Surah Al-Insan - English Translation by Shabbir Ahmed
هَلۡ أَتَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡإِنسَٰنِ حِينٞ مِّنَ ٱلدَّهۡرِ لَمۡ يَكُن شَيۡـٔٗا مَّذۡكُورًا
Has there not passed over man an era when he was not even worth mentioning
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 1
إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ أَمۡشَاجٖ نَّبۡتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُ سَمِيعَۢا بَصِيرًا
Behold, it is We who have created the human being from marked out cells, male and female gametes, that joined. Then We passed him through subtle changes. And then We made him a being endowed with Hearing and Sight
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 2
إِنَّا هَدَيۡنَٰهُ ٱلسَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرٗا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا
Verily, We it is Who have shown him the Way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 3
إِنَّآ أَعۡتَدۡنَا لِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ سَلَٰسِلَاْ وَأَغۡلَٰلٗا وَسَعِيرًا
Behold, for those who deny the Truth we have readied chains and shackles and a blazing flame. (Chains and shackles of conjecture, blind following and superstition, and the fire of confusion and regret are the logical consequences of relegating the Truth)
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 4
إِنَّ ٱلۡأَبۡرَارَ يَشۡرَبُونَ مِن كَأۡسٖ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُورًا
Behold, the truly virtuous will drink from a cup sweetened with nectar of flowers. ('Kafur' = Camphor = Cool temperament = Nectar from the calyx of grape as it flowers = Sweet and fragrant drink of Divine Bliss)
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 5
عَيۡنٗا يَشۡرَبُ بِهَا عِبَادُ ٱللَّهِ يُفَجِّرُونَهَا تَفۡجِيرٗا
A spring whereof the servants of Allah drink - it is they who make it flow in a flow abundant. (The true servants of Allah achieve His blessings of Guidance and all that is good, and share them with fellow human beings)
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 6
يُوفُونَ بِٱلنَّذۡرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوۡمٗا كَانَ شَرُّهُۥ مُسۡتَطِيرٗا
They fulfill their vows and pledges and fear (and therefore, guard against) the times when chaos and corruption might sweep the society
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 7
وَيُطۡعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسۡكِينٗا وَيَتِيمٗا وَأَسِيرًا
And they feed, for the love of nobility, the indigent, the orphan and the captive
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 8
إِنَّمَا نُطۡعِمُكُمۡ لِوَجۡهِ ٱللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمۡ جَزَآءٗ وَلَا شُكُورًا
(They do all this selflessly) saying, "We provide for you for the sake of Allah alone. We want no return from you, not even a word of thanks
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 9
إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوۡمًا عَبُوسٗا قَمۡطَرِيرٗا
Behold, we stand in awe of our Lord to ward off the times when the society might become a picture of frown and distress
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 10
فَوَقَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمِ وَلَقَّىٰهُمۡ نَضۡرَةٗ وَسُرُورٗا
Hence, Allah wards off from them the chaos of those times, and showers on them inner splendor and delight. ('Yaum' = Day = Stage = Times = Era = Eventuality = The Resurrection Day)
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 11
وَجَزَىٰهُم بِمَا صَبَرُواْ جَنَّةٗ وَحَرِيرٗا
And for their steadfastness He rewards them with a Garden of Bliss and garments of silk (honor)
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 12
مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلۡأَرَآئِكِۖ لَا يَرَوۡنَ فِيهَا شَمۡسٗا وَلَا زَمۡهَرِيرٗا
Relaxing therein on beautiful furnishings, they neither find a hot sun nor chill
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 13
وَدَانِيَةً عَلَيۡهِمۡ ظِلَٰلُهَا وَذُلِّلَتۡ قُطُوفُهَا تَذۡلِيلٗا
Pleasant shades close upon them and clusters of fruits reach them low
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 14
وَيُطَافُ عَلَيۡهِم بِـَٔانِيَةٖ مِّن فِضَّةٖ وَأَكۡوَابٖ كَانَتۡ قَوَارِيرَا۠
And they are served with goblets of silver and cups of crystal
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 15
قَوَارِيرَاْ مِن فِضَّةٖ قَدَّرُوهَا تَقۡدِيرٗا
Silver trays shining as crystal - all this design they have determined (with their good deeds)
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 16
وَيُسۡقَوۡنَ فِيهَا كَأۡسٗا كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا زَنجَبِيلًا
And delicious invigorating drinks they shall be given. (43:71), (76:5), (83:27). Camphor: an allegory for cool relaxation, and ginger: warmth and action
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 17
عَيۡنٗا فِيهَا تُسَمَّىٰ سَلۡسَبِيلٗا
From therein a spring named Salsabil. The water thereof seeks its own way to them. ((88:12). Salsabil = Find your way to them
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 18
۞وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وِلۡدَٰنٞ مُّخَلَّدُونَ إِذَا رَأَيۡتَهُمۡ حَسِبۡتَهُمۡ لُؤۡلُؤٗا مَّنثُورٗا
And their children, immortal, playing around, lovely as pearls when you see them
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 19
وَإِذَا رَأَيۡتَ ثَمَّ رَأَيۡتَ نَعِيمٗا وَمُلۡكٗا كَبِيرًا
And whenever you look around there you see Bliss and a Magnificent Kingdom
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 20
عَٰلِيَهُمۡ ثِيَابُ سُندُسٍ خُضۡرٞ وَإِسۡتَبۡرَقٞۖ وَحُلُّوٓاْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن فِضَّةٖ وَسَقَىٰهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡ شَرَابٗا طَهُورًا
Upon them will be garments of green silk with gold embroidery, and they will be honored with bracelets of silver. And their Lord will give them pure refreshing drinks
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 21
إِنَّ هَٰذَا كَانَ لَكُمۡ جَزَآءٗ وَكَانَ سَعۡيُكُم مَّشۡكُورًا
Behold! All this is your Reward since your effort has found a befitting Acceptance
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 22
إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ تَنزِيلٗا
Behold, We, yes, We have revealed unto you the Qur'an step by step, a Revelation from Us
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 23
فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تُطِعۡ مِنۡهُمۡ ءَاثِمًا أَوۡ كَفُورٗا
Therefore, hold on to your Lord's Command unwaveringly. And heed not of them any dragger of progress or devotee of darkness. ('Athim' = One who drags or pulls down progress)
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 24
وَٱذۡكُرِ ٱسۡمَ رَبِّكَ بُكۡرَةٗ وَأَصِيلٗا
Raise the Name of your Lord morning and evening. ('Zikr' = Remembrance = Commemoration = Raise = Celebration = Magnify = Give eminence = Taking to heart = Keeping in mind)
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 25
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ فَٱسۡجُدۡ لَهُۥ وَسَبِّحۡهُ لَيۡلٗا طَوِيلًا
Adore Him even at night and strive to establish His Glory on earth through long nights (as you do morning and evening)
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 26
إِنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ يُحِبُّونَ ٱلۡعَاجِلَةَ وَيَذَرُونَ وَرَآءَهُمۡ يَوۡمٗا ثَقِيلٗا
Behold, these people love only the instant gains and as a result leave behind a yesterday laden (with transgressions and wasted opportunities of doing good)
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 27
نَّحۡنُ خَلَقۡنَٰهُمۡ وَشَدَدۡنَآ أَسۡرَهُمۡۖ وَإِذَا شِئۡنَا بَدَّلۡنَآ أَمۡثَٰلَهُمۡ تَبۡدِيلًا
(Who gave them the mind and body to behave the way they choose?) We it is Who have created them, and strengthened their frame. And if We Will, We can replace them entirely with other nations. (Nations who will use their human potentials better)
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 28
إِنَّ هَٰذِهِۦ تَذۡكِرَةٞۖ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ سَبِيلٗا
Behold, this is an Advisory that whoever wants, may choose a Way to his Lord
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 29
وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمٗا
Yet, you cannot will it unless you align your free will with the Will of Allah. (Guidance can only be achieved according to Divine Laws (4:88)). For, behold, Allah is Knower, Wise
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 30
يُدۡخِلُ مَن يَشَآءُ فِي رَحۡمَتِهِۦۚ وَٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ أَعَدَّ لَهُمۡ عَذَابًا أَلِيمَۢا
He admits into His Grace everyone who wills to be admitted. But, for those who wrong their 'Self' by making wrong decisions, He has prepared an awful doom. ('Zulm' = Wrongdoing = Being unjust to others or to one's own 'Self' = Oppression = Relegation of Truth = Displacing anything from its rightful place = Violation of human rights = Transgression)
Surah Al-Insan, Verse 31