What are 'glad tidings' (Bushra) in the Quran?

According to classical scholars, 'glad tidings' (Bushra) are divine promises from Allah, primarily for those who believe and do righteous deeds. These tidings include the reward of Paradise, Allah's favor, forgiveness, and victory, serving to comfort and motivate believers on their spiritual path.

What is 'The Great News' (An-Naba' al-'Adhim) mentioned in the Quran?

Classical tafsir, including that of Ibn Kathir, identifies 'The Great News' in Surah An-Naba' (78:2) as the tidings of the Day of Resurrection and Judgment. It is termed 'great' because it is the most significant news for humanity, about which they were in dispute, and which demands a definitive response and preparation.

What is the Islamic principle for dealing with news?

The Quran in Surah Al-Hujurat (49:6) establishes a core principle: if an unrighteous person brings you significant news (naba'), you must investigate it thoroughly. Acting on unverified information can lead to harming others unjustly and subsequent regret. This verse forms the basis of the Islamic ethical requirement to verify information before spreading or acting on it.

Tidings in Islam: Divine News, Warnings, and Glad Tidings in the Quran

Tidings

الأنباء

Explore Verses Related to Tidings

🕌Al-Baqarah2:25 🕌Al-Baqarah2:97 🕌Al-Baqarah2:119 🕌Al-Baqarah2:155 🕌Al-Baqarah2:213 🕌Al-Baqarah2:223 🕌Ali 'Imran3:21 🕌Ali 'Imran3:39 🕌Ali 'Imran3:44 🕌Ali 'Imran3:45 🕌Ali 'Imran3:126 🕌An-Nisa4:83 🕌An-Nisa4:138 🕌An-Nisa4:165 🕌Al-Ma'idah5:19 🕋Al-An'am6:5 🕋Al-An'am6:34 🕋Al-An'am6:48 🕋Al-A'raf7:57 🕋Al-A'raf7:101 🕋Al-A'raf7:188 🕌Al-Anfal8:10 🕌At-Tawbah9:3 🕌At-Tawbah9:21 🕌At-Tawbah9:34 🕌At-Tawbah9:70 🕌At-Tawbah9:112 🕋Yunus10:2 🕋Yunus10:64 🕋Yunus10:87 🕋Hud11:2 🕋Hud11:49 🕋Hud11:69 🕋Hud11:71 🕋Hud11:74 🕋Hud11:100 🕋Hud11:120 🕋Yusuf12:19 🕋Yusuf12:87 🕋Yusuf12:96 🕋Yusuf12:102 🕋Ibrahim14:9 🕋Al-Hijr15:53 🕋Al-Hijr15:54 🕋Al-Hijr15:55 🕋Al-Hijr15:67 🕋An-Nahl16:58 🕋An-Nahl16:59 🕋An-Nahl16:89 🕋An-Nahl16:102 🕋Al-Isra17:9 🕋Al-Isra17:105 🕋Al-Kahf18:2 🕋Al-Kahf18:56 🕋Maryam19:7 🕋Maryam19:97 🕋Taha20:99 🕌Al-Hajj22:34 🕌Al-Hajj22:37 🕋Al-Furqan25:22 🕋Al-Furqan25:48 🕋Al-Furqan25:56 🕋Ash-Shu'ara26:6 🕋An-Naml27:2 🕋An-Naml27:7 🕋An-Naml27:63 🕋Al-Qasas28:3 🕋Al-Qasas28:29 🕋Al-Qasas28:45 🕋Al-'Ankabut29:31 🕋Ar-Rum30:46 🕋Luqman31:7 🕌Al-Ahzab33:20 🕌Al-Ahzab33:45 🕌Al-Ahzab33:47 🕋Saba34:28 🕋Fatir35:24 🕋Ya-Sin36:11 🕋As-Saffat37:101 🕋As-Saffat37:112 🕋Sad38:67 🕋Az-Zumar39:17 🕋Fussilat41:3 🕋Fussilat41:4 🕋Ash-Shuraa42:23 🕋Az-Zukhruf43:17 🕋Al-Jathiyah45:7 🕋Al-Jathiyah45:8 🕋Al-Ahqaf46:12 🕌Muhammad47:31 🕌Al-Fath48:8 🕌Al-Hujurat49:6 🕋Adh-Dhariyat51:28 🕋Al-Qamar54:4 🕌Al-Hadid57:12 🕌As-Saf61:6 🕌As-Saf61:13 🕌At-Taghabun64:5 🕋Al-Jinn72:8 🕋An-Naba78:1 🕋An-Naba78:2 🕋An-Naba78:3 🕋Al-Inshiqaq84:24 🕋Al-Ghashiyah88:1 🕌Az-Zalzalah99:4

At a Glance

According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, the concept of Tidings (الأنباء - Al-Anba') in the Quran represents a cornerstone of divine communication, encompassing significant news that demands a response. Al-Tabari's linguistic analysis distinguishes 'Naba' (great news) from 'Khabar' (general news), emphasizing that Quranic tidings are momentous. These tidings are primarily twofold, as explained by Ibn Kathir: 'Bushra' (بُشْرَىٰ), or glad tidings of Paradise and divine favor for believers, and 'Indhar' (إِنذَار), solemn warnings of consequences for those who reject the truth. Prophets are consistently defined by their role as bearers of these two types of tidings. The concept culminates in 'The Great News' (النبأ العظيم), the ultimate tiding of the Resurrection. Furthermore, the Quran establishes a crucial ethical principle in Surah Al-Hujurat for the verification of news, forming a foundational Islamic methodology for information integrity.

📖 Quranic Context

Central to the theme of divine revelation, guidance, and accountability.

Serves as a primary method of communication from Allah to humanity, outlining the consequences of belief and disbelief.

💭 Theological Perspective

📜 Hadith Perspective

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) emphasized his role in delivering glad tidings and warnings, encouraging a balance between hope in Allah's mercy and fear of His justice.

The concept of 'Bushra' (glad tidings) as a part of prophethood that remains after the finality of revelation.
The encouragement to 'make things easy... and make them calm (with glad tidings)'.

💎 Deeper Insights

The Quranic principle of verifying news (49:6) is not merely a social etiquette but a foundational legal principle. Al-Qurtubi's analysis shows it forms the basis for the laws of testimony in Islamic jurisprudence, where the character of the news-bearer ('fasiq') is critical in determining the validity of the information.

— Al-Qurtubi

Linguistically, 'Naba'' (great tiding) implies news that is both significant and beneficial, from which the word 'Nabiyy' (Prophet) is derived. This shows a Prophet is not just a messenger, but a bringer of beneficial, consequential truth that is essential for human flourishing, distinguishing them from mere soothsayers or informants.

— Al-Tabari, Linguistic Scholars