The Light of the Holy Qur'an Interpretation of Sura Nazi'at and Abasa and Takwir

No. 79 (46 Verses)

Contents of the Sura:

The theme in this Sura, like Sura Nabaa, is about Resurrection and, on the whole, can be divided into six parts:

  1. It emphasizes on the certainty of the Great Day and lays stress on its occurrence by emphatic statements which relate to the Resurrection.

  2. It points to one part of the frightening and dreadful incidents of that Day.

  3. It precisely mentions the story of Moses and the end of the arrogant Pharaoh as a consolation for both the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and the believers, as well as giving a warning to the disbelievers, and also contains an indication to the fact that the denial of the Resurrection is the source of many sins.

  4. It mentions a few of the countless Powers of Allah which exist in the heavens and on the Earth; themselves, being evidences of the possibility of Resurrection and the new life after death.

  5. It describes another part of the horrible events, on that Great Day, and the painful end of the disbelievers in contrast to the rewards of the righteous.

  6. At the end of the Sura, it emphasizes on the fact that no one knows the date of that Day, however, it is certain that it is near.

The name 'Naziat' is derived from the first verse of this Sura.

The Virtue in studying this Sura:

It is narrated that the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said: "For he who studies Sura Nazi'at the length of his stay and his reckoning on the Day of Judgment will last as long as the saying of a daily prayer and, thereafter, he will come into Paradise".(1)

A tradition from Imam Sadiq (p.b.u.h.) says: "He who studies it (Sura Naziat) will not pass away but satisfied, will not be brought into the Resurrection but satisfied, and will not come into Paradise but satisfied", (with the infinite Grace of Allah) .

The shocking verses of this Sura awaken the sleeping souls and draw their attention to their duties. Then, it is certain that only those who spiritually put the contents of this Sura into practice will receive these rewards; not those who content themselves with the mere reading of its words.

(1) Majma'-al-Bayan, vol. 10, p. 428