Surah An-Naba – Ahmed Aissa El Masarawi

An-Naba ("The Tidings") is the 78th surah of the Quran and opens the 30th juz, often called Juz 'Amma after its first word. It is a Meccan surah of 40 verses, 80th in the traditional order of revelation, after Al-Maarij. It answers the question the deniers disputed among themselves: the "great news" of resurrection and judgment.

It opens: about what are they asking one another? About the great news, over which they disagree (78:1-3); hence its names An-Naba and 'Amma yatasa'alun. The answer begins with signs of God's power: the earth spread out as a bed and the mountains as pegs, people created in pairs, sleep for rest, night as a covering and day for earning a living, seven strong heavens, a blazing lamp, and rain from the clouds bringing forth grain, plants and dense gardens (78:6-16).

The Day of Decision is an appointed time: the Trumpet is blown and people come forth in crowds, the sky opens like gates and the mountains vanish like a mirage (78:17-20). Hell lies in wait as a lodging for the transgressors, who will taste nothing cool nor any drink but scalding water and pus, a fitting recompense (78:21-30). The God-fearing will triumph, with gardens and vineyards, companions of equal age and a full cup, hearing no idle talk or lies (78:31-36).

The surah ends with the Spirit and the angels standing in rows, none speaking except whom the Most Merciful permits (78:38), and the disbeliever crying out: "Would that I were dust!" (78:40).

In a hadith reported by at-Tirmidhi, the Prophet ﷺ said that Hud, Al-Waqi'a, Al-Mursalat, 'Amma yatasa'alun and At-Takwir had turned his hair grey; at-Tirmidhi graded it hasan and al-Albani sahih, though some critics found its chain inconsistent. See also Al-Mursalat and An-Naziat.