Surah An-Naziat in English: Translation, Transliteration and Meaning 

Surah An-Nazi’at is the 79th chapter of the Quran, containing 46 verses in Juz 30. It begins with solemn oaths, addresses doubts about resurrection, and recounts how Prophet Musa (Moses) called Pharaoh towards guidance. The Surah then invites readers to reflect on Allah’s creation before describing the consequences of human choices in the Hereafter.

This guide presents all 46 verses with Arabic text, English transliteration and explanatory English meanings. It also includes a thematic verse map, classical tafsir references, pronunciation guidance and practical lessons to support understanding and memorisation.

Surah An-Naziat at a Glance

Information	Details
Surah	An-Nazi’at
Chapter number	79
Total verses	46
Juz	30
Revelation	Makkan
English title	Those Who Pull Out / Those Who Drag Forth
Main subject	Resurrection and the Hereafter
Historical account	Prophet Musa and Pharaoh
Key teaching	Accountability and self-restraint

The name An-Nazi’at comes from the opening verse. Classical commentators have explained the opening descriptions in different ways, including the widely recognised interpretation that they refer to angels carrying out duties assigned by Allah.

Translation and source note: The only authoritative text is the original Arabic Quran. The English text given below is only an explanatory meaning for understanding. It is not a direct quotation from Sahih International translation. Roman transliteration is only for learning support and is not a replacement for correct Arabic pronunciation. For accurate learning and recitation, please refer to the Arabic text and consult authentic tafsir.

Complete Surah An-Naziat: All 46 Verses

Opening Invocation

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

Verses 1–14: The Opening Oaths and Resurrection

Verse 1 (79:1)

وَالنَّازِعَاتِ غَرْقًا

Wan-naazi’aati gharqaa

By those who draw out forcefully.

Verse 2 (79:2)

وَالنَّاشِطَاتِ نَشْطًا

Wan-naashitaati nashtaa

And by those who draw out gently.

Verse 3 (79:3)

وَالسَّابِحَاتِ سَبْحًا

Was-saabihaati sabhaa

And by those who glide swiftly.

Verse 4 (79:4)

فَالسَّابِقَاتِ سَبْقًا

Fas-saabiqaati sabqaa

And by those who race ahead.

Verse 5 (79:5)

فَالْمُدَبِّرَاتِ أَمْرًا

Fal-mudabbiraati amraa

And by those who arrange affairs.

Verse 6 (79:6)

يَوْمَ تَرْجُفُ الرَّاجِفَةُ

Yawma tarjufur-raajifah

On the Day when the great shaking takes place.

Verse 7 (79:7)

تَتْبَعُهَا الرَّادِفَةُ

Tatba’uhar-raadifah

It will be followed by another.

Verse 8 (79:8)

قُلُوبٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَاجِفَةٌ

Quloobun yawma’idhin waajifah

Hearts on that Day will tremble.

Verse 9 (79:9)

أَبْصَارُهَا خَاشِعَةٌ

Absaaruhaa khaashi’ah

Their eyes will be lowered in humility.

Verse 10 (79:10)

يَقُولُونَ أَئِنَّا لَمَرْدُودُونَ فِي الْحَافِرَةِ

Yaqooloona a’innaa lamardoodoona fil-haafirah

They ask, “Will we really be returned to our former state?”

Verse 11 (79:11)

أَئِذَا كُنَّا عِظَامًا نَخِرَةً

A’idhaa kunnaa ‘izaaman nakhirah

Even after we have become decayed bones?

Verse 12 (79:12)

قَالُوا تِلْكَ إِذًا كَرَّةٌ خَاسِرَةٌ

Qaaloo tilka idhan karratun khaasirah

They say, “That would indeed be a losing return.”

Verse 13 (79:13)

فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ زَجْرَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ

Fa’innamaa hiya zajratun waahidah

But it will take only a single commanding cry.

Verse 14 (79:14)

فَإِذَا هُمْ بِالسَّاهِرَةِ

Fa’idhaa hum bis-saahirah

And suddenly they will be upon the open ground.

The opening passage moves from solemn oaths to the extraordinary events of resurrection. It portrays the fear of the Last Day and the doubts of those who cannot imagine life returning after death. The response is direct: resurrection will occur by Allah’s command.

These descriptions establish the subject of the Surah without attempting to explain every detail of the Hereafter. Their central purpose is to confront disbelief in resurrection and remind readers of divine power.

Verses 15–26: Prophet Musa and Pharaoh

Verse 15 (79:15)

هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰ

Hal ataaka hadeethu Moosaa

Has the account of Musa reached you?

Verse 16 (79:16)

إِذْ نَادَاهُ رَبُّهُ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى

Idh naadaahu rabbuhu bil-waadil-muqaddasi Tuwaa

When his Lord called him in the sacred valley of Tuwa.

Verse 17 (79:17)

اذْهَبْ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَىٰ

Idhhab ilaa Fir’awna innahoo taghaa

Go to Pharaoh, for he has transgressed.

Verse 18 (79:18)

فَقُلْ هَلْ لَكَ إِلَىٰ أَنْ تَزَكَّىٰ

Faqul hal laka ilaa an tazakkaa

And ask whether he wishes to purify himself.

Verse 19 (79:19)

وَأَهْدِيَكَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَتَخْشَىٰ

Wa ahdiyaka ilaa rabbika fatakhshaa

And let me guide you towards your Lord, so that you may fear Him.

Verse 20 (79:20)

فَأَرَاهُ الْآيَةَ الْكُبْرَىٰ

Fa’araahul-aayatal-kubraa

Then Musa showed him the great sign.

Verse 21 (79:21)

فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَىٰ

Fakadhdhaba wa ‘asaa

But Pharaoh denied the truth and disobeyed.

Verse 22 (79:22)

ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ يَسْعَىٰ

Thumma adbara yas’aa

Then he turned away and continued his efforts against the message.

Verse 23 (79:23)

فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَىٰ

Fahashara fanaadaa

He gathered his people and made a proclamation.

Verse 24 (79:24)

فَقَالَ أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ

Faqaala ana rabbukumul-a’laa

Then he (Pharaoh) falsely claimed, “I am your highest lord.”

Verse 25 (79:25)

فَأَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ نَكَالَ الْآخِرَةِ وَالْأُولَىٰ

Fa’akhadhahullaahu nakaalal-aakhirati wal-oolaa

So Allah seized him with exemplary punishment concerning the last and the first.

Verse 26 (79:26)

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِمَنْ يَخْشَىٰ

Inna fee dhaalika la’ibratal-liman yakhshaa

Surely there is a lesson in this for those who fear Allah.

The story of Prophet Musa and Pharaoh shows the consequences of rejecting guidance through arrogance. Pharaoh is invited towards purification and recognition of his Lord, yet he refuses and instead claims supreme authority.

The passage concludes with Pharaoh’s punishment as a warning to those willing to reflect. Its details are especially important when studied alongside classical tafsir, particularly the different interpretations of verse 25.

Verses 27–33: The Creation of the Heavens and Earth

Verse 27 (79:27)

أَأَنْتُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَمِ السَّمَاءُ بَنَاهَا

A’antum ashaddu khalqan amis-samaa’u banaahaa

Are you more difficult to create, or the heaven? He built it.

Verse 28 (79:28)

رَفَعَ سَمْكَهَا فَسَوَّاهَا

Rafa’a samkahaa fasawwaahaa

He raised its height and formed it in proper proportion.

Verse 29 (79:29)

وَأَغْطَشَ لَيْلَهَا وَأَخْرَجَ ضُحَاهَا

Wa aghtasha laylahaa wa akhraja duhaahaa

He darkened its night and brought forth its daylight.

Verse 30 (79:30)

وَالْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ دَحَاهَا

Wal-arda ba’da dhaalika dahaahaa

And after that, He spread out the earth and made it suitable for life.

Verse 31 (79:31)

أَخْرَجَ مِنْهَا مَاءَهَا وَمَرْعَاهَا

Akhraja minhaa maa’ahaa wa mar’aahaa

He brought forth its water and pasture.

Verse 32 (79:32)

وَالْجِبَالَ أَرْسَاهَا

Wal-jibaala arsaahaa

And He firmly established the mountains.

Verse 33 (79:33)

مَتَاعًا لَكُمْ وَلِأَنْعَامِكُمْ

Mataa’al-lakum wa li’an’aamikum

As provision for you and your livestock.

The focus now turns towards the scale and order of creation. By referring to the heavens, earth, water, vegetation and mountains, the Surah asks readers to consider the power of the One who created them.

The connection to resurrection is deliberate. If Allah brought the world into existence, restoring human life is not beyond His power. The passage also draws attention to the provisions that sustain people and animals.

Verses 34–41: The Great Overwhelming Event

Verse 34 (79:34)

فَإِذَا جَاءَتِ الطَّامَّةُ الْكُبْرَىٰ

Fa’idhaa jaa’atit-taammatul-kubraa

Then, when the greatest overwhelming calamity arrives.

Verse 35 (79:35)

يَوْمَ يَتَذَكَّرُ الْإِنْسَانُ مَا سَعَىٰ

Yawma yatadhakkarul-insaanu maa sa’aa

On that Day, every person will remember what they worked towards.

Verse 36 (79:36)

وَبُرِّزَتِ الْجَحِيمُ لِمَنْ يَرَىٰ

Wa burrizatil-jaheemu liman yaraa

And Hellfire will be made clearly visible to those who see.

Verse 37 (79:37)

فَأَمَّا مَنْ طَغَىٰ

Fa’ammaa man taghaa

As for the one who transgressed.

Verse 38 (79:38)

وَآثَرَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا

Wa aatharal-hayaatad-dunyaa

And preferred the worldly life.

Verse 39 (79:39)

فَإِنَّ الْجَحِيمَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ

Fa’innal-jaheema hiyal-ma’waa

Then Hellfire will be that person’s dwelling.

Verse 40 (79:40)

وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ

Wa’ammaa man khaafa maqaama rabbihi wa nahan-nafsa ‘anil-hawaa

But whoever feared standing before their Lord and restrained the soul from wrongful desires.

Verse 41 (79:41)

فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ

Fa’innal-jannata hiyal-ma’waa

Then Paradise will be that person’s dwelling.

These verses describe a moment when people will remember their deeds and face the reality of the Hereafter. They distinguish between those who transgress and prioritise worldly desires and those who remain conscious of Allah and exercise self-restraint.

The passage does not prohibit lawful enjoyment of worldly life. Its warning concerns allowing desires to override obedience and moral responsibility.

Verses 42–46: When Will the Last Hour Come?

Verse 42 (79:42)

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَاهَا

Yas’aloonaka ‘anis-saa’ati ayyaana mursaahaa

They ask you about the Hour and when it will take place.

Verse 43 (79:43)

فِيمَ أَنْتَ مِنْ ذِكْرَاهَا

Feema anta min dhikraahaa

What knowledge of its exact time is yours to disclose?

Verse 44 (79:44)

إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ مُنْتَهَاهَا

Ilaa rabbika muntahaahaa

Its ultimate knowledge belongs to your Lord.

Verse 45 (79:45)

إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ مُنْذِرُ مَنْ يَخْشَاهَا

Innamaa anta mundhiru man yakhshaahaa

You are only a warner to those who fear it.

Verse 46 (79:46)

كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَهَا لَمْ يَلْبَثُوا إِلَّا عَشِيَّةً أَوْ ضُحَاهَا

Ka’annahum yawma yarawnahaa lam yalbathoo illaa ‘ashiyyatan aw duhaahaa

When they see it, they will feel as though they had remained in the world only an evening or part of a morning.

The closing verses establish that the precise timing of the Last Hour belongs to Allah’s knowledge. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was entrusted with delivering the warning rather than revealing its date.

The final verse places worldly life in perspective. When the Hereafter is witnessed, a lifetime will seem remarkably brief. The warning encourages readers to consider how they use their time.

Listen to Surah An-Naziat Recitation

Listening to Surah An-Naziat while following the Arabic verses can help learners become familiar with its pronunciation, rhythm and natural pauses. Audio is particularly useful for Arabic letters and sounds that Roman transliteration cannot represent precisely.

For beginners, a practical method is to listen to a small group of verses, repeat each verse slowly and review difficult words before continuing. Learners memorising the Surah can use the recitation to revise previously learned passages and maintain a consistent reading pattern.

What Is the Main Message of Surah An-Naziat?

The central message of Surah An-Naziat is that resurrection is certain and every person will be accountable before Allah. The story of Pharaoh shows the consequences of arrogance, while the descriptions of creation draw attention to Allah’s power.

The Surah also explains why belief in the Hereafter matters for daily life. It encourages humility, openness to guidance and control over wrongful desires, rather than allowing temporary worldly interests to determine every decision.

Surah An-Naziat Verse-by-Verse Theme Map

Verses	Main subject	Key takeaway
1–5	Opening oaths	Reflect on divine authority and classical interpretations
6–14	Resurrection	Returning to life is within Allah’s power
15–26	Musa and Pharaoh	Arrogance can prevent acceptance of guidance
27–33	Creation and provision	The natural world contains signs of Allah’s power
34–41	Judgement and accountability	Human choices have consequences
42–46	The Last Hour	Its timing belongs to Allah’s knowledge

The verse map provides a quick way to follow the structure of the Surah. It can also help readers memorise the chapter by associating different passages with their central themes.

Surah An-Naziat Tafsir: Three Important Passages

What Do the Opening Five Verses Mean?

The opening verses contain a series of oaths describing those who draw forth, move swiftly, race ahead and arrange affairs. Classical scholars have discussed the identity of those being described.

Ibn Kathir reports explanations from early authorities connecting these descriptions with angels and their responsibilities. In particular, a prominent interpretation associates the first two verses with the taking of souls.

An important distinction should be maintained between the Quran’s wording and the interpretations recorded in tafsir. The verses use descriptive language, while commentators provide additional explanations of what those descriptions refer to.

Classical source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir — Surah An-Naziat

What Does Verse 25 Mean?

Verse 25 refers to Allah’s exemplary punishment of Pharaoh. Its wording concerning “the last and the first” has received different explanations in classical tafsir.

Ibn Kathir favours the explanation that Pharaoh received punishment in this world and faces punishment in the Hereafter. He also records other interpretations connecting the wording with Pharaoh’s earlier and later declarations or acts of disobedience.

These explanations should not be treated as identical. The first concerns punishment across worldly life and the Hereafter, while the others explain the phrase in connection with Pharaoh’s actions.

The distinction demonstrates why some Quranic passages require more than a short English rendering to understand their interpretive background.

Classical source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir — Verse 79:25

What Does Restraining the Soul Mean in Verse 40?

Verse 40 connects fear of standing before Allah with restraining the soul from wrongful desires. The first idea concerns awareness of divine accountability, while the second concerns a person’s response to temptation.

The passage does not mean that ordinary human wishes or lawful pleasures are inherently wrong. Rather, it draws attention to desires that can lead people away from obedience, justice and responsible conduct.

For example, someone may choose honesty despite the possibility of personal disadvantage or avoid responding angrily when that response could harm another person. These are practical applications of the verse’s emphasis on self-restraint.

Verse and commentary: Surah An-Naziat 79:40

How to Pronounce Surah An-Naziat Correctly

Roman transliteration helps beginners approach Quranic Arabic, but Arabic contains consonants and vowel distinctions that English spelling cannot represent completely. Transliteration should therefore support learning rather than replace the original Arabic text.

Example	Pronunciation guidance
An-Nazi’at	The apostrophe represents the Arabic letter ayn (ع)
Gharqaa	The letters gh represent غ
Khaashi’ah	The letters kh represent خ
Quloob	The letter q represents ق
Moosaa	Repeated vowels indicate long vowel sounds
Rabb	The doubled consonant represents a strengthened sound

The spellings in the reader are simplified rather than a complete scholarly romanisation system. In connected recitation, pronunciation may also be affected by tajweed rules that cannot be shown adequately using English letters.

Learners should pay particular attention to long vowels, emphatic consonants and Arabic throat sounds. Listening to accurate recitation and studying with a qualified teacher remains the most reliable approach to improving pronunciation.

How to Memorise Surah An-Naziat

Memorising Surah An-Naziat becomes easier when its verses are learned in connected sections. The opening passage can be studied first, followed by the description of resurrection. The story of Prophet Musa and Pharaoh then forms another recognisable section.

After learning each passage, repeat it from memory before introducing new verses. It is useful to revise previously memorised sections regularly rather than concentrating entirely on new material.

Understanding the English meanings may also help learners remember the order of events and themes. However, the words being memorised should always come from the Arabic Quranic text.

Practical Lessons and Authentic Benefits of Surah An-Naziat

Surah An-Naziat offers lessons that can be applied to ordinary life. These applications are reflections based on the meanings of the verses, not promises of specific outcomes.

Teaching	Verses	Practical reflection
Avoid arrogance	15–26	Accept correction and remain open to guidance
Appreciate creation	27–33	Practise gratitude for water, food and other provisions
Remember accountability	34–36	Consider the consequences of your actions
Control wrongful desires	40–41	Resist temptations that encourage harmful behaviour
Use time responsibly	42–46	Focus on present duties rather than predicting the Last Hour

Reading, studying and reflecting on the Quran is an important part of Islamic practice. However, claims that reciting Surah An-Naziat a fixed number of times guarantees wealth, healing or protection from a particular misfortune should not be presented as established teachings without authentic evidence.

The most reliable benefits to discuss are those supported by the Surah’s message: remembrance of the Hereafter, greater humility, gratitude and reflection on personal responsibility.

Download Surah An-Naziat PDF

A Surah An-Naziat PDF can provide a convenient way to read and study the chapter offline. A clearly organised version containing the Arabic verses, English meanings and transliteration may also be useful for revision, personal study and memorisation.

Readers should ensure that their copy preserves the correct order of all 46 verses and displays the Arabic text clearly. For accurate learning, English meanings and transliteration should remain visually distinct from the original Quranic wording.

Conclusion

Surah An-Naziat combines powerful descriptions of resurrection with lessons from Prophet Musa’s encounter with Pharaoh, signs of creation and reminders of accountability. Reading its Arabic verses alongside English meanings and recognised tafsir can support a more thoughtful understanding of this chapter of the Quran.

Frequently Asked Questions