Surah 78: An-Naba (The Tidings)

Lore & Background

The surah begins by questioning what people are asking one another about—'the great news' (Surah 78:1-2). This news is a matter of disagreement (Surah 78:3), and the surah insists they will know its truth (Surah 78:4-5). It then presents a series of natural phenomena as evidence of divine power: the earth made stable, mountains as stakes, human creation in pairs, sleep as rest, night as a cover, day for livelihood, seven heavens, a burning lamp, and rain that produces grain and gardens (Surah 78:6-16). These signs serve to underscore the reality of the Day of Judgement (Surah 78:17).

Reader's Guide

The passages portray the subject—the 'great news' (Surah 78:2)—as a central, disputed reality. The surah first highlights human disagreement over it (Surah 78:3), then emphatically repeats that they will know (Surah 78:4-5). It grounds this news in observable creation: the earth, mountains, human pairs, sleep, night, day, heavens, sun, and rain (Surah 78:6-16). These are presented as signs that the Day of Judgement is an appointed time (Surah 78:17). The judgement is depicted with cosmic upheaval—the horn blown, heaven opened, mountains removed (Surah 78:18-20)—and a stark fate for transgressors who denied the verses: Hell as a place of return, with scalding water and purulence as recompense (Surah 78:21-28). The surah thus weaves creation and eschatology together, using natural order to affirm the certainty of divine justice.

Did You Know?

• The surah opens with a question about what people are asking one another (Surah 78:1).
• It describes mountains as 'stakes' that stabilize the earth (Surah 78:7).
• The sun is called a 'burning lamp' (Surah 78:13).
• Hell is said to have been 'lying in wait' for transgressors (Surah 78:21).