Surah At-Tur (The Mount)
Read in the interactive Mushaf readerAbout this surah
Name
It is derived from the very first cord "Wat Tur-i."
Period of Revelation
From the internal evidence of the subject matter it appears that this Surah too was revealed in the same stage of the Holy Prophet's life at Makkah in which the Surah Adh-Dhariyat was revealed. While going through it one can clearly feel that during the period of its revelation the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was being showered with objections and accusations but there is no evidence yet to show that severe persecution of the Muslims had started.
Subject Matter and Topics
The subject matter of its first section (vv. 1-28) is the Hereafter. As arguments for its possibility, necessity and occurrence had already been given in Surah Adh-Dhariyat, these have not been repeated here. However, swearing an oath by some realities and signs which testify to the Hereafter, it has been stated most emphatically that it will surely come to pass, and none has the power to prevent its occurrence. Then, it has been stated as to what will be the fate of those who deny it when it actually occurs, and how will those who believe in it and adopt the way of piety and righteousness accordingly, be blessed by Allah.
Then, in the second section (vv. 29-49) the Quraish chiefs' attitude towards the message of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah he upon him) has been criticized. They called him a sorcerer, a madman, or a poet, and would thus mislead the common people against him so that they should not pay any serious attention to the message he preached. They looked upon him as a calamity that had suddenly descended on them and would openly wish that he met with a disaster so that they were rid of him. They accused him of fabricating the Qur'an by himself and of presenting it in the name of Allah, and this was, God forbid, a fraud that he was practicing. They would often taunt him, saying that God could not have appointed an ordinary man like him to the office of Prophethood. They expressed great disgust at his invitation and message and would avoid him as if he was asking them for a reward for it. They would sit and take counsels together to devise schemes in order to put an end to his mission. And while they did all this they never realized what creeds of ignorance they were involved in and how selflessly and sincerely was Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) exerting himself to deliver them from their error. While criticizing them for this attitude and conduct, Allah has put them certain questions, one after the other, each of which is either an answer to some objection of theirs, or a criticism of some error. Then, it has been said that it would absolutely be of no avail to show them a miracle in order to convince them of his Prophethood, for they were such stubborn people as would misinterpret anything they were shown only to avoid affirming the faith.
In the beginning of this section as well as in its end, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has been given the instruction that he should persistently continue giving his invitation and preaching his message in spite of the accusations and objections of his opponents and enemies, and should endure their resistance patiently till Allah's judgment comes to pass. Besides, he has been consoled, as if to say "Your Lord has not left you alone to face your enemies, after raising you as a Prophet, but He is constantly watching over you. Therefore, endure every hardship patiently till the Hour of His judgment comes, and seek through praising and glorifying your Lord the power that is required for exerting in the cause of Allah under such conditions.
Surah At-Tur — Arabic with English translation
إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ لَوَٰقِعٞ ٧
Indeed, the punishment of your Lord will occur.
يَوۡمَ تَمُورُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ مَوۡرٗا ٩
On the Day the heaven will sway with circular motion
وَتَسِيرُ ٱلۡجِبَالُ سَيۡرٗا ١٠
And the mountains will pass on, departing1 -
فَوَيۡلٞ يَوۡمَئِذٖ لِّلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ ١١
Then woe, that Day, to the deniers,
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ فِي خَوۡضٖ يَلۡعَبُونَ ١٢
Who are in [empty] discourse amusing themselves.
يَوۡمَ يُدَعُّونَ إِلَىٰ نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ دَعًّا ١٣
The Day they are thrust toward the fire of Hell with a [violent] thrust, [its angels will say],
هَٰذِهِ ٱلنَّارُ ٱلَّتِي كُنتُم بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ ١٤
"This is the Fire which you used to deny.
أَفَسِحۡرٌ هَٰذَآ أَمۡ أَنتُمۡ لَا تُبۡصِرُونَ ١٥
Then is this magic, or do you not see?
ٱصۡلَوۡهَا فَٱصۡبِرُوٓاْ أَوۡ لَا تَصۡبِرُواْ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡۖ إِنَّمَا تُجۡزَوۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ ١٦
[Enter to] burn therein; then be patient or impatient - it is all the same for you. You are only being recompensed [for] what you used to do."
إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّٰتٖ وَنَعِيمٖ ١٧
Indeed, the righteous will be in gardens and pleasure,
فَٰكِهِينَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡ وَوَقَىٰهُمۡ رَبُّهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ ١٨
Enjoying what their Lord has given them, and their Lord protected them from the punishment of Hellfire.
كُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ هَنِيٓـَٔۢا بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ ١٩
[They will be told], "Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you used to do."
مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ سُرُرٖ مَّصۡفُوفَةٖۖ وَزَوَّجۡنَٰهُم بِحُورٍ عِينٖ ٢٠
They will be reclining on thrones lined up, and We will marry them to fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱتَّبَعَتۡهُمۡ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَٰنٍ أَلۡحَقۡنَا بِهِمۡ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمۡ وَمَآ أَلَتۡنَٰهُم مِّنۡ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَيۡءٖۚ كُلُّ ٱمۡرِيِٕۭ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٞ ٢١
And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith - We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds.1 Every person, for what he earned, is retained.2
وَأَمۡدَدۡنَٰهُم بِفَٰكِهَةٖ وَلَحۡمٖ مِّمَّا يَشۡتَهُونَ ٢٢
And We will provide them with fruit and meat from whatever they desire.
يَتَنَٰزَعُونَ فِيهَا كَأۡسٗا لَّا لَغۡوٞ فِيهَا وَلَا تَأۡثِيمٞ ٢٣
They will exchange with one another a cup [of wine] wherein [results] no ill speech or commission of sin.
۞ وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ غِلۡمَانٞ لَّهُمۡ كَأَنَّهُمۡ لُؤۡلُؤٞ مَّكۡنُونٞ ٢٤
There will circulate among them [servant] boys [especially] for them, as if they were pearls well-protected.
وَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ ٢٥
And they will approach one another, inquiring of each other.
قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا كُنَّا قَبۡلُ فِيٓ أَهۡلِنَا مُشۡفِقِينَ ٢٦
They will say, "Indeed, we were previously among our people fearful [of displeasing Allāh].
فَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡنَا وَوَقَىٰنَا عَذَابَ ٱلسَّمُومِ ٢٧
So Allāh conferred favor upon us and protected us from the punishment of the Scorching Fire.
إِنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبۡلُ نَدۡعُوهُۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡبَرُّ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٢٨
Indeed, we used to supplicate1 Him before. Indeed, it is He who is the Beneficent, the Merciful."
فَذَكِّرۡ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَتِ رَبِّكَ بِكَاهِنٖ وَلَا مَجۡنُونٍ ٢٩
So remind, [O Muḥammad], for you are not, by the favor of your Lord, a soothsayer or a madman.
أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ شَاعِرٞ نَّتَرَبَّصُ بِهِۦ رَيۡبَ ٱلۡمَنُونِ ٣٠
Or do they say [of you], "A poet for whom we await a misfortune of time"?1
قُلۡ تَرَبَّصُواْ فَإِنِّي مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡمُتَرَبِّصِينَ ٣١
Say, "Wait, for indeed I am, with you, among the waiters."
أَمۡ تَأۡمُرُهُمۡ أَحۡلَٰمُهُم بِهَٰذَآۚ أَمۡ هُمۡ قَوۡمٞ طَاغُونَ ٣٢
Or do their minds1 command them to [say] this, or are they a transgressing people?
أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ تَقَوَّلَهُۥۚ بَل لَّا يُؤۡمِنُونَ ٣٣
Or do they say, "He has made it up"? Rather, they do not believe.
فَلۡيَأۡتُواْ بِحَدِيثٖ مِّثۡلِهِۦٓ إِن كَانُواْ صَٰدِقِينَ ٣٤
Then let them produce a statement like it, if they should be truthful.
أَمۡ خُلِقُواْ مِنۡ غَيۡرِ شَيۡءٍ أَمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقُونَ ٣٥
Or were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]?
أَمۡ خَلَقُواْ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَۚ بَل لَّا يُوقِنُونَ ٣٦
Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain.
أَمۡ عِندَهُمۡ خَزَآئِنُ رَبِّكَ أَمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡمُصَۜيۡطِرُونَ ٣٧
Or have they the depositories [containing the provision] of your Lord? Or are they the controllers [of them]?
أَمۡ لَهُمۡ سُلَّمٞ يَسۡتَمِعُونَ فِيهِۖ فَلۡيَأۡتِ مُسۡتَمِعُهُم بِسُلۡطَٰنٖ مُّبِينٍ ٣٨
Or have they a stairway [into the heaven] upon which they listen? Then let their listener produce a clear authority [i.e., proof].
أَمۡ لَهُ ٱلۡبَنَٰتُ وَلَكُمُ ٱلۡبَنُونَ ٣٩
Or has He daughters while you have sons?
أَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُهُمۡ أَجۡرٗا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمٖ مُّثۡقَلُونَ ٤٠
Or do you, [O Muḥammad], ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down?
أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبُ فَهُمۡ يَكۡتُبُونَ ٤١
Or have they [knowledge of] the unseen, so they write [it] down?
أَمۡ يُرِيدُونَ كَيۡدٗاۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ هُمُ ٱلۡمَكِيدُونَ ٤٢
Or do they intend a plan? But those who disbelieve - they are the object of a plan.
أَمۡ لَهُمۡ إِلَٰهٌ غَيۡرُ ٱللَّهِۚ سُبۡحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ ٤٣
Or have they a deity other than Allāh? Exalted is Allāh above whatever they associate with Him.
وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ كِسۡفٗا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ سَاقِطٗا يَقُولُواْ سَحَابٞ مَّرۡكُومٞ ٤٤
And if they were to see a fragment from the sky falling,1 they would say, "[It is merely] clouds heaped up."
فَذَرۡهُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يُلَٰقُواْ يَوۡمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِي فِيهِ يُصۡعَقُونَ ٤٥
So leave them until they meet their Day in which they will be struck insensible -
يَوۡمَ لَا يُغۡنِي عَنۡهُمۡ كَيۡدُهُمۡ شَيۡـٔٗا وَلَا هُمۡ يُنصَرُونَ ٤٦
The Day their plan will not avail them at all, nor will they be helped.
وَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ عَذَابٗا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ٤٧
And indeed, for those who have wronged is a punishment1 before that, but most of them do not know.
وَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعۡيُنِنَاۖ وَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ ٤٨
And be patient, [O Muḥammad], for the decision of your Lord, for indeed, you are in Our eyes [i.e., sight]. And exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord when you arise
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ فَسَبِّحۡهُ وَإِدۡبَٰرَ ٱلنُّجُومِ ٤٩
And in a part of the night exalt Him and after [the setting of] the stars.