الانسان
Surah Al-Insan
The Man · Surah 76 · Medinan · 31 verses
1هَلۡ أَتَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡإِنسَٰنِ حِينࣱ مِّنَ ٱلدَّهۡرِ لَمۡ يَكُن شَيۡـࣰٔا مَّذۡكُورًا ١Hath there come upon man (ever) any period of time in which he was a thing unremembered.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “hal” here is not a question but an affirmation meaning “indeed”: man passed through a time when he was nothing worth mentioning.2إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ أَمۡشَاجࣲ نَّبۡتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُ سَمِيعَۢا بَصِيرًا ٢Lo! We create man from a drop of thickened fluid to test him; so We make him hearing, knowing.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, man did not come about by himself, nor was he created to remain neglected at a limited stage; he was created for a test, given hearing and sight.3إِنَّا هَدَيۡنَٰهُ ٱلسَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرࣰا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا ٣Lo! We have shown him the way, whether he be grateful or disbelieving.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this way is the true religion of Islam, to which the Qur’an invites, leading straight to Allah and His pure blessings.4إِنَّآ أَعۡتَدۡنَا لِلۡكَٰفِرِينَ سَلَٰسِلَاْ وَأَغۡلَٰلࣰا وَسَعِيرًا ٤Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers manacles and carcans and a raging fire.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, let whoever wills choose these; but for those with insight, they are not things to choose or endure.5إِنَّ ٱلۡأَبۡرَارَ يَشۡرَبُونَ مِن كَأۡسࣲ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُورًا ٥Lo! the righteous shall drink of a cup whereof the mixture is of Kafur.InsightElmalılı explains “abrar” as the plural of “barr”: a person full of goodness, obedient and good, who honours the rights of Allah and of people.6عَيۡنࣰا يَشۡرَبُ بِهَا عِبَادُ ٱللَّهِ يُفَجِّرُونَهَا تَفۡجِيرࣰا ٦A spring wherefrom the slaves of Allah drink, making it gush forth abundantly.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this camphor is a fountain, a spring; the servants of Allah drink from it and make it flow as they wish.7يُوفُونَ بِٱلنَّذۡرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوۡمࣰا كَانَ شَرُّهُۥ مُسۡتَطِيرࣰا ٧(Because) they perform the vow and fear a day whereof the evil is wide-spreading.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this details what the name “righteous” summarises: their state in this world, their character, inner disposition and the basis of their good deeds that lead them to their goal in the Hereafter.8وَيُطۡعِمُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ مِسۡكِينࣰا وَيَتِيمࣰا وَأَسِيرًا ٨And feed with food the needy wretch, the orphan and the prisoner, for love of Him.InsightElmalılı gives two meanings: they give food though they too want and need it; or they give not reluctantly but wholeheartedly and willingly.9إِنَّمَا نُطۡعِمُكُمۡ لِوَجۡهِ ٱللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمۡ جَزَآءࣰ وَلَا شُكُورًا ٩(Saying): We feed you, for the sake of Allah only. We wish for no reward nor thanks from you.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, they do not say this openly to their faces; they say it with their hearts and their conduct. That is why “they say” is not stated explicitly.10إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوۡمًا عَبُوسࣰا قَمۡطَرِيرࣰا ١٠Lo! we fear from our Lord a day of frowning and of fate.InsightElmalılı explains “‘abus” as a dark, frowning day that will sour the faces of those in it.11فَوَقَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمِ وَلَقَّىٰهُمۡ نَضۡرَةࣰ وَسُرُورࣰا ١١Therefor Allah hath warded off from them the evil of that day, and hath made them find brightness and joy.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this begins to describe the fruit and outcome in the Hereafter of that inner state and effort in this world.12وَجَزَىٰهُم بِمَا صَبَرُواْ جَنَّةࣰ وَحَرِيرࣰا ١٢And hath awarded them for all that they endured, a Garden and silk attire.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this indicates that patience is the most distinguished quality among the causes of the righteous’s success, and that they combine gratitude with patience.13مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلۡأَرَآئِكِۖ لَا يَرَوۡنَ فِيهَا شَمۡسࣰا وَلَا زَمۡهَرِيرࣰا ١٣Reclining therein upon couches, they will find there neither (heat of) a sun nor bitter cold.InsightElmalılı explains “arikah” as an adorned couch set up in a bridal chamber; “zamharir” is bitter cold, for extreme cold is a torment just like extreme heat.14وَدَانِيَةً عَلَيۡهِمۡ ظِلَٰلُهَا وَذُلِّلَتۡ قُطُوفُهَا تَذۡلِيلࣰا ١٤The shade thereof is close upon them and the clustered fruits thereof bow down.15وَيُطَافُ عَلَيۡهِم بِـَٔانِيَةࣲ مِّن فِضَّةࣲ وَأَكۡوَابࣲ كَانَتۡ قَوَارِيرَا۠ ١٥Goblets of silver are brought round for them, and beakers (as) of glass.16قَوَارِيرَاْ مِن فِضَّةࣲ قَدَّرُوهَا تَقۡدِيرࣰا ١٦(Bright as) glass but (made) of silver, which they (themselves) have measured to the measure (of their deeds).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, there is no crystal made of silver; but here a marvellous metaphor combines the whiteness of silver with the clarity of crystal.17وَيُسۡقَوۡنَ فِيهَا كَأۡسࣰا كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا زَنجَبِيلًا ١٧There are they watered with a cup whereof the mixture is of Zanjabil.InsightElmalılı explains “zanjabil” as the familiar fragrant spice that gives some drinks a pleasant taste and scent; first a cup mixed with camphor, here one mixed with ginger, is mentioned.18عَيۡنࣰا فِيهَا تُسَمَّىٰ سَلۡسَبِيلࣰا ١٨(The water of) a spring therein, named Salsabil.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “salsabil” is a word first heard in the Qur’an; it describes water flowing in a chain, so smooth and sweet it does not catch in the throat.19۞وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وِلۡدَٰنࣱ مُّخَلَّدُونَ إِذَا رَأَيۡتَهُمۡ حَسِبۡتَهُمۡ لُؤۡلُؤࣰا مَّنثُورࣰا ١٩There wait on them immortal youths, whom, when thou seest, thou wouldst take for scattered pearls.20وَإِذَا رَأَيۡتَ ثَمَّ رَأَيۡتَ نَعِيمࣰا وَمُلۡكࣰا كَبِيرًا ٢٠When thou seest, thou wilt see there bliss and high estate.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, wherever the eye falls in Paradise it sees pure bliss free of sorrow and rancour and an indescribable great dominion, both sensory and intellectual.21عَٰلِيَهُمۡ ثِيَابُ سُندُسٍ خُضۡرࣱ وَإِسۡتَبۡرَقࣱۖ وَحُلُّوٓاْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن فِضَّةࣲ وَسَقَىٰهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡ شَرَابࣰا طَهُورًا ٢١Their raiment will be fine green silk and gold embroidery. Bracelets of silver will they wear. Their Lord will slake their thirst with a pure drink.22إِنَّ هَٰذَا كَانَ لَكُمۡ جَزَآءࣰ وَكَانَ سَعۡيُكُم مَّشۡكُورًا ٢٢(And it will be said unto them): Lo! this is a reward for you. Your endeavour (upon earth) hath found acceptance.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, your efforts in the world were not wasted; their worth was recognised and met with a greater reward.23إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ تَنزِيلࣰا ٢٣Lo! We, even We, have revealed unto thee the Qur’an, a revelation.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Qur’an was not revealed at once but gradually, piece by piece over twenty-three years; none but Allah sent it down.24فَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تُطِعۡ مِنۡهُمۡ ءَاثِمًا أَوۡ كَفُورࣰا ٢٤So submit patiently to thy Lord’s command, and obey not of them any guilty one or disbeliever.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, do not hurry; if Allah does not grant final victory today but tests you with hardships, endure them and look to the judgement He will give.25وَٱذۡكُرِ ٱسۡمَ رَبِّكَ بُكۡرَةࣰ وَأَصِيلࣰا ٢٥Remember the name of thy Lord at morn and evening.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, one is commanded to keep up prayer along with patience: “bukrah” is morning until noon, “asil” afternoon and evening.26وَمِنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ فَٱسۡجُدۡ لَهُۥ وَسَبِّحۡهُ لَيۡلࣰا طَوِيلًا ٢٦And worship Him (a portion) of the night. And glorify Him through the livelong night.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, prostration here means prayer, naming the part for the whole; one is commanded to pray during part of the night.27إِنَّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ يُحِبُّونَ ٱلۡعَاجِلَةَ وَيَذَرُونَ وَرَآءَهُمۡ يَوۡمࣰا ثَقِيلࣰا ٢٧Lo! these love fleeting life, and put behind them (the remembrance of) a grievous day.28نَّحۡنُ خَلَقۡنَٰهُمۡ وَشَدَدۡنَآ أَسۡرَهُمۡۖ وَإِذَا شِئۡنَا بَدَّلۡنَآ أَمۡثَٰلَهُمۡ تَبۡدِيلًا ٢٨We, even We, created them, and strengthened their frame. And when We will, We can replace them, bringing others like them in their stead.InsightElmalılı explains “asr” as originally binding tightly; here it means the bonds of creation, like the vessels, nerves and muscles that bind the joints of bodies.29إِنَّ هَٰذِهِۦ تَذۡكِرَةࣱۖ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ سَبِيلࣰا ٢٩Lo! this is an Admonishment, that whosoever will may choose a way unto his Lord.30وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمࣰا ٣٠Yet ye will not, unless Allah willeth. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, though this verse is debated in questions of predestination, there is no doubt that servants are given will, and that it is bound to accord with Allah’s will; responsibility arises from this.31يُدۡخِلُ مَن يَشَآءُ فِي رَحۡمَتِهِۦۚ وَٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ أَعَدَّ لَهُمۡ عَذَابًا أَلِيمَۢا ٣١He maketh whom He will to enter His mercy, and for evil-doers hath prepared a painful doom.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Allah has shown two paths, one to His mercy and one to His punishment; man is created to be tested between these two.