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Islamic knowledge

Chapter79/ Al Nazi’at

Summary of the chapter & the links: 

1. Audio discussion of the chapter summary: 

https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/eb50a0e3-8b9d-48c8-97bb-08e8df57e5b7/audio

2. Mesmerizing recitation of the chapter with English translation:

https://surahquran.com/sorah-english-79.html

3. Free app for complete Quran , translations in multiple world languages: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1118663303

4. Free app for complete Quran, recitation, multiple tafaseer, books of ahadees: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1006098149

Key Points

  • Research suggests Surah 79 (An-Nazi’at) from Tafheemul Quran emphasizes the certainty of Resurrection and life after death, with warnings against denial.
  • It seems likely the surah uses oaths by angels to affirm divine power, describes the Day of Judgement with cosmic events, and recounts Moses and Pharaoh’s story to illustrate divine justice.
  • The evidence leans toward the righteous being promised Paradise, while deniers face severe punishment, with everything recorded for accountability.

Summary of Chapter 79 (Surah An-Nazi’at)

Overview
Surah An-Nazi’at, the 79th chapter, is a Meccan surah with 46 verses, focusing on affirming Resurrection, warning disbelievers, and illustrating divine justice through the story of Moses and Pharaoh, as interpreted in Tafheemul Quran by Syed Abul Ala Maududi.

Oaths and Resurrection
The surah begins with oaths by angels, described with five qualities: plucking souls violently, drawing out gently, gliding swiftly, racing in tasks, and managing universe affairs. These oaths, interpreted by companions like Ibn Masud and Ibn Abbas, likely from the Prophet (peace be upon him), show angels’ roles in executing Resurrection by God’s order, emphasizing divine power.

Day of Judgement
It describes the Day of Judgement with two quakes: the first destroys the earth, the second raises the dead, with hearts trembling and eyes downcast. Disbelievers mock, saying returning to life as decayed bones is a “return with great loss,” but only needs a single blast to awaken them, highlighting the inevitability of Resurrection.

Story of Moses and Pharaoh
Allah called Moses in the sacred valley Tuwa, commanding him to go to Pharaoh, who transgressed. Moses asked if Pharaoh would purify and fear God, showing a great sign (staff to serpent), but Pharaoh denied, disobeyed, and proclaimed himself supreme lord, leading to exemplary punishment, a lesson for those who fear.

Fates and Accountability
The righteous are promised Paradise, while deniers face severe punishment in Hell, with everything recorded, emphasizing divine justice. The surah warns of near chastisement, with man seeing deeds, and disbelievers wishing to be dust, feeling time differently post-death.

Supporting Resources

  • [Tafheemul Quran – Surah 79:1-46]([invalid url, do not cite])

Comprehensive Analysis of Surah 79 (An-Nazi’at) from Tafheemul Quran

This section provides a detailed examination of Surah 79 (An-Nazi’at) as interpreted in Tafheemul Quran, authored by Syed Abul Ala Maududi. The commentary, known for its combination of orthodox and modernist interpretations, addresses contemporary issues while grounding its explanations in the Sunnah and historical context. Below, we explore the surah’s structure, themes, and significance, ensuring a thorough understanding for readers interested in Quranic exegesis.

Background and Context

Surah 79 is a Meccan surah, revealed early in the Prophet Muhammad’s mission, focusing on theological debates about Resurrection and life after death. Tafheemul Quran notes that this timing is significant, as it reflects the challenges faced by the Prophet during initial opposition from the Quraish, who denied the Hereafter. The surah, comprising 46 verses, is part of the 29th juz’ of the Quran and is titled “An-Nazi’at,” meaning “Those Who Pull Out,” referring to the angels mentioned in the opening verses.

Maududi’s commentary, completed over 30 years from 1942 to 1972, is renowned for its depth, covering economics, sociology, history, and politics, while applying Quranic guidance to modern issues. For Surah 79, it provides a verse-by-verse exegesis, emphasizing the surah’s role in confronting disbelief and affirming divine justice, consistent with the nature of Meccan chapters.

Detailed Verse-by-Verse Summary

The following tables summarize the key themes and messages of Surah 79 as per Tafheemul Quran, organized by verse ranges for clarity:

Table 1: Summary of Verses 79:1-26Verse RangeKey Themes and Messages 79:1-5 Oaths by angels with five qualities: plucking souls violently, drawing out gently, gliding swiftly, racing in tasks, managing universe affairs, interpreted by companions like Ibn Masud, Ibn Abbas, likely from Prophet (peace be upon him), showing angels’ roles in Resurrection. 79:6-9 Describes Day of Judgement with two quakes: first destroys earth, second raises dead, hearts tremble, eyes downcast, emphasizing cosmic upheaval. 79:10-14 Disbelievers mock, saying return to life as decayed bones is “return with great loss,” but only needs single blast to awaken, affirming Resurrection’s inevitability. 79:15-16 Allah called Moses in sacred valley Tuwa, commanded to go to Pharaoh, highlighting divine mission. 79:17-19 Moses asked if Pharaoh would purify and fear God, showing intent to guide, not just confront. 79:20-24 Moses showed great sign (staff to serpent), but Pharaoh denied, disobeyed, proclaimed himself supreme lord, illustrating rebellion. 79:25-26 Allah seized Pharaoh with exemplary punishment, lesson for those who fear, emphasizing divine justice.

Table 2: Summary of Verses 79:27-46Verse RangeKey Themes and Messages 79:27-33 Questions if creating heavens, earth, mountains, and man is harder or Resurrection, affirming divine power, with earth spread, mountains fixed, man created from fluid, highlighting creation signs. 79:34-39 Warns of Day when trumpet is blown, hearts tremble, eyes downcast, disbelievers wish to be dust, feeling time differently post-death, emphasizing Judgement Day’s reality. 79:40-41 Those fearing standing before Lord and restraining lusts will be in cool shades, springs, as reward, contrasting with deniers. 79:42-46 Disbelievers ask when Judgement Day is, described as when sun is folded, stars dim, mountains set in motion, pregnant she-camels neglected, wild beasts gathered, seas boil over, souls matched with bodies, asked about deeds, with Hour near, easy for Allah, warning and reminder.

Thematic Analysis

The surah’s themes are deeply intertwined with the early Meccan context, addressing theological debates about Resurrection and accountability. Tafheemul Quran highlights the following key aspects:

  1. Oaths by Angels: Verses 1-5 use oaths by angels, interpreted as showing their roles in executing Resurrection, with qualities like plucking souls violently (death) and drawing out gently (easy death), gliding swiftly, racing in tasks, and managing universe affairs, emphasizing divine power (Commentary 1-5, E.Ns 1-5).
  2. Certainty of Resurrection: Verses 6-14 describe Judgement Day with two quakes, hearts trembling, eyes downcast, disbelievers mocking return as decayed bones, but single blast awakens, refuting denial, relevant to modern discussions on afterlife (Commentary 6-14).
  3. Story of Moses and Pharaoh: Verses 15-26 recount Moses’ mission, called in Tuwa, commanded to Pharaoh, asking purification and fear, showing sign (staff to serpent), but Pharaoh’s denial and punishment illustrate divine justice, not just historical, but lesson for fear (Commentary 15-26, E.Ns 15-26, cross-referencing Surah Al-Aaraf 7:127 for Pharaoh’s political rebellion).
  4. Creation and Power: Verses 27-33 question if creating heavens, earth, mountains, man from fluid is harder or Resurrection, affirming divine ease, with earth spread, mountains fixed, man created, emphasizing signs, relevant to modern science debates (Commentary 27-33).
  5. Day of Judgement Details: Verses 34-46 warn of trumpet blow, hearts trembling, disbelievers wishing to be dust, feeling time differently, with Hour near, easy for Allah, describing cosmic events like sun folded, stars dim, mountains in motion, pregnant she-camels neglected, wild beasts gathered, seas boiling, souls matched, asked deeds, emphasizing accountability (Commentary 34-46).
  6. Rewards and Punishments: Verses 40-41 contrast, those fearing Lord, restraining lusts, in cool shades, springs, as reward, while deniers face severe fate, with everything recorded, underscoring justice (Commentary 40-41).

Significance and Modern Relevance

Tafheemul Quran’s commentary on Surah 79 is not merely historical but forward-looking. Maududi applies the surah’s messages to modern challenges, such as disbelief, accountability, and environmental stewardship. For instance:

  • Angel oaths align with contemporary discussions on divine signs, emphasizing natural order.
  • Resurrection debates resonate with modern existential and scientific inquiries, urging reflection.
  • Moses and Pharaoh’s story is relevant to leadership and justice, applicable to modern governance.
  • Creation signs align with science, affirming divine wisdom, while Judgement Day warnings address modern materialism, urging spiritual focus.

Based on Tafheemul Quran’s exegetical approach by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, Surah An-Nazi’at (Chapter 79) is summarized thematically as follows:

1. Oath by the Angels and Eschatological Introduction (Verses 1–14)

The surah opens with a fivefold oath by angels, symbolizing their roles in cosmic order and human destiny :

  • An-Nazi’at (Those who extract souls violently) and an-Nashiṭat (Those who extract gently) signify angels administering death to disbelievers and believers, respectively.
  • As-Sabihat (Those who glide), as-Sabiqat (Those who race ahead), and al-Mudabbirat (Those who execute commands) represent angels governing natural laws and divine decrees .
    This oath precedes a vivid depiction of the Day of Resurrection, where the “Trembler” (first trumpet blast) annihilates creation, followed by the “Successor” (second blast) restoring life. Human skepticism about bodily resurrection (“Are we to be restored as decayed bones?”) is countered by Allah’s power to resurrect with a “single jolt” .

2. The Story of Musa (Moses) and Fir’aun (Pharaoh) (Verses 15–26)

This narrative serves as a historical admonition:

  • Allah commands Musa in the sacred valley of Tuwa to confront Fir’aun, who had “transgressed all bounds” through tyranny and self-deification .
  • Musa offers Fir’aun purification (tazkiyah) and guidance to God-consciousness, but Fir’aun rejects Moses’s miracles, declares himself “supreme lord,” and mobilizes his people against divine truth .
  • Fir’aun’s punishment—exemplary in this world and the Hereafter—becomes a lesson for those who “fear Allah” . Maududi emphasizes this as a warning against unchecked power and rejection of moral accountability.

3. Cosmic Power and Human Insignificance (Verses 27–33)

A rhetorical challenge underscores human arrogance:

  • “Are you harder to create than the sky?” contrasts human fragility with Allah’s construction of the cosmos—elevating the heavens, proportioning celestial bodies, and establishing day-night cycles .
  • Earth’s creation—spreading terrain, producing water/pasture, and anchoring mountains—highlights Allah’s provision for humanity and livestock . This dismantles materialist delusions and reaffirms divine sovereignty.

4. The Final Judgment and Human Destiny (Verses 34–46)

The “Great Overthrow” (Day of Judgment) reveals ultimate accountability:

  • Hell is exposed for “transgressors” who prioritized worldly desires; Paradise awaits those who “feared their Lord’s standing” and restrained their souls .
  • When questioned about the Hour’s timing, Prophet Muhammad is instructed to declare its knowledge rests solely with Allah. His role is solely to warn those who “fear it” .
  • The surah concludes paradoxically: the Judgment Day will feel “as though they had only lingered an evening or a morning,” compressing earthly life’s ephemeral nature .

Key Themes in Maududi’s Tafheem

  • Angelic Agency: Angels exemplify unwavering obedience to Allah, contrasting human rebellion .
  • Moral Pedagogy: Fir’aun’s arrogance embodies systemic injustice, urging societies to reject similar oppression .
  • Resurrection as Justice: Bodily resurrection affirms divine power to rectify earthly injustices in the Hereafter .
  • Eschatological Urgency: The Hour’s unknowability demands perpetual consciousness (taqwa) .

Maududi’s exegesis links theological concepts to socio-political morality, framing the surah as a call for societal reform grounded in divine accountability .

This comprehensive analysis ensures a thorough understanding of Surah 79 from Tafheemul Quran, aligning with the request for a detailed summary while providing context and modern relevance.