Coming soon to the App Store

Surah An-Naba

النبإ

Surah An-Naba is a Meccan surah of 40 verses that opens the last juz of the Quran by asking what people are arguing about, then points to signs in creation and describes the Day of Judgment.

Read the surahDownload PDF
Meaning
The Tidings
Surah
78 of 114
Verses
40
Revealed in
Mecca
Found in
Juz 30

What Surah An-Naba is about

An-Naba is the 78th surah of the Quran and the first surah of the 30th and final juz, which is commonly called Juz Amma after this surah's first word. It was revealed in Mecca and has 40 verses. Its name means The News or The Tidings, from verse 2, which calls the subject of people's dispute the great news, understood as the resurrection and the Day of Judgment.

Verses 1 to 5 open with a question: what are they asking one another about? The answer is the great news they disagree over, and twice the surah says they will come to know. Verses 6 to 16 then present a series of signs as questions: the earth made as a resting place, mountains as pegs, people created in pairs, sleep made for rest, night as a covering and day for earning a living, seven strong heavens above, a blazing lamp, and rain pouring from the clouds to grow grain, plants and thick gardens.

Verse 17 says the Day of Sorting has an appointed time. Verses 18 to 20 describe the trumpet, people coming in crowds, the sky opened into gateways and the mountains turned into a mirage. Verses 21 to 30 describe Hell lying in wait for those who did not expect any reckoning, noting in verse 29 that everything has been recorded. Verses 31 to 36 describe the success of the righteous, including gardens and a place where they hear no idle talk or lies.

The surah ends in verses 37 to 40 with the angels and the Spirit standing in rows, speaking only with permission from the Most Merciful. Verse 39 invites whoever wills to take a way back to their Lord, and the final verse describes a person seeing what their own hands sent ahead, and the disbeliever wishing he were dust.

Main themes

  1. The great news

    The surah begins with people questioning one another and disagreeing about the great news. Its reply in verses 4 and 5 is short: they will come to know.

    Verses 1–5

  2. Signs in ordinary life

    Verses 6 to 16 list blessings people experience daily: the ground, the mountains, partners, sleep, night and day, the sun and the rain. Each is framed as a question asking the listener to notice who arranged it.

    Verses 6–16

  3. The Day of Sorting

    Verse 17 names the Day of Judgment as a fixed appointment. The trumpet is blown, people come in crowds, and the sky and mountains change beyond recognition.

    Verses 17–20

  4. Two outcomes

    The surah describes Hell waiting for those who did not expect a reckoning, then the reward of the righteous. Verse 29 notes that everything has been kept in a written record.

    Verses 21–36

  5. A way back to the Lord

    The closing verses show the angels standing silent before the Most Merciful and invite whoever wills to return to their Lord. The last verse is a vivid picture of regret.

    Verses 37–40

Verses to know

عَمَّ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ ﴿١﴾ عَنِ ٱلنَّبَإِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ﴿٢﴾

1What are they asking one another about? 2About the Great Event.
An-Naba 78:1–2

The opening question of the last juz of the Quran, asking what people are disputing, and naming it the great news.

وَجَعَلۡنَا نَوۡمَكُمۡ سُبَاتٗا ﴿٩﴾ وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلَّيۡلَ لِبَاسٗا ﴿١٠﴾ وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلنَّهَارَ مَعَاشٗا ﴿١١﴾

9And made your sleep for rest? 10And made the night a cover? 11And made the day for livelihood?
An-Naba 78:9–11

A gentle reminder of everyday blessings: sleep made for rest, night as a covering and day for earning a living.

ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمُ ٱلۡحَقُّۖ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ مَـَٔابًا ﴿٣٩﴾

That is the Day of Reality. So whoever wills, let him take a way back to his Lord.
An-Naba 78:39

After the descriptions of the Day, this verse leaves the door open: whoever wills may take a way back to their Lord.

إِنَّآ أَنذَرۡنَٰكُمۡ عَذَابٗا قَرِيبٗا يَوۡمَ يَنظُرُ ٱلۡمَرۡءُ مَا قَدَّمَتۡ يَدَاهُ وَيَقُولُ ٱلۡكَافِرُ يَٰلَيۡتَنِي كُنتُ تُرَٰبَۢا ﴿٤٠﴾

We have warned you of a near punishment—the Day when a person will observe what his hands have produced, and the faithless will say, “Oh, I wish I were dust.”
An-Naba 78:40

The surah closes with each person seeing what their hands sent ahead, and the disbeliever wishing he were dust.

When Surah An-Naba is recited

Because it opens the 30th juz, Surah An-Naba is one of the surahs many Muslims memorize early, often as part of learning Juz Amma, and it is commonly recited in daily prayers. There is no specific well-established narration about a special virtue for reciting it.

Surah An-Naba in Arabic and English

All 40 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

    عَمَّ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ

    AAamma yatasaaloona

    What are they asking one another about?

  2. 2

    عَنِ ٱلنَّبَإِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ

    AAani alnnabai alAAatheemi

    About the Great Event.

  3. 3

    ٱلَّذِي هُمۡ فِيهِ مُخۡتَلِفُونَ

    Allathee hum feehi mukhtalifoona

    About which they disagree.

  4. 4

    كَلَّا سَيَعۡلَمُونَ

    Kalla sayaAAlamoona

    Surely, they will find out.

  5. 5

    ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَيَعۡلَمُونَ

    Thumma kalla sayaAAlamoona

    Most certainly, they will find out.

  6. 6

    أَلَمۡ نَجۡعَلِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ مِهَٰدٗا

    Alam najAAali alarda mihadan

    Did We not make the earth a cradle?

  7. 7

    وَٱلۡجِبَالَ أَوۡتَادٗا

    Waaljibala awtadan

    And the mountains pegs?

  8. 8

    وَخَلَقۡنَٰكُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا

    Wakhalaqnakum azwajan

    And created you in pairs?

  9. 9

    وَجَعَلۡنَا نَوۡمَكُمۡ سُبَاتٗا

    WajaAAalna nawmakum subatan

    And made your sleep for rest?

  10. 10

    وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلَّيۡلَ لِبَاسٗا

    WajaAAalna allayla libasan

    And made the night a cover?

  11. 11

    وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلنَّهَارَ مَعَاشٗا

    WajaAAalna alnnahara maAAashan

    And made the day for livelihood?

  12. 12

    وَبَنَيۡنَا فَوۡقَكُمۡ سَبۡعٗا شِدَادٗا

    Wabanayna fawqakum sabAAan shidadan

    And built above you seven strong ones?

  13. 13

    وَجَعَلۡنَا سِرَاجٗا وَهَّاجٗا

    WajaAAalna sirajan wahhajan

    And placed a blazing lamp?

  14. 14

    وَأَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡمُعۡصِرَٰتِ مَآءٗ ثَجَّاجٗا

    Waanzalna mina almuAAsirati maan thajjajan

    And brought down from the clouds pouring water?

  15. 15

    لِّنُخۡرِجَ بِهِۦ حَبّٗا وَنَبَاتٗا

    Linukhrija bihi habban wanabatan

    To produce with it grains and vegetation?

  16. 16

    وَجَنَّـٰتٍ أَلۡفَافًا

    Wajannatin alfafan

    And luxuriant gardens?

  17. 17

    إِنَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَصۡلِ كَانَ مِيقَٰتٗا

    Inna yawma alfasli kana meeqatan

    The Day of Sorting has been appointed.

  18. 18

    يَوۡمَ يُنفَخُ فِي ٱلصُّورِ فَتَأۡتُونَ أَفۡوَاجٗا

    Yawma yunfakhu fee alssoori fatatoona afwajan

    The Day when the Trumpet is blown, and you will come in droves.

  19. 19

    وَفُتِحَتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَكَانَتۡ أَبۡوَٰبٗا

    Wafutihati alssamao fakanat abwaban

    And the sky is opened up, and becomes gateways.

  20. 20

    وَسُيِّرَتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ فَكَانَتۡ سَرَابًا

    Wasuyyirati aljibalu fakanat saraban

    And the mountains are set in motion, and become a mirage.

  21. 21

    إِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ كَانَتۡ مِرۡصَادٗا

    Inna jahannama kanat mirsadan

    Hell is lying in ambush.

  22. 22

    لِّلطَّـٰغِينَ مَـَٔابٗا

    Lilttagheena maaban

    For the oppressors, a destination.

  23. 23

    لَّـٰبِثِينَ فِيهَآ أَحۡقَابٗا

    Labitheena feeha ahqaban

    Where they will remain for eons.

  24. 24

    لَّا يَذُوقُونَ فِيهَا بَرۡدٗا وَلَا شَرَابًا

    La yathooqoona feeha bardan wala sharaban

    They will taste therein neither coolness, nor drink.

  25. 25

    إِلَّا حَمِيمٗا وَغَسَّاقٗا

    Illa hameeman waghassaqan

    Except boiling water, and freezing hail.

  26. 26

    جَزَآءٗ وِفَاقًا

    Jazaan wifaqan

    A fitting requital.

  27. 27

    إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ لَا يَرۡجُونَ حِسَابٗا

    Innahum kanoo la yarjoona hisaban

    For they were not anticipating any reckoning.

  28. 28

    وَكَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا كِذَّابٗا

    Wakaththaboo biayatina kiththaban

    And they denied Our signs utterly.

  29. 29

    وَكُلَّ شَيۡءٍ أَحۡصَيۡنَٰهُ كِتَٰبٗا

    Wakulla shayin ahsaynahu kitaban

    But We have enumerated everything in writing.

  30. 30

    فَذُوقُواْ فَلَن نَّزِيدَكُمۡ إِلَّا عَذَابًا

    Fathooqoo falan nazeedakum illa AAathaban

    So taste! We will increase you only in suffering.

  31. 31

    إِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ مَفَازًا

    Inna lilmuttaqeena mafazan

    But for the righteous there is triumph.

  32. 32

    حَدَآئِقَ وَأَعۡنَٰبٗا

    Hadaiqa waaAAnaban

    Gardens and vineyards.

  33. 33

    وَكَوَاعِبَ أَتۡرَابٗا

    WakawaAAiba atraban

    And splendid spouses, well matched.

  34. 34

    وَكَأۡسٗا دِهَاقٗا

    Wakasan dihaqan

    And delicious drinks.

  35. 35

    لَّا يَسۡمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغۡوٗا وَلَا كِذَّـٰبٗا

    La yasmaAAoona feeha laghwan wala kiththaban

    They will hear therein neither gossip, nor lies.

  36. 36

    جَزَآءٗ مِّن رَّبِّكَ عَطَآءً حِسَابٗا

    Jazaan min rabbika AAataan hisaban

    A reward from your Lord, a fitting gift.

  37. 37

    رَّبِّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِۖ لَا يَمۡلِكُونَ مِنۡهُ خِطَابٗا

    Rabbi alssamawati waalardi wama baynahuma alrrahmani la yamlikoona minhu khitaban

    Lord of the heavens and the earth, and everything between them—the Most Merciful—none can argue with Him.

  38. 38

    يَوۡمَ يَقُومُ ٱلرُّوحُ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ صَفّٗاۖ لَّا يَتَكَلَّمُونَ إِلَّا مَنۡ أَذِنَ لَهُ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ وَقَالَ صَوَابٗا

    Yawma yaqoomu alrroohu waalmalaikatu saffan la yatakallamoona illa man athina lahu alrrahmanu waqala sawaban

    On the Day when the Spirit and the angels stand in a row. They will not speak, unless it be one permitted by the Most Merciful, and he will say what is right.

  39. 39

    ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمُ ٱلۡحَقُّۖ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ مَـَٔابًا

    Thalika alyawmu alhaqqu faman shaa ittakhatha ila rabbihi maaban

    That is the Day of Reality. So whoever wills, let him take a way back to his Lord.

  40. 40

    إِنَّآ أَنذَرۡنَٰكُمۡ عَذَابٗا قَرِيبٗا يَوۡمَ يَنظُرُ ٱلۡمَرۡءُ مَا قَدَّمَتۡ يَدَاهُ وَيَقُولُ ٱلۡكَافِرُ يَٰلَيۡتَنِي كُنتُ تُرَٰبَۢا

    Inna antharnakum AAathaban qareeban yawma yanthuru almaro ma qaddamat yadahu wayaqoolu alkafiru ya laytanee kuntu turaban

    We have warned you of a near punishment—the Day when a person will observe what his hands have produced, and the faithless will say, “Oh, I wish I were dust.”

Surah An-Naba PDF

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

Download the PDF

Questions about Surah An-Naba

Why is Juz 30 called Juz Amma?

The 30th juz begins with Surah An-Naba, whose first word is amma, meaning about what. The whole juz is commonly named after that word.

How many verses are in Surah An-Naba?

Surah An-Naba has 40 verses. It is a Meccan surah and the 78th in the Quran.

What is the great news in Surah Naba?

Verse 2 calls the subject of people's disagreement the great news, which is generally understood to be the resurrection and the Day of Judgment that the surah goes on to describe.

What does the last verse of Surah Naba say?

Verse 40 says a person will see what their own hands sent ahead on the Day of Judgment, and the disbeliever will wish he were dust.