Surah Al-Insan – Muhammad Ayyub

Al-Insan ("Man") is the 76th surah of the Quran, in the 29th juz. It has 31 verses and is 98th in the traditional order of revelation, after Ar-Rahman; it is classed as Medinan in the standard Mushaf, though scholars differ on this. It recalls the origin of man and the choice set before him, and gives one of the fullest descriptions of Paradise in the Quran.

It is named after its first verse: has there come upon man a period of time when he was nothing worth mentioning? (76:1). The same verse gives it its other names, Ad-Dahr ("Time") and Hal ata 'ala al-insan, the name used in hadith. Al-Qurtubi reports that Ibn Abbas held it to be Meccan and the majority Medinan, while some consider only its last part, from verse 23, Meccan.

God created man from a mingled drop to test him, gave him hearing and sight, and showed him the way, grateful or ungrateful (76:2-3). Chains and a blaze await the disbelievers, while the righteous drink from a cup flavored with camphor (76:4-6). They fulfill their vows and give food, despite their love for it, to the poor, the orphan and the captive, saying: we feed you only for the sake of God, seeking neither reward nor thanks (76:7-10). Their reward follows: gardens and silk, silver vessels, a spring called Salsabil and a pure drink from their Lord (76:11-22).

The closing verses remind the Prophet ﷺ that God sent the Quran down to him in stages, and urge patience and constant remembrance of his Lord (76:23-26). This is a reminder: whoever wills may take a path to his Lord, yet you do not will unless God wills (76:29-30).

Abu Hurayra reports that the Prophet ﷺ used to recite As-Sajda and this surah in the dawn prayer on Fridays (al-Bukhari, Muslim). The story that verse 8 was revealed about Ali, Fatima and their sons giving away their food for three days is judged unauthentic by hadith critics.