At-Taghabun (ٱلتَّغَابُن)

Surah At-Taghabun (التَّغَابُن) is translated in English as The Mutual Loss and Gain. Taghabun means loss, deprivation, or regression. This term refers to the loss a person or group of people undergo due to their deeds. The name of the surah is derived from its 9th verse that says - "Dhalika yaum-ut-taghabun," which means "a day of mutual loss and gain (among you)." Surah At-Taghabun is the 64th chapter of the Quran and is located in the 28th Juzz (Para). It has 18 verses divided into 2 Rukus (Sections). Since this surah starts with Allah's glorification, it is also known as Al-Mussabihat surah. These six Surahs are collectively known as Al-Mussabihat surah: Surah Al-Hadid, Al-Hashr, As-Saff, Al-Jumuah, At-Taghabun, and Surah Al-Ala.

This surah was revealed after the Prophet migrated to Medina, and it consists of guidance for both believers and non-believers. This surah emphasizes faith, obedience to Allah, moral teachings, and virtuous behavior. The first 4 verses of the surah address all mankind, while the next few verses are for the non-believers. 11-18 are for believers who accepted Islam, reminding them about the day of judgment (Akhirah). These verses remind Muslims that they may face consequences or loss based on their deeds, as the day of judgment will reveal the truth. 

٦٤ - ٱلتَّغَابُن

64 - At-Taghabun

يُسَبِّــحُ لِلہِ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَمَا فِي الْاَرْضِ۝۰ۚ لَہُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَہُ الْحَمْدُ۝۰ۡوَہُوَعَلٰي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ۝۱
Yusabbihu lillahi ma fee alssamawati wama fee alardi lahu almulku walahu alhamdu wahuwa AAala kulli shayin qadeerun

English

Ahmed Ali

ALL THAT THERE is in the heavens and the earth sings the praises of God. His the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He has power over everything.

1

ہُوَالَّذِيْ خَلَقَكُمْ فَمِنْكُمْ كَافِرٌ وَّمِنْكُمْ ￁مِنٌ۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ بَصِيْرٌ۝۲
Huwa allathee khalaqakum faminkum kafirun waminkum muminun waAllahu bima taAAmaloona baseerun

English

Ahmed Ali

It is He who created you, though one of you is an infidel and one of you a believer; yet God perceives what you do.

2

خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضَ بِالْحَقِّ وَصَوَّرَكُمْ فَاَحْسَنَ صُوَرَكُمْ۝۰ۚ وَاِلَيْہِ الْمَصِيْرُ۝۳
Khalaqa alssamawati waalarda bialhaqqi wasawwarakum faahsana suwarakum wailayhi almaseeru

English

Ahmed Ali

He created the heavens and the earth with deliberation, and gave you form, and shaped you well; and to Him is your returning.

3

يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تُسِرُّوْنَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُوْنَ۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ عَلِيْمٌۢ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُوْرِ۝۴
YaAAlamu ma fee alssamawati waalardi wayaAAlamu ma tusirroona wama tuAAlinoona waAllahu AAaleemun bithati alssudoori

English

Ahmed Ali

He knows what is in the heavens and the earth, and knows what you hide and what you disclose; God knows what is in the hearts.

4

اَلَمْ يَاْتِكُمْ نَبَؤُا الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا مِنْ قَبْلُ۝۰ۡفَذَاقُوْا وَبَالَ اَمْرِہِمْ وَلَہُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِيْمٌ۝۵
Alam yatikum nabao allatheena kafaroo min qablu fathaqoo wabala amrihim walahum AAathabun aleemun

English

Ahmed Ali

Has not the account of those who disbelieved before come to you, who tasted the torment of their action, and for whom is grievous punishment?

5

ذٰلِكَ بِاَنَّہٗ كَانَتْ تَّاْتِيْہِمْ رُسُلُہُمْ بِالْبَيِّنٰتِ فَقَالُوْۗا اَبَشَرٌ يَّہْدُوْنَنَا۝۰ۡفَكَفَرُوْا وَتَوَلَّوْا وَّاسْتَغْنَى اؙ۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيْدٌ۝۶
Thalika biannahu kanat tateehim rusuluhum bialbayyinati faqaloo abasharun yahdoonana fakafaroo watawallaw waistaghna Allahu waAllahu ghaniyyun hameedun

English

Ahmed Ali

This was so because their apostles came to them with clear proofs, but they said: "What. Can a mortal show us the way?" And they denied and turned away; but God was unconcerned. God is all-sufficient, worthy of praise.

6

زَعَمَ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْۗا اَنْ لَّنْ يُّبْعَثُوْا۝۰ۭ قُلْ بَلٰى وَرَبِّيْ لَتُبْعَثُنَّ ثُمَّ لَتُـنَبَّؤُنَّ بِمَا عَمِلْتُمْ۝۰ۭ وَذٰلِكَ عَلَي اللہِ يَسِيْرٌ۝۷
ZaAAama allatheena kafaroo an lan yubAAathoo qul bala warabbee latubAAathunna thumma latunabbaonna bima AAamiltum wathalika AAala Allahi yaseerun

English

Ahmed Ali

The unbelievers claim that they will not be raised again. Tell them: "Why not? By my Lord, you will certainly be raised again, and then informed of what you had done. That is how the law of God works inevitably."

7

فَاٰمِنُوْا بِاللہِ وَرَسُوْلِہٖ وَالنُّوْرِ الَّذِيْۗ اَنْزَلْنَا۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ خَبِيْرٌ۝۸
Faaminoo biAllahi warasoolihi waalnnoori allathee anzalna waAllahu bima taAAmaloona khabeerun

English

Ahmed Ali

So believe in God, His Apostle and the Light We have sent down. God is well aware of what you do.

8

يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُكُمْ لِيَوْمِ الْجَمْعِ ذٰلِكَ يَوْمُ التَّغَابُنِ۝۰ۭ وَمَنْ يُّؤْمِنْۢ بِاللہِ وَيَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا يُّكَفِّرْ عَنْہُ سَـيِّاٰتِہٖ وَيُدْخِلْہُ جَنّٰتٍ تَجْرِيْ مِنْ تَحْتِہَا الْاَنْہٰرُ خٰلِدِيْنَ فِيْہَاۗ اَبَدًا۝۰ۭ ذٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيْمُ۝۹
Yawma yajmaAAukum liyawmi aljamAAi thalika yawmu alttaghabuni waman yumin biAllahi wayaAAmal salihan yukaffir AAanhu sayyiatihi wayudkhilhu jannatin tajree min tahtiha alanharu khalideena feeha abadan thalika alfawzu alAAatheemu

English

Ahmed Ali

The day He will gather you together on the Day of Gathering, will be the day of Judgement. He who believed and did the right, will have his evil deeds expunged by God and admitted to gardens with rivers flowing by, and abide there perpetually. This will be the great achievement of success.

9

وَالَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا وَكَذَّبُوْا بِاٰيٰتِنَاۗ اُولٰۗىِٕكَ اَصْحٰبُ النَّارِ خٰلِدِيْنَ فِيْہَا۝۰ۭ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيْرُ۝۱۰ۧ
Waallatheena kafaroo wakaththaboo biayatina olaika ashabu alnnari khalideena feeha wabisa almaseeru

English

Ahmed Ali

Those who did not believe and denied Our revelations will be inmates of Hell, where they will abide for ever, and how evil a journey's end!

10

Surah At-Taghabun Asbab al-Nuzul (Historical Background & Context)

Surah At-Taghabun is the 64th Surah of the Quran, which is in Juz 28. It is a Madni Surah that has 18 verses. The word At-Taghabun means “mutual loss and gain”. This Surah is about the reality of Judgment Day, where everyone will get what he sowed in his life. The righteous will get their rewards, and wrongdoers will face punishment.

  • Context of Revelation

Surah At-Taghabun was revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ after he migrated to Madina. In this Surah, the struggles of Muslims are told which they have to face after the migration. They had to settle down at a new place while the kaffar of Quraysh was creating more difficulties for them. The surah has encouragement as well as friendly warnings for believers who do not prioritize wealth over good deeds. These worldly attachments are not worth it.

At-Taghabun is a reference to the mutual loss or regret for those who are unable to recognize the true path and choose the wrong path. It will be a loss for them, especially on the Day of Judgement. The Surah has a clear message for those who are too busy with worldly attachments at the cost of their faith. They are told to be careful and reflect on the consequences of their actions. 

  • Asbab al-Nuzul (Occasions of Revelation)

The context of Surah refers to when Muslims migrated to Madina and faced certain challenges. The relationship of Muslims with disbelievers is explicitly highlighted in this Surah. The primary reason for the revelation of this Surah is that when some Muslims got busy in worldly things and started to enjoy wealth for themselves and their families to an extent they left behind their religious duties. It is evident in the verse of the Surah where Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى warns them not to distract themselves with wealth. Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى clearly warned them about the negative influence of such things because in the Hereafter, only Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى can save them from punishment. Thus, faith in Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and following religious duties should be the main motive of any Muslim. 

Narrations suggest that some Muslims had conflicting opinions on dealing with personal relations and religious responsibilities. They were getting hesitant to take part in Jihad and other religious obligations. It was a time to prepare for the Battle of Tabuk in which they had to decide about their wealth, family, and Jihad as it was a difficult and expensive battle. They had to sacrifice their goods in the name of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. 

Abu Huraira رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrated that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ suggested to him not to attach yourself to material goods and the wealth of this world but rather remember Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and devote your life in His name. This is the basic theme of this Surah: that there should be a striking balance between worldly things and religion. Never prioritize this life over the life in the Hereafter. 

  • Message of the Surah

Surah At-Taghabun reminds every Muslim that true success is after this life. Do not indulge yourself in the shining worldly things. The emphasis in this Surah is that no one should come between you and your obligations to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, be it wealth, family, or even your children as it is narrated in the Surah At-Taghabun as well.

O believers, some of your spouses and children are your enemies, so beware of them! Yet if you forbear, overlook, and forgive, God is indeed forgiving and kind.

Significance of Surah At-Taghabun

Surah At-Taghabun has a deep significance due to its themes. Its themes revolve around the accountability of deeds and balance between life here and hereafter. The main theme is about the gain and loss on the Day of Judgement by getting the reward of good deeds and punishment for their wrongdoings. As At-Taghbun refers to mutual loss and gain, people will then realize the consequences of their actions on the Day of Judgement.

  • Balance Between Worldly Life and Faith

The takeaway of Surah At-Taghabun is the importance of balance between faith and worldly life. The Surah reimprand that one should have more focus on religious duties rather than on worldly things, wealth and family which is also a part of testament in this life. It is a reminder that this worldly life and its wealth are not wrong, but these things should not distract you from the righteous path. Your topmost priority and devotion should be toward Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. 

  • True Success in the Hereafter

The highlight of this Surah is that real success is in the afterlife, while this worldly life and its gains are not important. In this Surah, it is described that those who give importance to worldly things and wealth will face a tragic loss in the Hereafter life, while those who put complete faith in Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى will get rewards at the Day of Judgement. 

  • Accountability and the Day of Judgment

It gives an important reminder that everyone will be accountable for his deeds on the Day of Judgement. Nothing will be of any help on that day, including status, wealth, family, or children. Another thing Surah assures is that those who will stay on the right path will get the reward.

  • Seeking Forgiveness and Mercy

Surah Al-Taghabun also teaches us to ask for forgiveness from Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى as He is the Rahimeen. For those who repent and ask for mercy, Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى is always there to listen to them and grant forgiveness. The surah encourages believers to seek Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى forgiveness and mercy. Despite life’s distractions and challenges, repentance is always available for those who sincerely turn to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى.

Themes and Subject Matter of Surah At-Taghabun

In Surah At-Taghabun (التَّغَابُن), Allah has invited mankind to have faith in Him, be obedient, and practice virtuous values. It begins with God's Glorification that He created everything perfectly and without flaws. It gives a reminder to all mankind that life is created for a special purpose and that they are responsible for their actions and deeds in the world. 

Allah says in Surah At-Taghabun: "He created the heavens and the earth with deliberation and gave you form, and shaped you well; and to Him is your returning." Quran- 64:3

The surah then turns its attention to the non-believers, reminding them of the historical events when they rejected the divine message of Allah. It pointed out those people who did not believe in the Prophets sent by Him, and they faced consequences for their deeds. Disbelievers are then invited to follow the path of Allah Almighty and be obedient to him so they don't face the same fate as nations before them on the day of Judgement. 

"Those who did not believe and denied Our revelations will be inmates of Hell, where they will abide forever, and how evil a journey's end!" Quran- 64:10

In the last part of this surah, believers are asked to be obedient to Allah and have affirmed faith in him, not just by words but by deeds. A believer needs to obey Him and Prophet PBUH practically, or else he will be responsible for his actions in the life hereafter. Wordly things and relations are a test for man that distracts him, and he forgets the real essence of his life and gets involved in them, forgetting his God. Every person has limited power and will be answerable according to that, as Allah does not expect the impossible. 

He says: "O believers, some of your spouses and children are your enemies, so beware of them! Yet if you forbear, overlook, and forgive, God is indeed forgiving and kind. Your wealth and children are surely meant as a trial for you: But with God is the great reward." Quran - 64:14 & 64:15

Virtues and Benefits of Surah At-Taghabun

Reciting Surah At-Taghabun in your prayers and as dhikr has many benefits and blessings in this world and the afterlife. This surah is believed to bring financial stability to anyone who recites it 3 times daily. By Allah's will, reading this surah brings protection and shields from afterlife punishment. Reciting this surah can increase Muslims' blessings, benefiting their minds and souls. Mental purification, optimism, and trust in Allah can be achieved if this surah is read and understood. It strengthens moral character and faith, encouraging kindness and a closer relationship with Allah. 

"The day He will gather you together on the Day of Gathering will be the day of Judgement. He who believed and did the right will have his evil deeds expunged by God and admitted to gardens with rivers flowing by and abide there perpetually. This will be the great achievement of success" - Quran- 64:9

Listen to Surah At-Taghabun Recitations by Renowned Qaris

The correct recitation of the Quran is crucial. If any word is pronounced wrong, it can change the whole meaning of the word. It is also important that the reciter should know about the talafuz of the Quran as it is in Arabic. It should be known to the reciter where to take a break and keep reciting. Thus, it is significant that one should read the Quran with Tajweed. 

It is easy to learn the pronunciation of any verse of the Quran. One can listen to any renowned Qari and his recitation. Repeating the same way again and again and practicing it will make one understand the correct way of recitation. We have this option at MuslimandQuran. The recitation of different Surahs, including Surah At-Taghabun, is available on our website and mobile application. There is a list of Qaris from which you can choose the one you like to listen. That is how you will learn to say correct pronunciation by listening to it. 

MuslimandQuran mobile applications are available for both iOS and Android users. You can go to the Apple Store and Google Play to download the latest versions of the application. The link to download the application is given below:

Surah At-Taghabun PDF

It is quite easy to read the Surahs of the Quran on the website of MuslimandQuran and mobile applications as well. You can also download the Surah in PDF. All the surahs are available to download, including Surah At-Taghabun. It is safe to download it in PDF so you can read it even if you have no access to the internet. You can also take a print of the PDF version to read it:

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FAQs:

The meaning of At-Taghabun is translated as ‘Mutual loss and gain.’ It is the 64th Surah of the Quran. The word Taghabun indicates the circumstances of the loss of people on the Day of Judgment who will prioritize worldly things. It is a reminder that this world’s success is nothing, but the real success is in the life hereafter. Thus, always remember and prioritize your religion and faith in Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى over everything.

The Surah consists of 18 verses. It is a Madni and a shorter Surah. The theme revolves around the balance between faith and worldly attachments. Those who neglect their religious obligations over this life will face the consequences on the Day of Judgment. Those who will devote their life in the name of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى will get immense rewards.

There are many benefits of reciting Surah At-Taghabun. One can gain the guidance to create a balance in worldly possessions and his faith. It helps the believers to prioritize their relationship with Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and to not be distracted by worldly goods. Some scholars recommend it to find peace and comfort if anyone is suffering from loss.

It can be recited at any time as it is the message of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. But it is helpful to recite it in the times when one is seeking guidance and needs to reflect on life here and hereafter. Its recitation on a daily basis, especially on  Fridays, may help to maintain the balance between life and akhirah.