Chapter 78 - 68
The Announcement (Surah Al-Naba)
(40 verses in total; Late Makkan)
This chapter continues the theme of the onset of afterlife when reality will become evident while people live in doubt in this life about this announcement of truth from God.
Key themes in this chapter are as follows:
· People continue to doubt and discount the announcement about the afterlife, yet they will come to know soon enough as life on this earth is short and transient
· The way the earth has been constructed along with heavenly bodies in the solar system and the elements on earth – the sun and the moon, the day and night, the vegetations, the mountains, the pastures to feed animals and people, our reproductive capacity – all points to a purposeful creation that continues beyond this world
· The onset of the resurrection is with the sound of a trumpet that will cause upheavals on the earth and in the heavens and people will find themselves facing God and the accountability that follows
In the name of Allah, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
What do they inquire about? Asking one another
The momentous Announcement1
About which they continue to differ!
They will soon find out
Yes, they will soon come to know! (v. 1-5)
Have We (God) not made the earth a nurturing place?
With mountains as pegs
Created you in pairs
Established your sleep for resting
With night as a restful cover
And the day to seek livelihood
We have established seven strong (heavenly) bodies above you
And placed a bright light (sun)
We send down water from clouds in abundance, to grow
Grains, herbs and fruitful pastures! (v. 6-16)
The Day of Decision2 – already fixed!
The trumpet is sounded
You all come forth in multitude
The heaven is opened up
It becomes a wide entry way
The mountains are set in motion
Appearing as mirages (v. 17-20)
The Hell lies in wait
A destination for the ungrateful!
Confined in it for the longest time
Having no access to comfort or drinks
Except boiling and dark drinks
A fitting requital!
They rejected Our messages, calling it a lie
While We recorded everything in a document!
So bear the consequences
We shall add nothing but further torments! (v. 21-30)
Those who were mindful and acted responsibly
A day of contentment
In Gardens and vineyards
Among mates of equal age
Cups full to the brim
Protected from frivolous talks and lies
A fitting reward – ample gifts from their Sustainer God (v. 31-36)
The God of the heavens and the earth
And all in-between
All in awe of the Beneficent God!
This day – the Spirit and angels stand in ranks
None speaks unless permitted to by Beneficent God
They speak only what is right and just! (v. 37-38)
This is the Day of Truth3 – find your ways to God
If you so desire – seek refuge!
You are being warned of a consequence near at hand
A day when humankind will see what it has accomplished
And the deniers will say, “I wish I was never resurrected!” (v. 39-40)
1About the Day of Resurrection and Judgement
2Yau’mal fasl – day of decision, day of division or differentiation
3Yau’mul Haqqu – the day when the truth is revealed, or day of truth or reality
