Surah 52 · Meccan · 49 Verses
الطور
SURAH AT-TUR
The Mount
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
وَٱلطُّورِ
By the mount
فِى رَقٍّۢ مَّنشُورٍۢ
In parchment spread open
وَٱلسَّقْفِ ٱلْمَرْفُوعِ
And [by] the ceiling [i.e., heaven] raised high
إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ لَوَٰقِعٌۭ
Indeed, the punishment of your Lord will occur.
مَّا لَهُۥ مِن دَافِعٍۢ
Of it there is no preventer.
يَوْمَ تَمُورُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ مَوْرًۭا
On the Day the heaven will sway with circular motion
فَوَيْلٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Then woe, that Day, to the deniers,
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى خَوْضٍۢ يَلْعَبُونَ
Who are in [empty] discourse amusing themselves.
يَوْمَ يُدَعُّونَ إِلَىٰ نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ دَعًّا
The Day they are thrust toward the fire of Hell with a [violent] thrust, [its angels will say],
هَٰذِهِ ٱلنَّارُ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُم بِهَا تُكَذِّبُونَ
"This is the Fire which you used to deny.
أَفَسِحْرٌ هَٰذَآ أَمْ أَنتُمْ لَا تُبْصِرُونَ
Then is this magic, or do you not see?
ٱصْلَوْهَا فَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ أَوْ لَا تَصْبِرُوا۟ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
[Enter to] burn therein; then be patient or impatient - it is all the same for you. You are only being recompensed [for] what you used to do."
إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍۢ وَنَعِيمٍۢ
Indeed, the righteous will be in gardens and pleasure,
فَٰكِهِينَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ وَوَقَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
Enjoying what their Lord has given them, and their Lord protected them from the punishment of Hellfire.
كُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ هَنِيٓـًٔۢا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
[They will be told], "Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you used to do."
مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍۢ مَّصْفُوفَةٍۢ ۖ وَزَوَّجْنَٰهُم بِحُورٍ عِينٍۢ
They will be reclining on thrones lined up, and We will marry them to fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَٰنٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَمَآ أَلَتْنَٰهُم مِّنْ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ ۚ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٌۭ
وَأَمْدَدْنَٰهُم بِفَٰكِهَةٍۢ وَلَحْمٍۢ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ
And We will provide them with fruit and meat from whatever they desire.
يَتَنَٰزَعُونَ فِيهَا كَأْسًۭا لَّا لَغْوٌۭ فِيهَا وَلَا تَأْثِيمٌۭ
They will exchange with one another a cup [of wine] wherein [results] no ill speech or commission of sin.
۞ وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ غِلْمَانٌۭ لَّهُمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ لُؤْلُؤٌۭ مَّكْنُونٌۭ
There will circulate among them [servant] boys [especially] for them, as if they were pearls well-protected.
وَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ
And they will approach one another, inquiring of each other.
قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كُنَّا قَبْلُ فِىٓ أَهْلِنَا مُشْفِقِينَ
They will say, "Indeed, we were previously among our people fearful [of displeasing Allāh].
فَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَوَقَىٰنَا عَذَابَ ٱلسَّمُومِ
So Allāh conferred favor upon us and protected us from the punishment of the Scorching Fire.
فَذَكِّرْ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَتِ رَبِّكَ بِكَاهِنٍۢ وَلَا مَجْنُونٍ
So remind, [O Muḥammad], for you are not, by the favor of your Lord, a soothsayer or a madman.
قُلْ تَرَبَّصُوا۟ فَإِنِّى مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُتَرَبِّصِينَ
Say, "Wait, for indeed I am, with you, among the waiters."
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ تَقَوَّلَهُۥ ۚ بَل لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Or do they say, "He has made it up"? Rather, they do not believe.
فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِحَدِيثٍۢ مِّثْلِهِۦٓ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَٰدِقِينَ
Then let them produce a statement like it, if they should be truthful.
أَمْ خُلِقُوا۟ مِنْ غَيْرِ شَىْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ ٱلْخَٰلِقُونَ
Or were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]?
أَمْ خَلَقُوا۟ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۚ بَل لَّا يُوقِنُونَ
Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain.
أَمْ عِندَهُمْ خَزَآئِنُ رَبِّكَ أَمْ هُمُ ٱلْمُصَۣيْطِرُونَ
Or have they the depositories [containing the provision] of your Lord? Or are they the controllers [of them]?
أَمْ لَهُمْ سُلَّمٌۭ يَسْتَمِعُونَ فِيهِ ۖ فَلْيَأْتِ مُسْتَمِعُهُم بِسُلْطَٰنٍۢ مُّبِينٍ
Or have they a stairway [into the heaven] upon which they listen? Then let their listener produce a clear authority [i.e., proof].
أَمْ لَهُ ٱلْبَنَٰتُ وَلَكُمُ ٱلْبَنُونَ
Or has He daughters while you have sons?
أَمْ تَسْـَٔلُهُمْ أَجْرًۭا فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍۢ مُّثْقَلُونَ
Or do you, [O Muḥammad], ask of them a payment, so they are by debt burdened down?
أَمْ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
Or have they [knowledge of] the unseen, so they write [it] down?
أَمْ يُرِيدُونَ كَيْدًۭا ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ هُمُ ٱلْمَكِيدُونَ
Or do they intend a plan? But those who disbelieve - they are the object of a plan.
أَمْ لَهُمْ إِلَٰهٌ غَيْرُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ سُبْحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Or have they a deity other than Allāh? Exalted is Allāh above whatever they associate with Him.
فَذَرْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يُلَٰقُوا۟ يَوْمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ يُصْعَقُونَ
So leave them until they meet their Day in which they will be struck insensible -
يَوْمَ لَا يُغْنِى عَنْهُمْ كَيْدُهُمْ شَيْـًۭٔا وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
The Day their plan will not avail them at all, nor will they be helped.
وَٱصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا ۖ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ
And be patient, [O Muḥammad], for the decision of your Lord, for indeed, you are in Our eyes [i.e., sight]. And exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord when you arise
وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَإِدْبَٰرَ ٱلنُّجُومِ
And in a part of the night exalt Him and after [the setting of] the stars.
About This Surah
Surah At-Tur opens with solemn oaths and affirms that accountability will occur. It contrasts the distress of denial with the security of the mindful, then answers a series of objections to the messenger: poet, soothsayer, inventor or person waiting for time to destroy him. The chapter exposes how repeated accusations can replace evidence.
The opening oaths refer to the mountain, a written book, a frequented house, a raised roof and a filled sea. Their precise referents have been interpreted in different ways and should be sourced rather than treated as obvious from translation.
Judgment scenes describe a day when the sky moves and mountains move. People who dismissed accountability are confronted, while the mindful enjoy gardens and family reunion. The chapter states that each person is held for what they earned; family association is not a substitute for personal responsibility.
A passage describes young attendants and provision. These unseen descriptions should be presented with restraint and without sexualized or commercial imagery.
The chapter then asks a rapid series of questions. Did the deniers create themselves? Did they create the heavens and earth? Do they possess divine treasures? Do they have a ladder by which they listen? The questions undermine claims of self-sufficiency and unsupported knowledge.
Opponents label the messenger a poet and wait for misfortune. The response tells him to wait, but the chapter also tells him to remain patient for divine judgment and to praise God.
The chapter answers accusations against the Messenger and presents final accountability through vivid scenes.
These scenes should not be expanded into speculative maps or used to declare the fate of named people.
The statement that believing descendants may be joined with their families is divine generosity under stated faith language, not automatic family salvation regardless of choices.
Patience and worship do not prohibit self-protection, grief support, or practical action.
Core Themes
- Accountability is not avoided through denial.
- Family reunion does not erase individual responsibility.
- Gratitude follows recognition of protection.
- Accusations are not evidence.
- Creation challenges self-sufficiency.
- Prophetic patience does not require agreement with false claims.
Structure
Verses 1-16: Oaths and unavoidable accountability — 1-16
Verses 17-28: Security, family and gratitude — 17-28
Verses 29-43: Accusations and questions exposing denial — 29-43
Verses 44-49: Persistent refusal and prophetic patience — 44-49
Reading Guide
Reading step 1
Source interpretations of the opening oaths.
Reading step 2
Avoid expanding unseen descriptions.
Reading step 3
Read family reunion alongside individual responsibility.
Reading step 4
Follow the sequence of rhetorical questions.
Key Passages
Opening oaths — 1-8
The opening oaths gather images of a mountain, an inscribed book, an inhabited house, raised heaven and the sea. They culminate in a statement that judgment cannot be prevented. The sequence establishes the gravity of the warning before the chapter begins its questions about denial and authority.
Gardens, family and responsibility — 17-21
The welcome into the Garden includes pleasure, protection and reunion with descendants who follow in faith. The final statement still assigns responsibility to each person for what they earned. Family reunion and individual accountability are held together, rather than ancestry replacing a person's own response.
Family conversation and gratitude — 25-28
The remembered fear belongs to life among their families, while their present safety is attributed to God's favor. Looking back, the speakers recall that they used to pray. The conversation gives the promised outcome a history of dependence and gratitude instead of presenting it as self-earned security.
Accusations against the messenger — 29-34
The messenger faces several competing labels: soothsayer, madman, poet and fabricator. The passage questions the reasoning behind those accusations and challenges the claim of fabrication. These are different objections, so the answer proceeds by exposing their assumptions rather than treating all disagreement as one argument.
Questions about creation and authority — 35-43
A series of questions tests claims about self-creation, control of provision, access to heaven, unseen knowledge and alternative deities. Their cumulative force matters: rejecting the message would require a credible account of the authority being claimed against it. The questions widen from human origin to supposed cosmic control.
Waiting, patience and praise — 45-49
The chapter turns from opponents' plans to patience with God's decision and praise at recurring times. The assurance of being under divine care accompanies the messenger's continued waiting. It does not give the reader a date for judgment or make waiting an excuse to imitate the opponents' hostility.
Recitation Note
No exclusive time, fixed repetition count, or guaranteed worldly outcome is asserted here for reciting Surah At-Tur. Reading it is worship and study; any claim about protection, healing, provision, marriage, political success, or a prescribed number requires separate exact evidence and carefully limited wording.
Interpretation Limits
- Unseen entities and places should not be illustrated beyond verified wording.
- Family reunion should not become a guaranteed claim about specific individuals.
- Accusations against the messenger should not be used to label modern critics as condemned.
- The chapter provides no date or timetable for judgment.
- Oath referents require source review.
- Afterlife scenes must not be embellished into speculative geography or entertainment.
- Family reunion language does not guarantee salvation regardless of each person’s faith and responsibility.
- Accusations answered in the surah must not become templates for attacking critics today.