At-Taghabun, "The Mutual Loss," is the sixty-fourth surah — 18 verses, classed as Medinan.1 Its name comes from its description of the Day of Judgment: "The Day He will assemble you for the Day of Assembly — that is the Day of Deprivation," when every person learns what they actually gained and lost.
What it is about
The surah reminds its listeners that God "created you, and among you is the disbeliever, and among you is the believer," that He "formed you and perfected your forms," and that He knows what is concealed and what is declared.2 On the Day of Assembly the believer who did righteousness will enter Paradise, and the denier the Fire. In the meantime, "no disaster strikes except by permission of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah — He will guide his heart."3
Its closing verses turn to the trials nearest to home: "among your spouses and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them. But if you pardon and overlook and forgive — then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Your wealth and your children are but a trial... So fear Allah as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend."4
Why it matters
At-Taghabun reframes success: the true measure of gain or loss is revealed only on the Last Day. Its promise that God guides the heart of whoever believes when disaster strikes, and its realistic command to fear God "as much as you are able," make it a surah of comfort as well as warning, and its words on family recognize that love for spouses and children can itself become a test. To read At-Taghabun in Arabic with translations and recitation, open it on Quran.com.