NAME: الإنسان، الدهر, Al-Insan, Ad-Dahr.
This Surah has two names and both taken from verse # 1.
١ هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى الْإِنْسَانِ حِينٌ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْئًا مَذْكُورًا
1 Has there [not] come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing [even] mentioned?
But It does not mean that this name is the actual topic discussed in the whole Surah. It is just a reference and mark/symbol to distinguish this Surah from others as is with most other Surahs of Quran. While there are diversified topics discussed in these Surahs.
ENGLISH NAME: The Human/Man, Endless Time.
CHAPTER NUMBER: 76
SURAH INSAN TOTAL VERSES: 31
SURAH INSAN TOTAL WORDS: 243
TOTAL UNIQUE WORDS WITHOUT REPETITION: 196
TOTAL LETTERS: 1,087
REVELATION PERIOD:
Meccan, Approx. 613 – 618 AD.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
God, Man, Disbelievers, Believers, Kafoor, Zanjabil, Salsabeel.
SURAH INSAN MAIN TOPICS:
Universe Was There Before Man, And Man Was Not Even A Thing Mentioned, Detailed Description of Paradise with some unique things Like Drink Mix With Kafur, Cups & Vessels Made of Silver Clear As Glass, Drink Mix With Zanjabil from a Fountain named Salsabeel.
SURAH INSAN KEY VERSES:
١ هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى الْإِنْسَانِ حِينٌ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْئًا مَذْكُورًا
1 Has there [not] come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing [even] mentioned?
٢ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا
2 Indeed, We created man from a sperm-drop mixture that We may try him; and We made him hearing and seeing.
١٥ وَيُطَافُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِآنِيَةٍ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَأَكْوَابٍ كَانَتْ قَوَارِيرَا
15 And there will be circulated among them vessels of silver and cups having been [created] clear [as glass],
١٦ قَوَارِيرَ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ قَدَّرُوهَا تَقْدِيرًا
16 Clear glasses [made] from silver of which they have determined the measure.
١٧ وَيُسْقَوْنَ فِيهَا كَأْسًا كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا زَنْجَبِيلًا
17 And they will be given to drink a cup [of wine] whose mixture is of ginger
١٨ عَيْنًا فِيهَا تُسَمَّىٰ سَلْسَبِيلًا
18 [From] a fountain within Paradise named Salsabeel.
١٩ وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُخَلَّدُونَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ حَسِبْتَهُمْ لُؤْلُؤًا مَنْثُورًا
19 There will circulate among them young boys made eternal. When you see them, you would think them [as beautiful as] scattered pearls.
SUMMARY OF TOPICS
1-3(Creation In Stages, Universe Was There Before Man, And Man Was Not Even A Thing Mentioned, God Created Man From Semen Mixture And Than Guided Him), 4-6(For Disbelievers Chains And Blaze, For Righteous Spring Of Drink With Kafur Mix), 7-8(Those Who Fulfill Oaths, Take Care Of Needy),13(Righteous Will Be In Paradise, No Heat Of Sun No Cold), 15-16(Paradise Description: Cups & Vessels Clear As Glass Made Up Of Silver), 17-18(Paradise Description: Drink Mix With Zanjabil/Ginger, From a fountain within Paradise named Salsabeel), 19(In Paradise: Immortal Youth As Scattered Pearls), 20(Paradise Description: Bliss& Great Kingdom), 21(Paradise Description: Gold Embroidery, Silver Bracelet), 25-26(Quran Revealed Gradually, Namaz/Prayer Timing), 29-31(Indeed, Quran is a reminder, so he who wills may take to his Lord a way. But You Do Not Will Except That What God Wills)
SURAH INSAN BRIEF COMMENTARY & BACKGROUND
This Surah has 31 verses divided into 2 Rukus/Sections. It has two names Surah Insan and Surah Dahr, both taken from verse 1: “…… هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى الْإِنْسَانِ حِينٌ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ” ( Has there [not] come upon man a period of time….) where the word “الإنسان” and “الدهر” meaning “Man” and “Endless Time” appears respectively. This Surah was revealed in Mecca most probably during the early days of Muhammad’s proclamation of his prophethood. Many commentators and some traditions state that it is a Medinan Surah or some of its verses esp. Verse # 8-10 were revealed in Medina.
This Surah tells about the means that a human being can accomplish physical and spiritual development. The rewards of the righteous and their character and traits are also mentioned. Many commentators of Quran linked the revelation of the verses 5 to 22: which discuss “the righteous” and the rewards that await them to an actual story of the son in law of Prophet, Ali and Prophet’s daughter Fatimah. According to these traditions, because of the illness of their kids Hassan & Hussein, Ali & Fatimah vowed to God that they would fast for three days if kids become healthy. When it happened, the whole family fasted for three days. In each day at the time of opening of fast, a poor person, an Orphan and a captive knocked on their door asking for food. They gave food to each of them. Ali, Fatimah, and their children had so little food that after this charity they had no food left and they broke their fast just by drinking water. 4th day, Prophet met with them and saw them in dreadful hunger and condition. As per traditions, this was the time when Angel Gabriel revealed these verses and congratulated Muhammad for having such a family.
It is recorded in Sahih Muslim from Ibn Abbas that the Prophet of God PBUH used to recite these in the Morning prayer on Fridays:
الٓمٓ • تَنزِيلُ
Alif Lam Mim. The revelation… Surah Sajdah
هَلۡ أَتَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنِ
Has there not been over man… Surah Insan
