Tafseer of Surah Naazi’aat

وَ النّٰزِعٰتِ غَرۡقًا ۙ﴿۱﴾ وَّ النّٰشِطٰتِ نَشۡطًا  ۙ﴿۲﴾ وَّ السّٰبِحٰتِ سَبۡحًا ۙ﴿۳﴾ فَالسّٰبِقٰتِ سَبۡقًا ۙ﴿۴﴾ فَالۡمُدَبِّرٰتِ اَمۡرًا ۘ﴿۵﴾

I swear by those (angels) who pull out (the souls of the disbelievers) violently, and by those (angels) who draw out (the souls of the believers) gently, and by those (angels) who glide (in the atmosphere) swiftly, and by those (angels) who race with each other in a race (to fulfil the command of Allah Ta‘ala), and those (angels) who administrate the affairs (they are ordered to fulfil by Allah Ta‘ala,)

Just as the previous surah – Surah Naba – was revealed to establish the belief of the Day of Qiyamaah, similarly, this surah was also revealed to discuss certain matters of Qiyaamah.

In this surah, Allah Ta‘ala begins with taking oaths on certain characteristics of the angels to affirm that the Day of Qiyaamah is a certainty. Thus, in the sixth verse, after taking oath on the characteristics of the angels, Allah Ta‘ala speaks about the Day of Qiyaamah.

The apparent reason for Allah Ta‘ala taking oaths on the angels who extract the souls of people is to inform man that each person’s Qiyaamah will commence after he passes away. Therefore, it is famously said, “The one who passes away, his Qiyaamah has commenced.”

Though the actual Qiyaamah for the entire creation will take place at the end of the world, however since each person’s next life commences at the time of his death, the death of each person is regarded as his individual Qiyaamah.

Overall, in these verses, Allah Ta‘ala enumerates five qualities of the angels. The five qualities are as follows:

The First Quality of the Angels

وَ النّٰزِعٰتِ غَرۡقًا ۙ﴿۱﴾

I swear by those (angels) who pull out (the souls of the disbelievers) violently

In this verse, Allah Ta’ala speaks about the angels of death who pull out the souls of the kuffaar vigorously and harshly, with full force, not showing any mercy to them. The angels who extract the souls of the kuffaar refer to the angels of punishment, and the word “vigorously” in the aayah refers to spiritual pain, not physical pain. Hence, the humans around the dying person may not perceive the pain of the dying person as the pain is felt by the soul of the dying person, and not his physical body.

At times, it seems a though the soul of a kaafir leaves his body easily, but in reality, this is not the case, as in this verse, Allah Ta‘ala informs us of the great pain and suffering which the soul of a kaafir undergoes at the time of death.

The Second Quality of the Angels

وَّ النّٰشِطٰتِ نَشۡطًا  ۙ﴿۲﴾

and by those (angels) who draw out (the souls of the believers) gently

In this verse, Allah Ta’ala speaks about the angels who draw out the souls of the believers smoothly and gently. The angels who extract the souls of the believers refer to the angels of mercy. They are commanded by Allah Ta‘ala to deal with the believers in a kind and gentle manner.

The word “النٰشطٰت” is derived from the word “نشط” which actually means “to untie a knot”. This signifies “untying the knot of something which contains water or air, so that the water or air may be released easily”. This is a metaphor for drawing out the souls of the believers gently, unlike the souls of the disbelievers which are pulled out harshly. It is as though the soul of the believer was tied up in his body, and the body needed to be opened for the soul to be released.

In this case too, the word نَشۡطًا which translates as “smoothly” or “gently” refers to the spiritual smoothness or gentleness, and not to the physical experience. At times, a pious believer is seen undergoing some type of difficulty at the time of his death, however, this may not necessarily mean that he is undergoing some sort of spiritual hardship or punishment, although physically, it may seem so to those present around him.

When the soul of a disbeliever is extracted, the entire scene of the punishment of barzakh (life after death) comes in front of him. It is a moment of great fear and horror, and the dying person is overwhelmed by the situation. Hence, the soul, being extremely frightened by the scenes of the punishment, begins to move throughout the body, trying to hide or escape the punishment. However, the angels of death forcefully extract his soul, pulling it out violently and harshly from his body, just as a skewer is forcefully pulled out of wet wool (as explained in the Hadith of Hazrat Baraa bin Aazib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) recorded in Musnad-e-Ahmed).

On the other hand, when the soul of a believer is extracted, the great rewards and blessings of the Hereafter that are in store for him are presented before him and he is granted glad tidings and good news, hence, his soul leaves the body with great ease and happiness.

The Third Quality of the Angels

وَّ السّٰبِحٰتِ سَبۡحًا ۙ﴿۳﴾

and by those angels who glide (in the heavens) swiftly

In this aayat, Allah Ta‘ala speaks about the third quality of the angels. The angels referred to in this verse are the angels of death who, after extracting the human soul, glide swiftly through the heavens taking the soul towards the sky in order to present it before Allah Ta‘ala.

The word “سٰبحٰت” comes from the word “سبح” which literally means to “swim” or “float”, but in this context, in relation to the angels, the meaning of the word is “gliding along the heavens swiftly”.

The Fourth Quality of the Angels

فَالسّٰبِقٰتِ سَبۡقًا ۙ﴿۴﴾

and by those (angels) who race with each other in a race (to fulfil the command of Allah Ta‘ala)

In this aayat, Allah Ta‘ala speaks about the manner in which the angels of death race with each other to fulfil the divine command of Allah Ta‘ala.

According to the divine command of Allah Ta‘ala, the angels take the souls of the pious to their good abodes, and the souls of the evil to their bad abodes. After the questioning in the grave, the soul of a believer is transported to the abode of Illiyyeen where it will enjoy the blessings of Paradise, and the soul of a disbeliever is transported to Sijjeen where it will suffer the torment of Hell. (Al-Rooh pg. 134)

The Fifth Quality of the Angels

فَالۡمُدَبِّرٰتِ اَمۡرًا ۘ﴿۵﴾

And by those (angels) who manage the affairs (they are assigned by Allah Ta‘ala regarding the souls of the deceased)

In this aayat, Allah Ta‘ala speaks about those angels who manage the affairs of the deceased and fulfil what they are ordered by Allah Ta‘ala in rewarding the pious souls and punishing the evil souls.

In other words, the final task of these angels of death will be to bring comfort to the pious souls and bring pain to the evil souls. After the souls reach their good or bad abode, the angels who are commanded to reward and comfort the good souls gather means of reward and comfort for them, and the angels who are commanded to punish and cause pain to the evil souls arrange means for their punishment and pain.

Reward and Punishment in the Grave

The Surah thus far confirms that at the time of death, the angels will arrive and extract the human soul. Then they will take it to the sky and swiftly transport it to its abode. The good soul will be transported to the good abode, and the bad soul will be transported to the bad abode. There the angels will arrange means of reward and comfort, or punishment and pain for the two types of souls respectively.

The verses show that the reward and punishment will take place in the grave (i.e. in the life of the barzakh after one leaves the world). Thereafter, when the Day of Qiyaamah comes, the decision will be passed for which person will be granted Jannah, and which person will be destined for Hell.

In regard to the way the soul of the pious servant or evil servant is extracted by the angels of death, there is a lengthy Hadith of Hazrat Baraa bin Aazib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reported in Musnad-e-Ahmad. The Hadith is as follows. Hazrat Baraa bin Aazib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports:

On one occasion, we came out with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to attend the janaazah of a person of the Ansaar. When we reached the grave, we found that the grave had not yet been dug. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thus sat down, and we sat around him, in such calmness as though there were birds upon our heads.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had a stick in his hand with which he was scratching the ground (as he was deep in thought). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then raised his head and said twice or thrice, “Seek Allah Ta‘ala’s protection from the punishment of the grave!”

Thereafter, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Indeed, when a believer is about to leave this world and go to the Hereafter, then angels descend to him from the heaven. Their white faces are so radiant that it is as though each of their faces is the sun. They will have with them a kafan (burial shroud) from the (silken) kafans of Jannah, as well as perfume from the perfumes of Jannah. They will sit close to him, from where he can see them.

“Thereafter, the angel of death will come to him and sit at his head side. The angel of death will address him saying, ‘O pure soul! Come out, towards the forgiveness of Allah and His happiness!’ The soul will thus come out flowing (smoothly), like how a drop of water flows out from the waterskin.

“The angel of death then takes hold of the soul, and once he takes hold of it, the other angels with him do not leave it in his hand for even the blink of an eye until they take it and place it into the shroud and perfume (from the shroud and perfume of Jannah). A fragrance is emitted from the soul which is more fragrant than the most exquisite musk perfume found on the surface of the earth.

“The angels then ascend the sky with the soul, and whichever group of angels they pass by, those angels enquire from them, ‘Whose pure soul is this?’ The angels respond saying, ‘He is so-and-so, the son of so-and-so,’ referring to him with the best names which people had called him in the world.

“The angels continue to ascend with the soul until they reach the lowest heaven. On reaching the lowest heaven, they seek permission to enter. The door of the heaven is opened for them, after which the angels of that heaven welcome the soul and escort it to the next heaven, and this continues, in turn, through every heaven, until the soul reaches the seventh heaven.

“Allah Ta‘ala then commands the angels saying, ‘Write in the book of My servant that his abode is decreed to be in Illiyyeen, and then return him to the earth (i.e. take him to his grave for the questioning), as I have created them from the earth, and I will return them to the earth, and I will once again resurrect them from the earth.’

“The soul is then returned to the body in the grave after which two angels (i.e. Munkar and Nakeer) come to him. They make him sit up and ask him, ‘Who is your Rabb?’ He will answer, ‘My Rabb is Allah.’ They thereafter ask him, ‘What is your religion?’ He will answer, ‘My religion is Islam.’ Finally, they will ask him, ‘Who is this man who was sent to you?’ He will respond, ‘He is the Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).’ The angels will ask, ‘How do you know this?’ He will respond, ‘I read the Kitaab of Allah Ta‘ala, and I brought imaan in him and accepted him as being the true messenger of Allah Ta‘ala.’

“A voice will then call out from the sky saying, ‘Indeed, My servant has spoken the truth (and answered the questions correctly), so spread out for him a carpet from the carpets of Jannah, dress him in the garments of Jannah, and open for him (in his grave) a door to Jannah!’ Thus, the breeze and fragrance of Jannah will reach him, and his grave will be expanded for him as far as his gaze can see.

“A man will then come to him with a handsome face, beautiful clothing and a sweet fragrance. The man will say to him, ‘Rejoice over that which will please you! This day of yours is the one which you had been promised (to meet while you were in the world)!’ The deceased will then ask him, ‘Who are you? Your face is the face of one who brings goodness!’ The man will reply, ‘I am your good actions.’

“The deceased will then say, ‘O my Rabb! Commence Qiyaamah! O my Rabb! Commence Qiyaamah, so that I can return to my family and wealth (in Jannah)!’”

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said, “Indeed, when a disbeliever is about to leave this world and go to the Hereafter, then angels descend to him from the heaven. These angels have dark, black faces, and will have with them sacks of coarse cloth. They will sit close to him, from where he can see them.

“Thereafter, the angel of death will come to him and sit at his head side. The angel of death will address him saying, ‘O filthy, evil soul! Come out to the anger of Allah!’ The soul will then move about through his body (trying to escape the angel of death from catching him). Thereafter, the angel of death will forcefully pull out the soul, like how a skewer is forcefully pulled out of wet wool. The angel of death will then take hold of the soul.

“After the angel of death takes hold of the soul, the other angels with him will not leave it in his hand for even the blink of an eye until they take it and place it in the coarse sack. A foul odour will emit from this soul, like the most disgusting odour of a corpse that can be found on earth.

“The angels will then ascend the sky with the soul, and whichever group of angels they pass by, those angels will enquire from them, ‘Whose filthy, evil soul is this?’ They will reply, ‘He is so-and-so, the son of so-and-so,’ referring to him with the worst names which people had called him in the world.

“The angels then continue to ascend with the soul until they reach the lowest heaven. On reaching the lowest heaven, they seek permission to enter, but the door of the heaven will not be opened for them.”

On mentioning this, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) recited the following verse of the Qur’aan Majeed:

لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَہُمۡ  اَبۡوَابُ السَّمَآءِ  وَ لَا یَدۡخُلُوۡنَ الۡجَنَّۃَ حَتّٰی یَلِجَ الۡجَمَلُ فِیۡ سَمِّ الۡخِیَاطِ ؕ

the doors of the heavens shall not be opened for them (the disbelievers), and they shall not enter Paradise until a camel passes through the eye of a needle (i.e. they will never be able to enter Jannah). (Surah A’raaf v. 40)

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then continued and said, “Allah Ta‘ala will then say, ‘Write in his book that his abode is decreed to be in Sijjeen, in the lowest earth (i.e. in Jahannum).’ Thereafter, his soul will be flung away violently.”

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then recited the following verse of the Qur’aan Majeed:

وَ مَنۡ یُّشۡرِکۡ بِاللّٰہِ فَکَاَنَّمَا خَرَّ  مِنَ السَّمَآءِ فَتَخۡطَفُہُ الطَّیۡرُ  اَوۡ تَہۡوِیۡ بِہِ الرِّیۡحُ فِیۡ مَکَانٍ  سَحِیۡقٍ ﴿۳۱﴾

Whoever ascribes a partner to Allah, it is as if he falls down from the sky, and either the birds snatch him, or the wind throws him away to a far-off place. (Surah Haj v. 31)

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) continued and said, “His soul is then returned to his body, and the two angels (Munkar and Nakeer) come to him. They make him sit up and ask him, ‘Who is your Rabb?’ He will reply, ‘Aah! Aah! I do not know!’ They will then ask him, ‘What is your religion?’ He will say, ‘Aah! Aah! I do not know!’ Finally, the angels will ask him, ‘Who is this man who was sent to you?’ Again, he will respond, ‘Aah! Aah! I do not know!’

“At this, a voice will call out from the heaven saying, ‘He has lied, so spread out for him a carpet of fire, and open for him a door to the fire of Jahannum.’ Thus, the blazing heat and scorching fire of Jahannum will reach him, and his grave will be constricted and narrowed upon him, until (he will be squeezed to such an extent that) his ribs from one side will join the ribs of the other side.

“A man will then come to him whose appearance will be frightful, whose clothing will be ugly and whose odour will be most foul. The man will address him saying, ‘Rejoice over that which will make you grieve! This day of yours is the one which you had been promised (to meet while you were in the world)!’ The deceased will ask the man, ‘Who are you, for your face is the face of one who brings evil?’ He will reply, ‘I am your evil deeds.’

“The deceased will then say, ‘O my Rabb! Do not let Qiyaamah come!’”

In other narrations, it is mentioned that when the soul of a pious believer is ascending towards the heavens, then every angel between the heavens and the earth, and every angel in each heaven, makes dua for him. The doors of the heavens are opened for him, and the angels at every door make dua to Allah Ta‘ala that this pious soul should ascend via their door.

When the soul of the disbeliever is pulled out, it comes out with the veins (i.e. it will come out from every vein of his body). Every angel between the heavens and the earth, and every angel in each heaven, curses him. The doors of the heavens are locked, and the angels at every door make dua to Allah Ta‘ala that his soul should not ascend via their door.

یَوۡمَ  تَرۡجُفُ الرَّاجِفَۃُ ۙ﴿۶﴾ تَتۡبَعُہَا الرَّادِفَۃُ ؕ﴿۷﴾ قُلُوۡبٌ یَّوۡمَئِذٍ وَّاجِفَۃٌ ۙ﴿۸﴾ اَبۡصَارُہَا خَاشِعَۃٌ ۘ﴿۹﴾ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ ءَاِنَّا  لَمَرۡدُوۡدُوۡنَ  فِی الۡحَافِرَۃِ ﴿ؕ۱۰﴾ ءَ اِذَا کُنَّا عِظَامًا نَّخِرَۃً ﴿ؕ۱۱﴾ قَالُوۡا تِلۡکَ  اِذًا کَرَّۃٌ  خَاسِرَۃٌ ﴿ۘ۱۲﴾ فَاِنَّمَا ہِیَ زَجۡرَۃٌ   وَّاحِدَۃٌ ﴿ۙ۱۳﴾ فَاِذَا  ہُمۡ  بِالسَّاہِرَۃِ ﴿ؕ۱۴﴾

(You will be resurrected) on the day when the shaking event will cause everything to violently shake, (with) another shaking event following it (i.e. the first blowing of the trumpet will take place, and will be followed by the second blowing of the trumpet after a period of forty years). Hearts (of people), on that day, will be trembling, (and) their eyes shall be lowered (in embarrassment and shame). They (the disbelievers) say, “Will we indeed be returned to our former state (after being resurrected)? What! Even after we have become decayed bones?” They say, “It would, in that case, be a return with loss.” Then it (the second blowing of the trumpet) will only be a single stern blast (of sound), and suddenly, they will be awakened (and brought for judgment onto the plain of Hashr).

یَوۡمَ  تَرۡجُفُ الرَّاجِفَۃُ ۙ﴿۶﴾ تَتۡبَعُہَا الرَّادِفَۃُ ؕ﴿۷﴾

(You will be resurrected) on the day when the shaking event will cause everything to violently shake, (with) another shaking event following it.

In this first verse, Allah Ta‘ala speaks about the first blowing of the trumpet that will take place on the Day of Qiyaamah, and in the second verse, Allah Ta‘ala speaks about the second blowing of the trumpet that will take place forty years after the first blowing of the trumpet.

The purpose for the first blowing of the trumpet will be to cause every living creature to die, and to bring an end to the entire world. The purpose for the second blowing of the trumpet will be to resurrect the creation once again.

In the Arabic language, the word “راجفة” comes from the root word “رجف” which means “to shake something”.

Hence, in the first verse, through the word “راجفة”, Allah Ta‘ala indicates to the shaking event that will take place on the Day of Qiyaamah. This shaking event refers to the first blowing of the trumpet, through which everything in the earth will begin to violently shake, causing everything to be ruined, destroyed and reduced to smithereens.

In the Arabic language, the word “رادفة” comes from the root word “ردف” which comes to “follow or come after something”.

Hence, in the second verse, through the word “رادفة”, Allah Ta‘ala indicates to the second blowing of the trumpet that will occur forty years after the first blowing of the trumpet.

A similar mention of the first and second blowing of the trumpet is recorded in the following verse of the Qur’aan Majeed:

وَ نُفِخَ فِی الصُّوۡرِ فَصَعِقَ مَنۡ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَنۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ اِلَّا مَنۡ شَآءَ اللّٰہُ ؕ ثُمَّ  نُفِخَ  فِیۡہِ  اُخۡرٰی فَاِذَا ہُمۡ  قِیَامٌ  یَّنۡظُرُوۡنَ ﴿۶۸﴾

And the trumpet will be blown (for the first time), and all those in the heavens and all those in the earth will fall unconscious (and die), except those whom Allah wills (otherwise e.g. Jannah, Jahannum and the inhabitants of Jannah). Thereafter, it will be blown once again, and suddenly they will stand up, looking on. (Surah Zumar v. 68)

In the Hadith of Sunan Tirmizi, it is reported that when two-thirds of the night had passed, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) awoke and said:

يا أيها الناس اذكروا الله اذكروا الله جاءت الراجفة تتبعها الرادفة جاء الموت بما فيه

O people! Remember Allah, remember Allah Ta‘ala (through performing salaah and engaging ibaadah as Qiyaamah will soon come)! The shaking event will cause everything to violently shake, (with) another shaking event following it. Death will come (to each person) with everything contained in it (i.e. difficulties of death). (Musnad Ahmed #21241)

یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ ءَاِنَّا  لَمَرۡدُوۡدُوۡنَ  فِی الۡحَافِرَۃِ ﴿ؕ۱۰﴾ ءَ اِذَا کُنَّا عِظَامًا نَّخِرَۃً ﴿ؕ۱۱﴾ قَالُوۡا تِلۡکَ  اِذًا کَرَّۃٌ  خَاسِرَۃٌ ﴿ۘ۱۲﴾

They (the disbelievers) say, “Will we indeed be returned to our former state (after being resurrected)? What! Even after we have become decayed bones?” They say, “It would, in that case, be a return with loss.”

In these verses, Allah Ta‘ala informs us about the absurd statement of the disbelievers who mockingly rejected the belief of resurrection after death and Qiyaamah. They could not fathom how it could be possible to resurrect bodies which have decayed and disintegrated until they have turned to dust.

In response to this statement of the disbelievers, Allah Ta‘ala mentions, later on in the surah, how He had created the heavens and the earth, impressing upon man that when Allah Ta‘ala has the power to create such magnificent creations like the heavens and the earth, then what difficulty is there for Him to resurrect man who is among the smallest of creations compared to the solar system and the galaxies, etc?

Allah Ta‘ala says, “Are you (O man) more difficult (for Allah Ta‘ala) to create you or the heaven which He built. He has raised its height and perfected it, and He covered its nights with darkness, and brought forth (from it) its brightness (i.e. its day), and after this, He spread out the earth.”

فَاِنَّمَا ہِیَ زَجۡرَۃٌ   وَّاحِدَۃٌ ﴿ۙ۱۳﴾ فَاِذَا  ہُمۡ  بِالسَّاہِرَۃِ ﴿ؕ۱۴﴾

Then it (the second blowing of the trumpet) will only be a single stern blast (of sound), and suddenly, they will be awakened (and brought for judgment onto the plain of Hashr).

The word “ساهرة” refers to “the surface of the earth”. After Qiyaamah takes place and Allah Ta‘ala destroys the entire earth, Allah Ta‘ala will thereafter recreate the earth. The new earth that Allah Ta‘ala recreates is being referred to in this verse by the word “ساهرة”.

When this new earth will be re-created, it will be a completely flat and level surface. There will be no mountains, no buildings or anything of the previous earth that could serve as landmarks for man to recognize and attribute ownership towards.