SURAH AN-NABA': 78
(The Great Event)
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE BENEFICENT THE MOST MERCIFUL

This Surah is Makki (revealed in Makkah), and it has 40 verses and 2 sections:

About what are they asking each other? [1]
About the Great Event [2]
in which they dispute! [3]

COMMENTARY
(About what are they asking each other?..78:1). The word 'amma is made up of two particles: [1] The preposition:;' 'an (about); and [2] the interrogative particle _ 'ma' (what?) (the last letter, that is, 'ma' has been omitted according to the grammatical composition. The sense is: About what are they asking each other?' Allah Himself replies to the question when He says: (About the Great Event in which they disputeL...78:2,3).

The word naba' means 'news' but not every news is naba'. It means a 'momentous news of a great event'. This refers to the news of the Day of Judgement. The verse purports to convey that the inhabitants of Makkah ask about the Day of Judgement in which they dispute [while some of them believed in Resurrection, others did not.]

Sayyidna Ibn 'Abbas RA reports that when the revelation of Qur'an started, the pagan Arabs used to form circles and discuss and criticise it, especially about the tremendous import of Resurrection and Judgement referred to in the Qur'an. The pagans thought this was impossible, and they used to have protracted discussion. The disbelievers persuade themselves to believe that the predicted event will never take place, though there were others who believed in the event. The Surah opens by shunning the enquirers and the enquiry, it wonders that anyone should raise any doubts about Resurrection and Judgement. Some of the commentators express the opinion that their enquiry was not a genuine one where they were keen to learn about the truth. So they ask half-mockingly and half in doubt, when that event, so loudly pronounced, will happen.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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• 200 g prawns, shelled and deveined • 1 red onion, chopped • 250 ml cold milk • Black pepper

Instructions
1. Heat oil in a large, non-stick saucepan
2. Add onions and garlic and sauté until soft
3. Stir in sachet of seasoning spice blend, milk and water and mix together well
4. Add prawns, lime zest and the uncooked pasta and bring to the boil, stirring occasionally
5. Reduce the heat and allow to simmer uncovered for 15–20 min until the pasta is cooked
6. Season with black pepper, serve and enjoy