Surah An-Nazi'at 79:3
سُورَةُ النَّازِعَاتِ · Meccan · Verse 3 of 46
وَٱلسَّٰبِحَٰتِ سَبْحًۭا
Translation
sweeping ahead at full stretch,
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
Surah An-Naziat opens with a series of profound oaths, and this verse, "وَٱلسَّٰبِحَٰتِ سَبْحًۭا" (And the swimmers, swimming), is one of them. Allah, the Exalted, is swearing by certain entities to underscore the certainty of the Day of Resurrection and accountability. The verse refers to "the swimmers" or "the gliders" and emphasizes their act of "swimming" or "gliding."
The "Swimmers" and their Swiftness
The Arabic word "ٱلسَّٰبِحَٰتِ" (al-Sabihāt) is a feminine plural that refers to groups or types of entities, as scholars like al-Razi and Ibn Ashur point out. Its root, *s-b-h*, primarily means to swim, but it is metaphorically used for swift and smooth movement.
Many scholars, including al-Muyassar, al-Jalalayn, and al-Zamakhshari, interpret "al-Sabihāt" as angels. These are the angels who descend from the heavens and ascend to them with Allah's commands, moving with remarkable speed and grace, much like a swimmer glides through water. Their rapid movement is a sign of their readiness and promptness in carrying out divine orders.
Other interpretations offered by scholars like al-Razi and Ibn Ashur extend beyond angels. Some suggest it could refer to the stars gliding swiftly in their orbits, or even swift horses in battle, or the souls themselves moving towards the angelic realm after death. The beauty of this wording, as Ibn Ashur notes, is its generality, allowing the listener to ponder different manifestations of swift, unhindered movement within creation.
The Emphatic Act of "Swimming"
The word "سَبْحًۭا" (sabhan) is a verbal noun (called a *maf'ul mutlaq* in Arabic grammar). It is placed after "al-Sabihāt" to emphasize and confirm the action of swimming or gliding. It's not just that they are "swimmers," but they perform the act of "swimming" intensely and completely. This linguistic emphasis, as noted by al-Jadwal, highlights the perfection and readiness with which these entities perform their movements. Whether it refers to angels, stars, or other entities, the wording conveys a sense of seamless, powerful, and deliberate motion.
Reflection on the Wording
This precise choice of words, using a feminine plural for "groups" and an emphatic verbal noun, invites us to reflect on the nature of these movements. It signifies that Allah's commands are executed with absolute precision, speed, and without hesitation by the entities entrusted with them. This perfect, unceasing motion in the universe, whether of celestial bodies or unseen angels, serves as a powerful testament to Allah's absolute power and the intricate order He has established. When we ponder "the swimmers, swimming," we are reminded of the swift and inevitable fulfillment of Allah's decree, especially the momentous event of the Day of Resurrection which is the central theme of these oaths.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah An-Nazi'at 79:3 is discussed in one study guide on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah An-Nazi'at 79:3 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.