The Majestic Quran

78. An-Naba’ The News This early Makkan chapter is critical of the Arab pagans who believed in the Almighty God, God, yet worshipped many idols. They did not believe in life after death, so they questioned the Prophet r again and again about the life Hereafter, and bitterly disagreed with him. Unfortunately, they didn’t see the importance of this belief in ensuring a peaceful, just and purposeful life on Earth. What they could not comprehend was how the dead can be brought back to life. The Quran continually reminds them about God’s creative power. The chapter opens with a rich description of the natural world: vast landmasses and oceans, lofty mountains, pairs of living things, the mysteries of sleep and nightfall, and so on. After mentioning these eleven pieces of evidence of God’s creativity, people are warned about the Day of Judgement: the Day of Distinction; the Day when justice will be done and people will be rewarded according to how they lived. Then follows a description of the horrors and pain of Hell. The final section beautifully captures the delights and pleasures of Paradise. In the name of God, the Kind, the Caring. T D 1 What are they questioning one another about? 2 Is it the awesome news 3 that they are disputing? 4 No, soon they will know, 5 indeed very soon they will know. 6 Didn’t We make the Earth a vast expanse, 7 the mountains like mighty stakes? 8 Didn’t We create you in pairs, 9 made your sleep for resting, 10 made the night a covering, 11 and made the day for earning a