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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

bookmark 1. Has there come upon man a period of time when he was nothing to be mentioned?

1. هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْإِنسَٰنِ حِينٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُن شَيْـًۭٔا مَّذْكُورًا

bookmark 2. We created man from a liquid mixture, to test him; and We made him hearing and seeing.

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

bookmark 3. We guided him to the way, be he appreciative or unappreciative.

3. إِنَّا هَدَيْنَٰهُ ٱلسَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًۭا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا

bookmark 4. We have prepared for the faithless chains, and yokes, and a Searing Fire.

4. إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ سَلَٰسِلَا۟ وَأَغْلَٰلًۭا وَسَعِيرًا

bookmark 5. But the righteous will drink from a cup whose mixture is aroma.

5. إِنَّ ٱلْأَبْرَارَ يَشْرَبُونَ مِن كَأْسٍۢ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُورًا

bookmark 6. A spring from which the servants of God will drink, making it gush abundantly.

6. عَيْنًۭا يَشْرَبُ بِهَا عِبَادُ ٱللَّهِ يُفَجِّرُونَهَا تَفْجِيرًۭا

bookmark 7. They fulfill their vows, and dread a Day whose ill is widespread.

7. يُوفُونَ بِٱلنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًۭا كَانَ شَرُّهُۥ مُسْتَطِيرًۭا

bookmark 8. And they feed, for the love of Him, the poor, and the orphan, and the captive.

8. وَيُطْعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسْكِينًۭا وَيَتِيمًۭا وَأَسِيرًا

bookmark 9. “We only feed you for the sake of God. We want from you neither compensation, nor gratitude.

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

bookmark 10. We dread from our Lord a frowning grim Day.”

10. إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوْمًا عَبُوسًۭا قَمْطَرِيرًۭا

bookmark 11. So God will protect them from the ills of that Day, and will grant them radiance and joy.

11. فَوَقَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمِ وَلَقَّىٰهُمْ نَضْرَةًۭ وَسُرُورًۭا

bookmark 12. And will reward them for their patience with a Garden and silk.

12. وَجَزَىٰهُم بِمَا صَبَرُوا۟ جَنَّةًۭ وَحَرِيرًۭا

bookmark 13. Reclining therein on the thrones; experiencing therein neither sun, nor frost.

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

bookmark 14. Its shade hovering over them, and its fruit brought low within reach.

14. وَدَانِيَةً عَلَيْهِمْ ظِلَٰلُهَا وَذُلِّلَتْ قُطُوفُهَا تَذْلِيلًۭا

bookmark 15. Passing around them are vessels of silver, and cups of crystal.

15. وَيُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِـَٔانِيَةٍۢ مِّن فِضَّةٍۢ وَأَكْوَابٍۢ كَانَتْ قَوَارِيرَا۠

bookmark 16. Crystal of silver—they measured them exactly.

16. قَوَارِيرَا۟ مِن فِضَّةٍۢ قَدَّرُوهَا تَقْدِيرًۭا

bookmark 17. They will be served therein with a cup whose flavor is Zanjabeel.

17. وَيُسْقَوْنَ فِيهَا كَأْسًۭا كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا زَنجَبِيلًا

bookmark 18. A spring therein named Salsabeel.

18. عَيْنًۭا فِيهَا تُسَمَّىٰ سَلْسَبِيلًۭا

bookmark 19. Passing among them are eternalized youths. If you see them, you would think them sprinkled pearls.

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

bookmark 20. Wherever you look, you see bliss, and a vast kingdom.

20. وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ثَمَّ رَأَيْتَ نَعِيمًۭا وَمُلْكًۭا كَبِيرًا

bookmark 21. Upon them are garments of green silk, and satin. And they will be adorned with bracelets of silver. And their Lord will offer them a pure drink.

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

bookmark 22. “This is a reward for you. Your efforts are well appreciated.”

22. إِنَّ هَٰذَا كَانَ لَكُمْ جَزَآءًۭ وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُم مَّشْكُورًا

bookmark 23. It is We who sent down the Quran upon you—a gradual revelation.

23. إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ تَنزِيلًۭا

bookmark 24. So be patient for the decision of your Lord, and do not obey the sinner or the blasphemer among them.

24. فَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تُطِعْ مِنْهُمْ ءَاثِمًا أَوْ كَفُورًۭا

bookmark 25. And mention the Name of your Lord, morning and evening.

25. وَٱذْكُرِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ بُكْرَةًۭ وَأَصِيلًۭا

bookmark 26. And for part of the night, prostrate yourself to Him, and glorify Him long into the night.

26. وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَٱسْجُدْ لَهُۥ وَسَبِّحْهُ لَيْلًۭا طَوِيلًا

bookmark 27. As for these: they love the fleeting life, and leave behind a Heavy Day.

27. إِنَّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ يُحِبُّونَ ٱلْعَاجِلَةَ وَيَذَرُونَ وَرَآءَهُمْ يَوْمًۭا ثَقِيلًۭا

bookmark 28. We created them, and strengthened their frame; and whenever We will, We can replace them with others like them.

28. نَّحْنُ خَلَقْنَٰهُمْ وَشَدَدْنَآ أَسْرَهُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا شِئْنَا بَدَّلْنَآ أَمْثَٰلَهُمْ تَبْدِيلًا

bookmark 29. This is a reminder; so whoever wills, let him take a path to his Lord.

29. إِنَّ هَٰذِهِۦ تَذْكِرَةٌۭ ۖ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ سَبِيلًۭا

bookmark 30. Yet you cannot will, unless God wills. God is Knowing and Wise.

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

bookmark 31. He admits into His mercy whomever He wills. But as for the wrongdoers, He has prepared for them a painful punishment.

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

Context of Revelation

Surah Al-Insān (Man), also known as Ad-Dahr (Time), is a Medinan surah composed of 31 verses. It was revealed after Ar-Rahman and explores both the origin and destiny of humankind as well as divine recompense in the Hereafter.

According to Ibn Kathīr and Al-Qurtubī, part of the surah was revealed in Medina following an act of generosity by the Prophet’s family. ‘Ali ibn Abī Ṭālib, Fātimah, and their children fasted for three days, offering their meals successively to a poor person, an orphan, and a captive — inspiring verses 8–10.

Main Teachings and Key Insights

Surah Al-Insān emphasizes the creation of humankind, the freedom to choose between gratitude and denial, and the contrast between the fates of the righteous and the ungrateful. Its major lessons include:

  • Reminder of humanity’s humble origin: created from a mere drop, man must recognize God’s power. (vv. 1–3)
  • God granted humankind free will to choose between faithfulness and ingratitude. (v. 3)
  • A vivid description of Paradise for the righteous, filled with peace, coolness, and purity. (vv. 5–22)
  • Exaltation of selfless generosity: the faithful feed those in need solely for God’s sake, seeking neither reward nor gratitude. (vv. 8–9)
  • Reminder of the Qur’an as guidance and revelation sent progressively to the Prophet . (vv. 23–26)

The surah links creation, moral responsibility, and eternal destiny. It teaches that human nobility lies not in origin but in moral choices and piety.

Structure and Main Themes

  • Creation and moral testing (vv. 1–3): humankind is created to be tried in faith and gratitude.
  • Reward of the righteous (vv. 4–22): depiction of the everlasting delights of Paradise and the faithful’s devotion.
  • Revelation and worship (vv. 23–26): encouragement to the Prophet to remain steadfast and recite the Qur’an.
  • Free will and ultimate destiny (vv. 27–31): reminder that God guides whom He wills, yet each person remains accountable for their choices.

The tone of the surah is reflective and uplifting: it celebrates human dignity, divine mercy, and the beauty of sincere faith.

Key Verse

The central verse of the surah is verse 9:

إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورًا

“We feed you only for the sake of God’s pleasure; we seek neither reward nor thanks from you.”

Why this verse is key:

  • It expresses pure sincerity in action: doing good solely for God, without expectation of human appreciation.
  • It establishes the spiritual model of selfless charity in Islam — the worth of deeds lies in intention, not recognition.
  • It was revealed regarding the Prophet’s family, who embodied compassion and generosity through their actions.

In summary, Surah Al-Insān honors the moral and spiritual potential of humanity. It calls for gratitude, sincere charity, and reflection on life’s purpose, showing that true honor lies in faith and good deeds performed solely for God’s sake.

Surah Al-Insan
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