Surah Al-Ghashiya (الغاشية) is a Meccan surah of the Quran with 26 verses. Read, listen and memorize this surah with our interactive tools.
Updated on 07 March 2026 at 4:16 PM
📖 1 min readFollowing this statement about nature, the mention of the heaven is made so that the listener may recall it and thus distance themselves from those who hold such a view. So, He said: {وإلى السماء} - that is, the heaven, which is among our created things - {كيف رفعت} - how was it raised? That is, how did it come to be elevated with the utmost ease by the One who created it without any pillars, given its vastness, size, weight, and solidity, and considering the celestial bodies, wonders, and marvels it contains? This is indicative of the perfect power that is exclusive to God, who is not limited by 'be' or 'become', in bringing into existence the lofty heaven and in raising the celestial bodies within it. For this indicates an act of choice and a negation of the rule of nature, which is absolute and necessary. This, in turn, is evidence of the perfection of God's power over all things. And after mentioning the elevated among living creatures, namely, the garments for humans, and the elevated among the celestial bodies, He followed it with the elevated among the earth, saying: {وإلى الجبال} - that is, the lofty mountains, which are the most stable part of the earth - {كيف نصبت} - how were they erected? That is, how did their erection by the One who erected them come to be so high above the rest of the earth, without any natural or other cause for it, but rather by the action of the Chooser, the Doer? And they are firmly established, not inclining. Thus, their placement, given the benefits they contain, such as flowing waters and diverse trees, is more wondrous than the placement of the celestial bodies.
The chapter of Al-Fajr is intended to provide evidence for the inevitability of the Resurrection and the Reckoning. The most evident indication of this purpose in the chapter is the dawn, which bursts forth with the morning, following the previous day without any difference in essence, and the awakening of the sleepers from the lesser death, which is sleep, as the light of day spreads, seeking sustenance for reward in the Reckoning, with reward and punishment. 'In the name of Allah' (the One who gathers the worshipers after they have been scattered, due to His greatness). 'The Most Gracious' (the One who encompasses them with creation and provides them with the means to understand, guiding those He wills towards faith). 'The Most Merciful' (the One who grants His close allies divine pleasure, making Paradise permissible for them).
Read the full surah text
هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ٱلْغَـٰشِيَةِ ﴿١﴾
Has there reached you the report of the Overwhelming [event]?
وُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَـٰشِعَةٌ ﴿٢﴾
[Some] faces, that Day, will be humbled,
عَامِلَةٌۭ نَّاصِبَةٌۭ ﴿٣﴾
Working [hard] and exhausted.
تَصْلَىٰ نَارًا حَامِيَةًۭ ﴿٤﴾
They will [enter to] burn in an intensely hot Fire.
تُسْقَىٰ مِنْ عَيْنٍ ءَانِيَةٍۢ ﴿٥﴾
They will be given drink from a boiling spring.
لَّيْسَ لَهُمْ طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِن ضَرِيعٍۢ ﴿٦﴾
For them there will be no food except from a poisonous, thorny plant
لَّا يُسْمِنُ وَلَا يُغْنِى مِن جُوعٍۢ ﴿٧﴾
Which neither nourishes nor avails against hunger.
وُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ نَّاعِمَةٌۭ ﴿٨﴾
[Other] faces, that Day, will show pleasure.
لِّسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌۭ ﴿٩﴾
With their effort [they are] satisfied
فِى جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍۢ ﴿١٠﴾
In an elevated garden,
لَّا تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لَـٰغِيَةًۭ ﴿١١﴾
Wherein they will hear no unsuitable speech.
فِيهَا عَيْنٌۭ جَارِيَةٌۭ ﴿١٢﴾
Within it is a flowing spring.
فِيهَا سُرُرٌۭ مَّرْفُوعَةٌۭ ﴿١٣﴾
Within it are couches raised high
وَأَكْوَابٌۭ مَّوْضُوعَةٌۭ ﴿١٤﴾
And cups put in place
وَنَمَارِقُ مَصْفُوفَةٌۭ ﴿١٥﴾
And cushions lined up
وَزَرَابِىُّ مَبْثُوثَةٌ ﴿١٦﴾
And carpets spread around.
أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى ٱلْإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ ﴿١٧﴾
Then do they not look at the camels - how they are created?
وَإِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيْفَ رُفِعَتْ ﴿١٨﴾
And at the sky - how it is raised?
وَإِلَى ٱلْجِبَالِ كَيْفَ نُصِبَتْ ﴿١٩﴾
And at the mountains - how they are erected?
وَإِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ كَيْفَ سُطِحَتْ ﴿٢٠﴾
And at the earth - how it is spread out?
فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌۭ ﴿٢١﴾
So remind, [O Muhammad]; you are only a reminder.
لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ ﴿٢٢﴾
You are not over them a controller.
إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ ﴿٢٣﴾
However, he who turns away and disbelieves -
فَيُعَذِّبُهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَكْبَرَ ﴿٢٤﴾
Then Allah will punish him with the greatest punishment.
إِنَّ إِلَيْنَآ إِيَابَهُمْ ﴿٢٥﴾
Indeed, to Us is their return.
ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا حِسَابَهُم ﴿٢٦﴾
Then indeed, upon Us is their account.