eyes; and proclaim the praises of your Lord when you arise.

  49. 49

    وَمِنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ فَسَبِّحۡهُ وَإِدۡبَٰرَ ٱلنُّجُومِ

    Wamina allayli fasabbihhu waidbara alnnujoomi

    And glorify Him during the night, and at the receding of the stars.

Surah At-Tur 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 At-Tur

How many verses are in Surah At-Tur?

Surah At-Tur has 49 verses. It is the 52nd surah of the Quran and was revealed in Mecca.

What is At-Tur in the Quran?

At-Tur means "the Mount", generally understood as Mount Sinai, where Allah spoke to Moses. The surah opens with an oath by it.

Will families be together in Jannah?

Verse 21 of Surah At-Tur says that believers whose children followed them in faith will be united with them, without losing any of their own reward.

Which verse made Jubayr ibn Mut'im accept Islam?

Sahih al-Bukhari reports that he was deeply moved on hearing 52:35-37 recited in the Maghrib prayer, and that faith first entered his heart then.