The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary
Seyyed Hossein Nasr (Ed.)
A landmark scholarly edition with verse-by-verse commentary drawn from classical sources — the most comprehensive single-volume study Quran in English.
الغَاشِيَةِ
The Overwhelming
The Overwhelming Day and two kinds of faces.
Al-Ghashiyah, “The Overwhelming,” contrasts the humbled, weary faces of the Day with the joyful faces of the people of Paradise, inviting reflection on creation.
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بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ٱلْغَٰشِيَةِ
Hal ataaka hadeesul ghaashiyah
Has there reached you the report of the Overwhelming [event]?
وُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَٰشِعَةٌ
Wujoohuny yawma 'izin khaashi'ah
[Some] faces, that Day, will be humbled,
عَامِلَةٌۭ نَّاصِبَةٌۭ
'Aamilatun naasibah
Working [hard] and exhausted.
تَصْلَىٰ نَارًا حَامِيَةًۭ
Taslaa naaran haamiyah
They will [enter to] burn in an intensely hot Fire.
تُسْقَىٰ مِنْ عَيْنٍ ءَانِيَةٍۢ
Tusqaa min 'aynin aaniyah
They will be given drink from a boiling spring.
لَّيْسَ لَهُمْ طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِن ضَرِيعٍۢ
Laisa lahum ta'aamun illaa min daree'
For them there will be no food except from a poisonous, thorny plant
لَّا يُسْمِنُ وَلَا يُغْنِى مِن جُوعٍۢ
Laa yusminu wa laa yughnee min joo'
Which neither nourishes nor avails against hunger.
وُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ نَّاعِمَةٌۭ
Wujoohuny yawma 'izin naa'imah
[Other] faces, that Day, will show pleasure.
لِّسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌۭ
Lisa'yihaa raadiyah
With their effort [they are] satisfied
فِى جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍۢ
Fee jannatin 'aaliyah
In an elevated garden,
لَّا تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لَٰغِيَةًۭ
Laa tasma'u feehaa laaghiyah
Wherein they will hear no unsuitable speech.
فِيهَا عَيْنٌۭ جَارِيَةٌۭ
Feehaa 'aynun jaariyah
Within it is a flowing spring.
فِيهَا سُرُرٌۭ مَّرْفُوعَةٌۭ
Feehaa sururum marfoo'ah
Within it are couches raised high
وَأَكْوَابٌۭ مَّوْضُوعَةٌۭ
Wa akwaabum mawdoo 'ah
And cups put in place
وَنَمَارِقُ مَصْفُوفَةٌۭ
Wa namaariqu masfoofah
And cushions lined up
وَزَرَابِىُّ مَبْثُوثَةٌ
Wa zaraabiyyu mabsoosah
And carpets spread around.
أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى ٱلْإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ
Afalaa yanzuroona ilalibili kaifa khuliqat
Then do they not look at the camels - how they are created?
وَإِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيْفَ رُفِعَتْ
Wa ilas samaaa'i kaifa rufi'at
And at the sky - how it is raised?
وَإِلَى ٱلْجِبَالِ كَيْفَ نُصِبَتْ
Wa ilal jibaali kaifa nusibat
And at the mountains - how they are erected?
وَإِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ كَيْفَ سُطِحَتْ
Wa ilal ardi kaifa sutihat
And at the earth - how it is spread out?
فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌۭ
Fazakkir innama anta Muzakkir
So remind, [O Muhammad]; you are only a reminder.
لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ
Lasta 'alaihim bimusaitir
You are not over them a controller.
إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ
Illaa man tawallaa wa kafar
However, he who turns away and disbelieves -
فَيُعَذِّبُهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَكْبَرَ
Fa yu'azzibuhul laahul 'azaabal akbar
Then Allah will punish him with the greatest punishment.
إِنَّ إِلَيْنَآ إِيَابَهُمْ
Innaa ilainaaa iyaabahum
Indeed, to Us is their return.
ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا حِسَابَهُم
Summa inna 'alainaa hisaabahum
Then indeed, upon Us is their account.
“Al-Ghaashiya” translates to “The Overwhelming.” It is the 88th surah (chapter) of the Holy Quran.
Surah Al-Ghaashiya has 26 verses (ayahs).
It is a Makkah (Meccan) surah — revealed before the Prophet’s ﷺ migration (Hijrah) to Madinah.
Yes. You can read Surah Al-Ghaashiya free on this page in Arabic with a clear English translation and transliteration, so you can both understand the meaning and learn to recite it.
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