Surah 79: An-Nazi'at (Those who drag forth)

Lore & Background

The surah begins with five oaths sworn by angels, each described by a distinct action: those who extract with violence (Surah 79:1), those who remove with ease (Surah 79:2), those who glide as if swimming (Surah 79:3), those who race each other (Surah 79:4), and those who arrange each matter (Surah 79:5). These oaths introduce a series of eschatological events: a convulsing blast on the Day (Surah 79:6), followed by a subsequent blast (Surah 79:7), causing hearts to tremble (Surah 79:8) and eyes to be humbled (Surah 79:9). The surah then records the words of skeptics who question being returned to life from decayed bones (Surah 79:10-11), calling it a losing return (Surah 79:12). The response is that it will be but one shout, and suddenly they will be alert upon the earth's surface (Surah 79:13-14). The narrative then shifts to the story of Moses (Surah 79:15), beginning with his Lord calling him in the sacred valley of Tuwa (Surah 79:16) and commanding him to go to Pharaoh, who had transgressed (Surah 79:17). Moses is instructed to ask Pharaoh if he would purify himself and be guided to his Lord to fear Him (Surah 79:18-19). Moses shows Pharaoh the greatest sign (Surah 79:20), but Pharaoh denies and disobeys (Surah 79:21), turns his back striving (Surah 79:22), gathers his people and calls out (Surah 79:23), declaring himself the most exalted lord (Surah 79:24). Allah seizes him in exemplary punishment for the last and first transgression (Surah 79:25), and the surah notes this is a warning for whoever fears Allah (Surah 79:26). The surah concludes with a rhetorical question comparing the difficulty of creating humans versus the heaven, which Allah constructed, raised its ceiling, and proportioned it (Surah 79:27-28). This ties the themes of divine power over creation and resurrection together.

Reader's Guide

The passages portray a stark contrast between divine power and human denial. The opening oaths (Surah 79:1-5) establish a cosmic order managed by angels, whose actions—extracting violently, removing with ease, gliding, racing, and arranging—suggest both gentleness and force in their duties. This order is immediately juxtaposed with the chaotic Day of Judgment, marked by two blasts (Surah 79:6-7) that cause universal trembling and humiliation (Surah 79:8-9). The skeptics' dialogue (Surah 79:10-12) reveals human incredulity about bodily resurrection, which the surah counters with the image of a single shout that instantaneously restores life (Surah 79:13-14). The Moses narrative (Surah 79:15-25) serves as a historical example of this pattern: a prophet is sent to a tyrant (Pharaoh) who denies the signs, claims divinity, and is punished (Surah 79:24-25). The surah explicitly calls this a warning for those who fear Allah (Surah 79:26). The final verses (Surah 79:27-28) redirect attention to the creation of the heavens, arguing that if Allah could construct and proportion the vast sky, then resurrection is even easier. Throughout, the surah uses oaths, dialogue, narrative, and rhetorical questions to reinforce the themes of accountability, divine power, and the certainty of judgment.

Did You Know?

• The surah opens with five oaths by angels described as extracting with violence, removing with ease, gliding, racing, and arranging matters (Surah 79:1-5).
• The Day of Judgment is depicted with two blasts: one that convulses creation and a subsequent one (Surah 79:6-7).
• Skeptics are quoted asking if they will be returned to life even from decayed bones, calling it a losing return (Surah 79:10-12).
• The story of Moses includes his call in the sacred valley of Tuwa and Pharaoh's claim 'I am your most exalted lord' (Surah 79:16, 24).