Section 1: Verses 1–30
Thematic progression across verses 1–30
لَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِيَوۡمِ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ 1
Laaa uqsimu bi yawmil qiyaamah
I swear by the Day of Resurrection
وَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِٱلنَّفۡسِ ٱللَّوَّامَةِ 2
Wa laaa uqsimu bin nafsil lawwaamah
And I swear by the blaming soul
أَيَحۡسَبُ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ أَلَّن نَّجۡمَعَ عِظَامَهُۥ 3
Ayahsabul insaanu al lan najm'a 'izaamah
Does man think that We will not reassemble his bones
بَلَىٰ قَٰدِرِينَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّسَوِّيَ بَنَانَهُۥ 4
Balaa qaadireena 'alaaa an nusawwiya banaanah
Yes indeed; We are Able to reconstruct his fingertips
بَلۡ يُرِيدُ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ لِيَفۡجُرَ أَمَامَهُۥ 5
Bal yureedul insaanu liyafjura amaamah
But man wants to deny what is ahead of him
يَسۡـَٔلُ أَيَّانَ يَوۡمُ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ 6
Yas'alu ayyyaana yawmul qiyaamah
He asks, “When is the Day of Resurrection?”
فَإِذَا بَرِقَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ 7
Fa izaa bariqal basar
When vision is dazzled
وَخَسَفَ ٱلۡقَمَرُ 8
We khasafal qamar
And the moon is eclipsed
وَجُمِعَ ٱلشَّمۡسُ وَٱلۡقَمَرُ 9
Wa jumi'ash shamusu wal qamar
And the sun and the moon are joined together
يَقُولُ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ يَوۡمَئِذٍ أَيۡنَ ٱلۡمَفَرُّ 10
Yaqoolul insaanu yaw ma 'izin aynal mafarr
On that Day, man will say, “Where is the escape?”
كَلَّا لَا وَزَرَ 11
Kallaa laa wazar
No indeed! There is no refuge
إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ يَوۡمَئِذٍ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقَرُّ 12
Ilaa rabbika yawma 'izinil mustaqarr
To your Lord on that Day is the settlement
يُنَبَّؤُاْ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ يَوۡمَئِذِۭ بِمَا قَدَّمَ وَأَخَّرَ 13
Yunabba 'ul insaanu yawma 'izim bimaa qaddama wa akhkhar
On that Day man will be informed of everything he put forward, and everything he left behind
بَلِ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ عَلَىٰ نَفۡسِهِۦ بَصِيرَةࣱ 14
Balil insaanu 'alaa nafsihee baseerah
And man will be evidence against himself
وَلَوۡ أَلۡقَىٰ مَعَاذِيرَهُۥ 15
Wa law alqaa ma'aazeerah
Even as he presents his excuses
لَا تُحَرِّكۡ بِهِۦ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعۡجَلَ بِهِۦٓ 16
Laa tuharrik bihee lisaa naka lita'jala bih
Do not wag your tongue with it, to hurry on with it
إِنَّ عَلَيۡنَا جَمۡعَهُۥ وَقُرۡءَانَهُۥ 17
Inna 'alainaa jam'ahoo wa qur aanah
Upon Us is its collection and its recitation
فَإِذَا قَرَأۡنَٰهُ فَٱتَّبِعۡ قُرۡءَانَهُۥ 18
Fa izaa qaraanaahu fattabi' qur aanah
Then, when We have recited it, follow its recitation
ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيۡنَا بَيَانَهُۥ 19
Summa inna 'alainaa bayaanah
Then upon Us is its explanation
كَلَّا بَلۡ تُحِبُّونَ ٱلۡعَاجِلَةَ 20
Kallaa bal tuhibboonal 'aajilah
Alas, you love the fleeting life
وَتَذَرُونَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَ 21
Wa tazaroonal Aakhirah
And you disregard the Hereafter
وُجُوهࣱ يَوۡمَئِذࣲ نَّاضِرَةٌ 22
Wujoohuny yawma 'izin naadirah
Faces on that Day will be radiant
إِلَىٰ رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةࣱ 23
Ilaa rabbihaa naazirah
Looking towards their Lord
وَوُجُوهࣱ يَوۡمَئِذِۭ بَاسِرَةࣱ 24
Wa wujoohuny yawma 'izim baasirah
And faces on that Day will be gloomy
تَظُنُّ أَن يُفۡعَلَ بِهَا فَاقِرَةࣱ 25
Tazunnu any yuf'ala bihaa faaqirah
Realizing that a back-breaker has befallen them
كَلَّآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلتَّرَاقِيَ 26
Kallaaa izaa balaghatit taraaqee
Indeed, when it has reached the breast-bones
وَقِيلَ مَنۡۜ رَاقࣲ 27
Wa qeela man raaq
And it is said, “Who is the healer?”
وَظَنَّ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡفِرَاقُ 28
Wa zanna annahul firaaq
And He realizes that it is the parting
وَٱلۡتَفَّتِ ٱلسَّاقُ بِٱلسَّاقِ 29
Waltaffatis saaqu bissaaq
And leg is entwined with leg
إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ يَوۡمَئِذٍ ٱلۡمَسَاقُ 30
Ilaa rabbika yawma'izinil masaaq
To your Lord on that Day is the drive
Section 2: Verses 31–40
Thematic progression across verses 31–40
فَلَا صَدَّقَ وَلَا صَلَّىٰ 31
Falaa saddaqa wa laa sallaa
He neither believed nor prayed
وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ 32
Wa laakin kazzaba wa tawalla
But he denied and turned away
ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦ يَتَمَطَّىٰٓ 33
Summa zahaba ilaaa ahlihee yatamatta
Then he went to his family, full of pride
أَوۡلَىٰ لَكَ فَأَوۡلَىٰ 34
Awlaa laka fa awlaa
Woe to you; and woe
ثُمَّ أَوۡلَىٰ لَكَ فَأَوۡلَىٰٓ 35
Summa awlaa laka fa awla
Then again: Woe to you; and woe
أَيَحۡسَبُ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ أَن يُتۡرَكَ سُدًى 36
Ayahsabul insaanu anyytraka sudaa
Does man think that he will be left without purpose
أَلَمۡ يَكُ نُطۡفَةࣰ مِّن مَّنِيࣲّ يُمۡنَىٰ 37
Alam yaku nutfatam mim maniyyiny yumnaa
Was he not a drop of ejaculated semen
ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةࣰ فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ 38
Summa kaana 'alaqata fakhalaq fasawwaa
Then he became a clot. And He created and proportioned
فَجَعَلَ مِنۡهُ ٱلزَّوۡجَيۡنِ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰٓ 39
Faja'ala minhuz zawjayniz zakara wal unsaa
And made of him the two sexes, the male and the female
أَلَيۡسَ ذَٰلِكَ بِقَٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحۡـِۧيَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ 40
Alaisa zaalika biqaadirin 'alaaa any yuhyiyal mawtaa
Is He not Able to revive the dead
Quran-Anchored Prophetic Context
Authentic narrations in the active corpus that explicitly cite, name, or explain verses in Surah Al-Qiyaama.
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ أَبِي عَائِشَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ} قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعَالِجُ مِنَ التَّنْزِيلِ شِدَّةً، وَكَانَ مِمَّا يُحَرِّكُ شَفَتَيْهِ ـ فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ فَأَنَا أُحَرِّكُهُمَا لَكُمْ كَمَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُحَرِّكُهُمَا. وَقَالَ سَعِيدٌ أَنَا أُحَرِّكُهُمَا كَمَا رَأَيْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ يُحَرِّكُهُمَا. فَحَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ ـ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ* إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ} قَالَ جَمْعُهُ لَهُ فِي صَدْرِكَ، وَتَقْرَأَهُ {فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ} قَالَ فَاسْتَمِعْ لَهُ وَأَنْصِتْ {ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ} ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا أَنْ تَقْرَأَهُ. فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ إِذَا أَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ اسْتَمَعَ، فَإِذَا انْطَلَقَ جِبْرِيلُ قَرَأَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَمَا قَرَأَهُ.
Ibn 'Abbas in the explanation of the statement of Allah "Move not your tongue concerning (the Quran) to make haste therewith." (75.16) said "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to bear the revelation with great trouble and used to move his lips (quickly) with the Inspiration." Ibn 'Abbas moved his lips saying, "I am moving my lips in front of you as Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to move his." Said moved his lips saying: "I am moving my lips, as I saw Ibn 'Abbas moving his." Ibn 'Abbas added, "So Allah revealed 'Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith. It is for Us to collect it and to give you (O Muhammad) the ability to recite it (the Quran)' (75.16-17) which means that Allah will make him (the Prophet) remember the portion of the Qur'an which was revealed at that time by heart and recite it. The statement of Allah: 'And when we have recited it to you (O Muhammad through Gabriel) then you follow its (Quran) recital' (75.18) means 'listen to it and be silent.' Then it is for Us (Allah) to make it clear to you' (75.19) means 'Then it is (for Allah) to make you recite it (and its meaning will be clear by itself through your tongue). Afterwards, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to listen to Gabriel whenever he came and after his departure he used to recite it as Gabriel had recited it."
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ أَبِي عَائِشَةَ ـ وَكَانَ ثِقَةً ـ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْوَحْىُ حَرَّكَ بِهِ لِسَانَهُ ـ وَوَصَفَ سُفْيَانُ ـ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَحْفَظَهُ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ}
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to move his tongue when the divine Inspiration was being revealed to him. (Sufyan, a subnarrator, demonstrated (how the Prophet (ﷺ) used to move his lips) and added. "In order to memorize it." So Allah revealed: "Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith." (75.16)
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ أَبِي عَائِشَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، فِي قَوْلِهِ {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ} قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا نَزَلَ جِبْرِيلُ بِالْوَحْىِ، وَكَانَ مِمَّا يُحَرِّكُ بِهِ لِسَانَهُ وَشَفَتَيْهِ فَيَشْتَدُّ عَلَيْهِ وَكَانَ يُعْرَفُ مِنْهُ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ الآيَةَ الَّتِي فِي {لاَ أُقْسِمُ بِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ} {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ * إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ} قَالَ عَلَيْنَا أَنْ نَجْمَعَهُ فِي صَدْرِكَ، وَقُرْآنَهُ {فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ} فَإِذَا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فَاسْتَمِعْ {ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ} عَلَيْنَا أَنْ نُبَيِّنَهُ بِلِسَانِكَ ـ قَالَ ـ فَكَانَ إِذَا أَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ أَطْرَقَ، فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ قَرَأَهُ كَمَا وَعَدَهُ اللَّهُ. {أَوْلَى لَكَ فَأَوْلَى} تَوَعُّدٌ.
(as regards) Allah's Statement: "Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith." (75.16) When Gabriel revealed the Divine Inspiration in Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) , he (Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)) moved his tongue and lips, and that state used to be very hard for him, and that movement indicated that revelation was taking place. So Allah revealed in Surat Al-Qiyama which begins: 'I do swear by the Day of Resurrection...' (75) the Verses:-- 'Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith. It is for Us to collect it (Qur'an) in your mind, and give you the ability to recite it by heart. (75.16-17) Ibn `Abbas added: It is for Us to collect it (Qur'an) (in your mind), and give you the ability to recite it by heart means, "When We reveal it, listen. Then it is for Us to explain it," means, 'It is for us to explain it through your tongue.' So whenever Gabriel came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ' he would keep quiet (and listen), and when the Angel left, the Prophet (ﷺ) would recite that revelation as Allah promised him.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ أَبِي عَائِشَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ فِي قَوْلِهِ {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ} قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا نَزَلَ جِبْرِيلُ بِالْوَحْىِ وَكَانَ مِمَّا يُحَرِّكُ بِهِ لِسَانَهُ وَشَفَتَيْهِ فَيَشْتَدُّ عَلَيْهِ وَكَانَ يُعْرَفُ مِنْهُ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ الآيَةَ الَّتِي فِي {لاَ أُقْسِمُ بِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ} {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ * إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ * فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ} فَإِذَا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فَاسْتَمِعْ {ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ} قَالَ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا أَنْ نُبَيِّنَهُ بِلِسَانِكَ. قَالَ وَكَانَ إِذَا أَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ أَطْرَقَ، فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ قَرَأَهُ كَمَا وَعَدَهُ اللَّهُ.
Regarding His (Allah's) Statement:-- 'Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith.' (75.16) And whenever Gabriel descended to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) with the Divine Inspiration, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to move his tongue and lips, and that used to be hard for him, and one could easily recognize that he was being inspired Divinely. So Allah revealed the Verse which occurs in the Surah starting with "I do swear by the Day of Resurrection.' (75.1) i.e. 'Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste then with. It is for Us to collect it (in your mind) (O Muhammad) an give you the ability to recite it 'by heart.' (75.16-17) which means: It is for us to collect it (in your mind) and give you the ability to recite it by heart. And when We have recited it to you (O Muhammad) through Gabriel then follow you its recital. (75.18) means: 'When We reveal it (the Qur'an) to you, Listen to it.' for then: It is for Us to explain it and make it clear to you' (75.19) i.e. It is up to Us to explain it through your tongue. So, when Gabriel came to him, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) would listen to him attentively, and as soon as Gabriel left, he would recite the Revelations, as Allah had promised him.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ أَبِي عَائِشَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ} قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعَالِجُ مِنَ التَّنْزِيلِ شِدَّةً، وَكَانَ يُحَرِّكُ شَفَتَيْهِ ـ فَقَالَ لِي ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أُحَرِّكُهُمَا لَكَ كَمَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُحَرِّكُهُمَا فَقَالَ سَعِيدٌ أَنَا أُحَرِّكُهُمَا كَمَا كَانَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ يُحَرِّكُهُمَا فَحَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ ـ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ {لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ * إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ} قَالَ جَمْعُهُ فِي صَدْرِكَ ثُمَّ تَقْرَؤُهُ. {فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ} قَالَ فَاسْتَمِعْ لَهُ وَأَنْصِتْ ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا أَنْ تَقْرَأَهُ. قَالَ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا أَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ ـ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ـ اسْتَمَعَ فَإِذَا انْطَلَقَ جِبْرِيلُ قَرَأَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَمَا أَقْرَأَهُ.
Sa`id bin Jubair reported from Ibn `Abbas (regarding the explanation of the Verse: 'Do not move your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith) . He said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) used to undergo great difficulty in receiving the Divine Inspiration and used to move his lips.' Ibn `Abbas said (to Sa`id), "I move them (my lips) as Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to move his lips." And Sa`id said (to me), "I move my lips as I saw Ibn `Abbas moving his lips," and then he moved his lips. So Allah revealed:-- '(O Muhammad!) Do not move your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to make haste therewith. It is for Us to collect it and give you (O Muhammad) the ability to recite it. (i.e., to collect it in your chest and then you recite it).' (75.16-17) But when We have recited it, to you (O Muhammad through Gabriel) then follow you its recital.' (75.18) This means, "You should listen to it and keep quiet and then it is upon Us to make you recite it." The narrator added, "So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to listen whenever Gabriel came to him, and when Gabriel left, the Prophet (ﷺ) would recite the Qur'an as Gabriel had recited it to him."