Surah Insan

Surah Insan (سورةُ الإنسان) aka Hal Atā and Dahr (الدهر) is one of the most virtuous surahs of the Quran to recite for various reasons. Above all, surah Insan is virtuous to recite because God revealed it to Prophet Muhammad in the honor of his household and progeny, that is, the Ahl al-Bayt (اهل البَيت).

Facts about Surah Insan

Arabic Text and Translation of Surah Insan

In this article on Islam4u, we will take a look at the:

Occasion of Revelation of Surah Insan

Surah Insan is a wonderful surah of the Quran that has an interesting story behind it. Specifically, verses 5-22 are about Prophet Muhammad, Imam Ali, Imam Hassan and Hussain, Lady Fatimah , and their female servant (of Lady Fatimah) Fiḍḍah (فِضَّة). The story goes that Imam Hassan and Hussain fell ill. Gabriel descended and told the Prophet to make a vow to fast for three consecutive days. The Prophet did as he was commanded. Therefore, the five infallibles meaning the Prophet, Imam Ali, Lady Fatimah, Imam Hassan, Imam Hussain, and also their servant Fiḍḍah made a vow to fast for three days.

يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيرًا ﴿7﴾

They fulfill their vows and fear a day whose ill will be widespread.

Each night, right when they were about to break their fast, a person would come at the door of their house for food. Each time these five individuals gave their food to them:

وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا ﴿8﴾

For the love of Him, they feed the needy, the orphan and the prisoner,

As the above verse of surah Insan indicates, they gave their food to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, each of whom came at their door for three consecutive nights. They loved the food they had made themselves and were in need of it as they were hungry due to fasting. However, now that they had nothing to eat, they felt very weak. As a result, God sent down on them a heavenly meal. Meanwhile, the Hasanayn (حَسَنَين) [Imam Hassan and Hussain] were cured. Verses 5-22 of surah Insan were also revealed in their honor explaining the rewards that they would receive in paradise.

Tafseer of Surah Insan

Surah Insan begins with a rhetorical question. Has man considered that there was a time when he was nothing to be even mentioned? God created us human beings and before it we were nothing not even capable of being mentioned.

إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَّبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا ﴿2﴾

Indeed We created man from the drop of a mixed fluid so that We may put him to test, so We endowed with hearing and sight.

Then, we human beings were made from a little amount of despicable fluid that is a mixture of different elements. Therefore, God created us and gave us the ability to hear and see. What does the human being think he is that he rebels?! Was he not just a drop of sperm? These verses cause us to reflect on such matters.

Guidance and Misguidance in Surah Insan

إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا ﴿3﴾

Indeed We have guided him to the way, be he grateful or ungrateful.

God Almighty has created us human beings with free will. We are not forced to obey or disobey God. However, this does not mean that God wants us to be led astray. In fact, God wants us to be on the straight path and to be guided. On the other hand, the Satan wants man to go astray.

Therefore, God the Exalted has shown us the two paths and they are crystal clear for everyone: the path of good and the path of evil. It is us who must choose which path to go along but we also must suffer the consequences of choosing the wrong path. In short, God invites us to the straight and right path while the Satan invites us to the wrong path.

Punishment of Disbelievers in Surah Insan

إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ سَلَاسِلَ وَأَغْلَالًا وَسَعِيرًا ﴿4﴾

Indeed for the faithless We have prepared chains, iron collars, and a blaze.

Right after talking about the two paths, God says that He punishes those who disbelieve in verse 4 of surah Insan. This is to show that the path that God invites is the right path and whoever chooses the wrong path has to suffer such a punishment. It is interesting to know that this is the only verse in surah Insan that is about punishment. All the other verses are about reward and good things. This makes surah Insan very unique.

The Righteous as Mentioned in Surah Insan

إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ يَشْرَبُونَ مِن كَأْسٍ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُورًا ﴿5﴾

Indeed the pious will drink from a cup seasoned with Kafur,

عَيْنًا يَشْرَبُ بِهَا عِبَادُ اللَّـهِ يُفَجِّرُونَهَا تَفْجِيرًا ﴿6﴾

a spring where Allah’s servants will drink, making it gush forth as they please.

From verse 5 to 22 of surah Insan, the description of the righteous specifically the five infallibles and the rewards they would receive begins:

1. They will drink from a cup of heavenly wine which comes from a spring that gushes forth.
2. God will protect them from the evil of the distressful day of reckoning and give them radiance and happiness.
3. Their reward will be paradise and silk clothing.
4. They will lean against couches and will feel neither hot nor cold.
5.  There will be shades and the branches of fruits will be close to them and within their reach.
6. God serves them with cups made of silver and goblets of crystal.
7. In it is a drink that its flavor is Zanjabeel (ginger) that comes from a spring named Salsabeel.
8. They will associate with immortal youths who seem like scattered pearls.
9. There’s will be cloaks of green silk and brocade and they will have bracelets of silver.
10. God will quench them a pure drink.
11. God tells them: This is your reward and your efforts have been well-appreciated.

Giving Food While Loving It

وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا ﴿8﴾

For the love of Him, they feed the needy, the orphan and the prisoner,

So we said that the five individuals from the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet gave their food while they loved it to the needy, orphan, and captive. The word ‘alā ḥubbih means while loving something. The Prophet and his household loved that food because they wanted to eat it to break their fast. Thus, the Quran says they gave away their food while they loved it which can also mean while they needed it. Verse 9-10 of surah Insan state:

إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّـهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورًا ﴿9﴾

[saying,] ‘We feed you only for the sake of Allah. We desire no reward from you, nor thanks.

إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوْمًا عَبُوسًا قَمْطَرِيرًا ﴿10﴾

Indeed we fear a frowning and fateful day from our Lord.’

As stated in verse 9 of surah Insan, the five infallibles did not want anything in return for what they did. They did not even want their thanks and gratitude. They said that they only fear God on Qiyamah, a day that is frowning and full of hardship.

Gradual Descent of the Quran in Surah Insan

Verse 23 of surah Insan states that God revealed the Quran to the Prophet gradually:

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ تَنزِيلًا ﴿23﴾

Indeed We have sent down to you the Quran in a gradual descent.

God revealed the Noble Quran to the Prophet in two ways:

1. Gradually and over the course of 23 years
2. All at once on the Night of Qadr (ordainment)

The Quran itself explains why the Quran was revealed gradually in different verses of different surahs. To illustrate, verse 32 of surah Furqan (الفُرقان ) states:

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ عَلَيْهِ الْقُرْآنُ جُمْلَةً وَاحِدَةً ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ لِنُثَبِّتَ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ ۖ وَرَتَّلْنَاهُ تَرْتِيلًا ﴿32﴾

The faithless say, ‘Why has not the Quran been sent down to him all at once?’ So it was, that We may strengthen your heart with it, and We have recited it [to you] in a measured tone.

As stated in this verse, even though the Quran was revealed all at once to the Prophet, the disbelievers thought it could be done so many times and at different times. God revealed the Noble Quran all at once only once. Then he began revealing it gradually.

The verse says that the Quran was revealed gradually so the Prophet’s heart is strengthened with it each time it was revealed and also so that it could be recited in a measured and steady tone and pace.

God’s Commandments to the Prophet in Surah Insan

From verse 24 of surah Insan, God commands the Prophet to do certain things:

1. Submit to God and do not follow any sinner or ingrate (verse 24)
2. Celebrate the Name of God morning and evening (verse 25)
3. Worship God a part of the night and glorify him (verse 26)

People’s Love for this World

إِنَّ هَـٰؤُلَاءِ يُحِبُّونَ الْعَاجِلَةَ وَيَذَرُونَ وَرَاءَهُمْ يَوْمًا ثَقِيلًا ﴿27﴾

Indeed they love this transitory life, and disregard a heavy day that is ahead of them.

Verse 27 of surah Insan speaks about man’s love for this transitory life. It notes how man has forgotten the hereafter and the afterlife. The human being must be careful of his actions in this world as they have an effect on his life in the hereafter. However, he is careless of the hereafter and pursues life in this world.

Conclusion

Surah Insan ends with a few verses that talk about the creation of the human being and how God strengthened him and how He is able to replace them whenever He wishes. Verse 29 of surah Insan emphasizes that this surah, this Quran, and these verses are all a reminder. A reminder of things that are so important yet we neglect. As the Quran has said in many verses:

وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿187﴾

but most people do not know.’ ¹

The majority of human beings do not take admonition, do not listen, do not heed, and are neglectful. For this reason, the Quran keeps reminding us and warning us to beware of our actions lest we stray from the straight path of God. In the end, God says:

يُدْخِلُ مَن يَشَاءُ فِي رَحْمَتِهِ ۚ وَالظَّالِمِينَ أَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا ﴿31﴾

He admits whomever He wishes into His mercy, and He has prepared a painful punishment for the wrongdoers.

By learning to read and understand the Quran and know its importance, we will be among those who wishes into His mercy, God willing.

Benefits of Reciting Surah Insan

• Reciting this surah brings the reward of entering paradise. ²
• The reciter will have houris (حور العين) in paradise. ³
• Whoever recites this surah will be with the Prophet in paradise. ⁴
• If a person with a low self-confidence recites this surah a lot he will have a high self-confidence and self-esteem. ⁵
• Reciting this surah is good for one’s psyche and mood. Especially, it is good for anxiety. ⁶