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Surah Al-Insan

الانسان

Surah Al-Insan is a surah of 31 verses about the creation of human beings, the righteous who feed the poor, orphans and captives purely for Allah's sake, and a detailed description of their reward.

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Meaning
The Man
Surah
76 of 114
Verses
31
Revealed in
Medina
Found in
Juz 29

What Surah Al-Insan is about

Al-Insan is the 76th surah of the Quran, with 31 verses. Its name means The Human Being, and it is also widely known as Ad-Dahr, meaning time, both names coming from its first verse. It is listed here as Medinan, but scholars differ on this, and many consider it Meccan or partly Meccan.

The surah opens in verse 1 by asking whether there was not a period of time when a human being was nothing worth mentioning. Verses 2 and 3 say people were created from a mixed drop to be tested, given hearing and sight, and shown the way, whether they would be grateful or ungrateful. Verse 4 briefly mentions what awaits those who reject, and from verse 5 the surah turns to the righteous.

Verses 7 to 10 describe them. They fulfill their vows and fear a Day whose evil spreads widely. They give food, despite loving it themselves, to the poor, the orphan and the captive, and say they feed them only for Allah's sake, wanting no reward or thanks. Verses 11 to 22 then describe their reward at length: protection from the evil of that Day, radiance and joy, a garden and silk, couches with neither burning sun nor bitter cold, shade close over them, fruit within easy reach, silver vessels and crystal cups, a drink flavored with ginger from a spring called Salsabil, and youths like scattered pearls. Verse 22 tells them their effort has been appreciated.

Verses 23 to 31 address the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, telling him the Quran was sent down gradually, to be patient with his Lord's judgment, and to remember His name morning and evening and glorify Him through the night. The surah ends by noting that people love the fleeting life, that the Quran is a reminder, and that whoever wills may take a path to their Lord.

Main themes

  1. Created from nothing, to be tested

    The opening reminds people that there was a time they did not exist. They were created, given hearing and sight, and shown the way, and the choice of gratitude or ingratitude is theirs.

    Verses 1–3

  2. Feeding others for Allah's sake

    The righteous give food they themselves love to the poor, the orphan and the captive. They say plainly that they want neither repayment nor thanks, only Allah's pleasure, because they fear the Day.

    Verses 7–10

  3. A detailed picture of Paradise

    Verses 11 to 22 describe the reward of the righteous in unusual detail, from silk garments and couches to silver vessels, a ginger-flavored drink and the spring of Salsabil. The passage ends with the words that their effort has been appreciated.

    Verses 11–22

  4. Patience and remembrance

    The closing verses tell the Prophet ﷺ to be patient, to remember Allah morning and evening and to prostrate and glorify Him at night. They end with the reminder that each person may take a path to their Lord, though only by Allah's will.

    Verses 23–31

Verses to know

هَلۡ أَتَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡإِنسَٰنِ حِينࣱ مِّنَ ٱلدَّهۡرِ لَمۡ يَكُن شَيۡـٔٗا مَّذۡكُورًا ﴿١﴾

Has there come upon man a period of time when he was nothing to be mentioned?
Al-Insan 76:1

The surah opens by asking the reader to remember that there was a time when they were nothing worth mentioning, a humbling starting point.

وَيُطۡعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسۡكِينٗا وَيَتِيمٗا وَأَسِيرًا ﴿٨﴾ إِنَّمَا نُطۡعِمُكُمۡ لِوَجۡهِ ٱللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمۡ جَزَآءٗ وَلَا شُكُورًا ﴿٩﴾

8And they feed, for the love of Him, the poor, and the orphan, and the captive. 9“We only feed you for the sake of Allah. We want from you neither compensation, nor gratitude.
Al-Insan 76:8–9

Among the most quoted verses on charity: feeding the poor, the orphan and the captive out of love for Allah, and seeking no reward or thanks from them.

إِنَّ هَٰذَا كَانَ لَكُمۡ جَزَآءٗ وَكَانَ سَعۡيُكُم مَّشۡكُورًا ﴿٢٢﴾

“This is a reward for you. Your efforts are well appreciated.”
Al-Insan 76:22

After the long description of Paradise, the righteous are told that this is their reward and their effort has been appreciated.

When Surah Al-Insan is recited

Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim report that the Prophet ﷺ used to recite Surah As-Sajdah and Surah Al-Insan in the dawn prayer on Fridays. Many imams continue this practice in the Fajr prayer on Friday.

Surah Al-Insan in Arabic and English

All 31 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

    هَلۡ أَتَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡإِنسَٰنِ حِينࣱ مِّنَ ٱلدَّهۡرِ لَمۡ يَكُن شَيۡـٔٗا مَّذۡكُورًا

    Hal ata AAala alinsani heenun mina alddahri lam yakun shayan mathkooran

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

  2. 2

    إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ أَمۡشَاجٖ نَّبۡتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُ سَمِيعَۢا بَصِيرًا

    Inna khalaqna alinsana min nutfatin amshajin nabtaleehi fajaAAalnahu sameeAAan baseeran

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

  3. 3

    إِنَّا هَدَيۡنَٰهُ ٱلسَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرٗا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا

    Inna hadaynahu alssabeela imma shakiran waimma kafooran

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

  4. 4

    إِنَّآ أَعۡتَدۡنَا لِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ سَلَٰسِلَاْ وَأَغۡلَٰلٗا وَسَعِيرًا

    Inna aAAtadna lilkafireena salasila waaghlalan wasaAAeeran

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

  5. 5

    إِنَّ ٱلۡأَبۡرَارَ يَشۡرَبُونَ مِن كَأۡسٖ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُورًا

    Inna alabrara yashraboona min kasin kana mizajuha kafooran

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

  6. 6

    عَيۡنٗا يَشۡرَبُ بِهَا عِبَادُ ٱللَّهِ يُفَجِّرُونَهَا تَفۡجِيرٗا

    AAaynan yashrabu biha AAibadu Allahi yufajjiroonaha tafjeeran

    A spring from which the servants of Allah will drink, making it gush abundantly.

  7. 7

    يُوفُونَ بِٱلنَّذۡرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوۡمٗا كَانَ شَرُّهُۥ مُسۡتَطِيرٗا

    Yoofoona bialnnathri wayakhafoona yawman kana sharruhu mustateeran

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

  8. 8

    وَيُطۡعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسۡكِينٗا وَيَتِيمٗا وَأَسِيرًا

    WayutAAimona alttaAAama AAala hubbihi miskeenan wayateeman waaseeran

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

  9. 9

    إِنَّمَا نُطۡعِمُكُمۡ لِوَجۡهِ ٱللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمۡ جَزَآءٗ وَلَا شُكُورًا

    Innama nutAAimukum liwajhi Allahi la nureedu minkum jazaan wala shukooran

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

  10. 10

    إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوۡمًا عَبُوسٗا قَمۡطَرِيرٗا

    Inna nakhafu min rabbina yawman AAaboosan qamtareeran

    We dread from our Lord a frowning grim Day.”

  11. 11

    فَوَقَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمِ وَلَقَّىٰهُمۡ نَضۡرَةٗ وَسُرُورٗا

    Fawaqahumu Allahu sharra thalika alyawmi walaqqahum nadratan wasurooran

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

  12. 12

    وَجَزَىٰهُم بِمَا صَبَرُواْ جَنَّةٗ وَحَرِيرٗا

    Wajazahum bima sabaroo jannatan wahareeran

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

  13. 13

    مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلۡأَرَآئِكِۖ لَا يَرَوۡنَ فِيهَا شَمۡسٗا وَلَا زَمۡهَرِيرٗا

    Muttakieena feeha AAala alaraiki la yarawna feeha shamsan wala zamhareeran

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

  14. 14

    وَدَانِيَةً عَلَيۡهِمۡ ظِلَٰلُهَا وَذُلِّلَتۡ قُطُوفُهَا تَذۡلِيلٗا

    Wadaniyatan AAalayhim thilaluha wathullilat qutoofuha tathleelan

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

  15. 15

    وَيُطَافُ عَلَيۡهِم بِـَٔانِيَةٖ مِّن فِضَّةٖ وَأَكۡوَابٖ كَانَتۡ قَوَارِيرَا۠

    Wayutafu AAalayhim bianiyatin min fiddatin waakwabin kanat qawareera

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

  16. 16

    قَوَارِيرَاْ مِن فِضَّةٖ قَدَّرُوهَا تَقۡدِيرٗا

    Qawareera min fiddatin qaddarooha taqdeeran

    Crystal of silver—they measured them exactly.

  17. 17

    وَيُسۡقَوۡنَ فِيهَا كَأۡسٗا كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا زَنجَبِيلًا

    Wayusqawna feeha kasan kana mizajuha zanjabeelan

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

  18. 18

    عَيۡنٗا فِيهَا تُسَمَّىٰ سَلۡسَبِيلٗا

    AAaynan feeha tusamma salsabeelan

    A spring therein named Salsabeel.

  19. 19

    ۞وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وِلۡدَٰنࣱ مُّخَلَّدُونَ إِذَا رَأَيۡتَهُمۡ حَسِبۡتَهُمۡ لُؤۡلُؤٗا مَّنثُورٗا

    Wayatoofu AAalayhim wildanun mukhalladoona itha raaytahum hasibtahum luluan manthooran

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

  20. 20

    وَإِذَا رَأَيۡتَ ثَمَّ رَأَيۡتَ نَعِيمٗا وَمُلۡكٗا كَبِيرًا

    Waitha raayta thamma raayta naAAeeman wamulkan kabeeran

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

  21. 21

    عَٰلِيَهُمۡ ثِيَابُ سُندُسٍ خُضۡرࣱ وَإِسۡتَبۡرَقࣱۖ وَحُلُّوٓاْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن فِضَّةٖ وَسَقَىٰهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡ شَرَابٗا طَهُورًا

    AAaliyahum thiyabu sundusin khudrun waistabraqun wahulloo asawira min fiddatin wasaqahum rabbuhum sharaban tahooran

    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.

  22. 22

    إِنَّ هَٰذَا كَانَ لَكُمۡ جَزَآءٗ وَكَانَ سَعۡيُكُم مَّشۡكُورًا

    Inna hatha kana lakum jazaan wakana saAAyukum mashkooran

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

  23. 23

    إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ تَنزِيلٗا

    Inna nahnu nazzalna AAalayka alqurana tanzeelan

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

  24. 24

    فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تُطِعۡ مِنۡهُمۡ ءَاثِمًا أَوۡ كَفُورٗا

    Faisbir lihukmi rabbika wala tutiAA minhum athiman aw kafooran

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

  25. 25

    وَٱذۡكُرِ ٱسۡمَ رَبِّكَ بُكۡرَةٗ وَأَصِيلٗا

    Waothkuri isma rabbika bukratan waaseelan

    And mention the name of your Lord, morning and evening.

  26. 26

    وَمِنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ فَٱسۡجُدۡ لَهُۥ وَسَبِّحۡهُ لَيۡلٗا طَوِيلًا

    Wamina allayli faosjud lahu wasabbihhu laylan taweelan

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

  27. 27

    إِنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ يُحِبُّونَ ٱلۡعَاجِلَةَ وَيَذَرُونَ وَرَآءَهُمۡ يَوۡمٗا ثَقِيلٗا

    Inna haolai yuhibboona alAAajilata wayatharoona waraahum yawman thaqeelan

    As for these: they love the fleeting life, and leave behind a heavy day.

  28. 28

    نَّحۡنُ خَلَقۡنَٰهُمۡ وَشَدَدۡنَآ أَسۡرَهُمۡۖ وَإِذَا شِئۡنَا بَدَّلۡنَآ أَمۡثَٰلَهُمۡ تَبۡدِيلًا

    Nahnu khalaqnahum washadadna asrahum waitha shina baddalna amthalahum tabdeelan

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

  29. 29

    إِنَّ هَٰذِهِۦ تَذۡكِرَةࣱۖ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ سَبِيلٗا

    Inna hathihi tathkiratun faman shaa ittakhatha ila rabbihi sabeelan

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

  30. 30

    وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمٗا

    Wama tashaoona illa an yashaa Allahu inna Allaha kana AAaleeman hakeeman

    Yet you cannot will, unless Allah wills. Allah is Knowing and Wise.

  31. 31

    يُدۡخِلُ مَن يَشَآءُ فِي رَحۡمَتِهِۦۚ وَٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ أَعَدَّ لَهُمۡ عَذَابًا أَلِيمَۢا

    Yudkhilu man yashao fee rahmatihi waalththalimeena aAAadda lahum AAathaban aleeman

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

Surah Al-Insan 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 Al-Insan

Is Surah Al-Insan recited on Friday?

Yes. Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim report that the Prophet ﷺ recited Surah As-Sajdah and Surah Al-Insan in the dawn prayer on Fridays.

Is Surah Al-Insan the same as Surah Dahr?

Yes. Al-Insan and Ad-Dahr are two names for the same surah, the 76th in the Quran. Both come from its first verse.

How many verses are in Surah Al-Insan?

Surah Al-Insan has 31 verses.

Is Surah Al-Insan Meccan or Medinan?

It is listed here as Medinan, but scholars differ, and many consider it Meccan or say it contains both Meccan and Medinan verses.