
How to Read the Quran with Understanding
Learn how to read the Quran with understanding through careful recitation, reliable translations, trusted tafsir, thoughtful reflection, and practical application.
Surah 21
الأَنبِيَاءِ
سورۃ الأَنبِيَاءِ
The Prophets • Mecca • 112 ayahs
الأَنبِيَاءِ
Recitation
Arabic Recitation
Translation language
Ayah by ayah mode selected.
Ayah 21:1
ٱقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُهُمْ وَهُمْ فِى غَفْلَةٍ مُّعْرِضُونَ١
[The time of] their account has approached for the people, while they are in heedlessness turning away.
Ayah 21:2
مَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّن ذِكْرٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِم مُّحْدَثٍ إِلَّا ٱسْتَمَعُوهُ وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ٢
No mention [i.e., revelation] comes to them anew from their Lord except that they listen to it while they are at play
Ayah 21:3
لَاهِيَةً قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَأَسَرُّوا ٱلنَّجْوَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا هَلْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ ۖ أَفَتَأْتُونَ ٱلسِّحْرَ وَأَنتُمْ تُبْصِرُونَ٣
With their hearts distracted. And those who do wrong conceal their private conversation, [saying], "Is this [Prophet] except a human being like you? So would you approach magic while you are aware [of it]?"
Ayah 21:4
قَالَ رَبِّى يَعْلَمُ ٱلْقَوْلَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ٤
He [the Prophet (ﷺ)] said, "My Lord knows whatever is said throughout the heaven and earth, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing."
Ayah 21:5
بَلْ قَالُوٓا أَضْغَـٰثُ أَحْلَـٰمٍۭ بَلِ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ بَلْ هُوَ شَاعِرٌ فَلْيَأْتِنَا بِـَٔايَةٍ كَمَآ أُرْسِلَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ٥
But they say, "[The revelation is but] a mixture of false dreams; rather, he has invented it; rather, he is a poet. So let him bring us a sign just as the previous [messengers] were sent [with miracles]."
Ayah 21:6
مَآ ءَامَنَتْ قَبْلَهُم مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَـٰهَآ ۖ أَفَهُمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ٦
Not a [single] city which We destroyed believed before them,1 so will they believe?
Ayah 21:7
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ فَسْـَٔلُوٓا أَهْلَ ٱلذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ٧
And We sent not before you, [O Muḥammad], except men to whom We revealed [the message], so ask the people of the message [i.e., former scriptures] if you do not know.
Ayah 21:8
وَمَا جَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ جَسَدًا لَّا يَأْكُلُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَمَا كَانُوا خَـٰلِدِينَ٨
And We did not make them [i.e., the prophets] forms not eating food,1 nor were they immortal [on earth].
Ayah 21:9
ثُمَّ صَدَقْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْوَعْدَ فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُمْ وَمَن نَّشَآءُ وَأَهْلَكْنَا ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ٩
Then1 We fulfilled for them the promise, and We saved them and whom We willed and destroyed the transgressors.
Ayah 21:10
لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَـٰبًا فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ ۖ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ١٠
We have certainly sent down to you a Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] in which is your mention.1 Then will you not reason?
Ayah 21:11
وَكَمْ قَصَمْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ كَانَتْ ظَالِمَةً وَأَنشَأْنَا بَعْدَهَا قَوْمًا ءَاخَرِينَ١١
And how many a city which was unjust1 have We shattered and produced after it another people.
Ayah 21:12
فَلَمَّآ أَحَسُّوا بَأْسَنَآ إِذَا هُم مِّنْهَا يَرْكُضُونَ١٢
And when they [i.e., its inhabitants] perceived Our punishment, at once they fled from it.
Ayah 21:13
لَا تَرْكُضُوا وَٱرْجِعُوٓا إِلَىٰ مَآ أُتْرِفْتُمْ فِيهِ وَمَسَـٰكِنِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُسْـَٔلُونَ١٣
[Some angels said], "Do not flee but return to where you were given luxury and to your homes - perhaps you will be questioned."1
Ayah 21:14
قَالُوا يَـٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَ١٤
They said, "O woe to us! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."
Ayah 21:15
فَمَا زَالَت تِّلْكَ دَعْوَىٰهُمْ حَتَّىٰ جَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ حَصِيدًا خَـٰمِدِينَ١٥
And that declaration of theirs did not cease until We made them [as] a harvest [mowed down], extinguished [like a fire].
Ayah 21:16
وَمَا خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَـٰعِبِينَ١٦
And We did not create the heaven and earth and that between them in play.
Ayah 21:17
لَوْ أَرَدْنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ لَهْوًا لَّٱتَّخَذْنَـٰهُ مِن لَّدُنَّآ إِن كُنَّا فَـٰعِلِينَ١٧
Had We intended to take a diversion,1 We could have taken it from [what is] with Us - if [indeed] We were to do so.
Ayah 21:18
بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِٱلْحَقِّ عَلَى ٱلْبَـٰطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُۥ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ ۚ وَلَكُمُ ٱلْوَيْلُ مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ١٨
Rather, We dash the truth upon falsehood, and it destroys it,1 and thereupon it departs. And for you is destruction from that which you describe.2
Ayah 21:19
وَلَهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَنْ عِندَهُۥ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَلَا يَسْتَحْسِرُونَ١٩
To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those near Him [i.e., the angels] are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, nor do they tire.
Ayah 21:20
يُسَبِّحُونَ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُونَ٢٠
They exalt [Him] night and day [and] do not slacken.
Showing 20 of 112 Ayahs
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (The Prophets) is a Meccan chapter of the Quran with 112 ayahs. Read the complete Arabic text with Urdu tarjuma (Fatah Muhammad Jalandhari) and English translation (Sahih International) — with ayah-by-ayah links to Urdu tafseer where available.
Quran text and translations are supplied through Quran.com. English uses Sahih International; Urdu uses Fatah Muhammad Jalandhari. Tafseer detail pages identify the source returned by the provider.
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