๐ย Makkan Surah, 11 Verses ๐
๐ Introduction
Surah Al-Qariโah, a striking Makkan Surah with 11 verses, vividly describes the cataclysmic events of the Day of Judgment, referred to as Al-Qariโah (the Striking Calamity). Revealed in Makkah during the early years of the Prophet Muhammadโs ๏ทบ mission, it serves as a wake-up call, urging humanity to prepare for the Hereafter by prioritizing faith and righteous deeds. The Surahโs powerful imagery and concise message make it a profound reminder of divine accountability. ๐
๐ Cause of Revelation
According to Tafsir scholars like Mufti Shafi Usmani, Surah Al-Qariโah was revealed in the early Makkan period to address the Qurayshโs disbelief and preoccupation with worldly pursuits. While no specific individuals are named, the Surah countered their denial of the Hereafter by emphasizing the reality and terror of the Day of Judgment. It served as a divine warning to awaken hearts to the consequences of neglecting faith and good deeds.
๐น Merits, Peculiarities, and Virtues
Surah Al-Qariโah is renowned for its vivid depiction of the Day of Judgment, called Al-Qariโah (the Striking Calamity). ๐ช๏ธ
It warns of the chaos and accountability of the Hereafter, where deeds will be weighed to determine oneโs fate. โ๏ธ
Reciting this Surah encourages reflection on the transient nature of life and the importance of righteousness. ๐
Its brevity and intense imagery make it a powerful addition to prayers, fostering fear of Allah and hope for His mercy. ๐
๐ Tafsir (Simplified)
Surah Al-Qariโah describes the Day of Judgment as a catastrophic event that will shake humanity to its core. Mountains will scatter like carded wool, and people will be like scattered moths. The Surah emphasizes that those whose good deeds outweigh their sins will enter a pleasant life (Paradise), while those with light scales will face an abyss (Hell). This stark contrast urges believers to prioritize faith and good deeds to secure salvation. ๐
๐ Hadith Commentary
The Prophet ๏ทบ said: โWhoever recites three times every day โQul Huwa Allahu Ahadโ [Surah Al-Ikhlas] and the Muโawwidhatayn [Surah Al-Falaq and Surah An-Nas], and Surah Al-Qariโah, it will suffice him against everything.โ (Tirmidhi, graded weak but noted in Tafsir)
This narration highlights the protective and spiritual benefits of reciting Surah Al-Qariโah, encouraging mindfulness of the Hereafter.
๐ Arabic with Translation
Below is the complete text of Surah Al-Qariโah, with Arabic, transliteration, and translation (based on Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmaniโs translation).
ุจูุณูู
ู ุงูููููู ุงูุฑููุญูู
ููฐูู ุงูุฑููุญููู
ู
Transliteration: Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Raheem
Translation: With the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful.
1๏ธโฃ ุงููููุงุฑูุนูุฉู
Transliteration: Al-Qariโah
Translation: The Striking Calamity.
2๏ธโฃ ู
ูุง ุงููููุงุฑูุนูุฉู
Transliteration: Ma al-qariโah
Translation: What is the Striking Calamity?
3๏ธโฃ ููู
ูุง ุฃูุฏูุฑูุงูู ู
ูุง ุงููููุงุฑูุนูุฉู
Transliteration: Wama adraka ma al-qariโah
Translation: And what may let you know what the Striking Calamity is?
4๏ธโฃ ููููู
ู ููููููู ุงููููุงุณู ููุงููููุฑูุงุดู ุงููู
ูุจูุซููุซู
Transliteration: Yawma yakoonun-nasu kal-farashil-mabthooth
Translation: The Day when people will be like scattered moths.
5๏ธโฃ ููุชูููููู ุงููุฌูุจูุงูู ููุงููุนููููู ุงููู
ูููููุดู
Transliteration: Watakoonul-jibalu kal-โihnil-manfoosh
Translation: And the mountains will be like carded wool.
6๏ธโฃ ููุฃูู
ููุง ู
ููู ุซูููููุชู ู
ูููุงุฒูููููู
Transliteration: Fa-amma man thaqulat mawazeenuh
Translation: Then, as for him whose scales are heavy.
7๏ธโฃ ูููููู ููู ุนููุดูุฉู ุฑูุงุถูููุฉู
Transliteration: Fahuwa fee โeeshatin radiyah
Translation: He will be in a pleasant life.
8๏ธโฃ ููุฃูู
ููุง ู
ููู ุฎููููุชู ู
ูููุงุฒูููููู
Transliteration: Wa-amma man khaffat mawazeenuh
Translation: But as for him whose scales are light.
9๏ธโฃ ููุฃูู
ูููู ููุงููููุฉู
Transliteration: Fa-ummuh hawiyah
Translation: His abode will be the abyss.
๐ ููู
ูุง ุฃูุฏูุฑูุงูู ู
ูุง ูููููู
Transliteration: Wama adraka ma hiyah
Translation: And what may let you know what it is?
1๏ธโฃ1๏ธโฃ ููุงุฑู ุญูุงู
ูููุฉู
Transliteration: Narun hamiyah
Translation: A blazing fire.
๐ก Message
Surah Al-Qariโah serves as a powerful reminder of the Day of Judgmentโs reality and terror. It urges believers to prepare for the Hereafter by prioritizing faith and good deeds, as worldly achievements will be insignificant when deeds are weighed. The Surah calls for mindfulness of divine accountability and striving for a heavy scale of good deeds to attain Paradise. ๐
๐๏ธ Key Lessons
-
Fear the Day of Judgment: The chaos of Al-Qariโah urges preparation for the Hereafter. ๐ช๏ธ
-
Prioritize Good Deeds: Heavy scales of righteous actions lead to Paradise. โ๏ธ
-
Avoid Worldly Distractions: Focus on faith, not fleeting pursuits. ๐
-
Seek Salvation: Light scales lead to the abyss; strive for righteousness. ๐ฅ
-
Reflect on Accountability: Live mindfully, knowing deeds will be judged. ๐
๐ Historical Significance of Surah Al-Qariโah
Revealed in Makkah, Surah Al-Qariโah addressed the Qurayshโs denial of the Hereafter and their obsession with worldly gains. Its vivid imagery of the Day of Judgment challenged their disbelief, reinforcing the Prophetโs ๏ทบ mission to call for Tawhid and ethical conduct. The Surahโs universal message continues to inspire believers to focus on spiritual priorities and prepare for divine accountability. ๐
๐น Virtues of Reciting Surah Al-Qariโah
Reciting Surah Al-Qariโah fosters fear of Allah and hope for His mercy, reminding believers of the Hereafterโs reality. Its brevity makes it ideal for prayers, encouraging reflection on lifeโs purpose. Hadith traditions suggest that reciting this Surah, alongside other short Surahs, offers spiritual protection and strengthens faith, guiding believers toward righteousness. ๐
๐ Learn Surah Al-Qariโah with Expert Guidance
To truly understand the wisdom of this Surah, Online Learning Center offers expert online Quran teachers who guide learners with clarity and care. Begin your Quran learning experience today. ๐
๐ Word-by-Word Translation & Grammar
Arabic Word |
English Meaning |
Root |
Type |
Grammar & Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
ุงููููุงุฑูุนูุฉู (Al-Qariโah) |
The Striking Calamity |
ู ุฑ ุน |
Noun |
Definite, nominative. Refers to the Day of Judgment. |
ู ูุง (Ma) |
What |
โ |
Particle |
Interrogative pronoun. |
ููู ูุง (Wama) |
And what |
โ |
Particle |
Interrogative particle. |
ุฃูุฏูุฑูุงูู (Adraka) |
Let you know |
ุฏ ุฑ ู |
Verb (Form IV) |
Past tense: ุฃูุฏูุฑูู (adra, he informed). Present: ููุฏูุฑูู (yudri, he informs). Imperative: ุฃูุฏูุฑู (adri, inform!). ูู = object pronoun (you). |
ููููู ู (Yawma) |
Day |
ู ู ู |
Noun |
Accusative, adverbial. Refers to Judgment Day. |
ููููููู (Yakoonu) |
Will be |
ู ู ู |
Verb (Form I) |
Present tense: ููููููู (yakoonu, he is). Past: ููุงูู (kana, he was). Imperative: ูููู (kun, be!). |
ุงููููุงุณู (An-Nasu) |
People |
ู ู ุณ |
Noun |
Definite, nominative. Generic for humanity. |
ููุงููููุฑูุงุดู (Kal-Farash) |
Like moths |
ู ุฑ ุด |
Noun |
Ka (like) + al-farash (moths), genitive. |
ุงููู ูุจูุซููุซู (Al-Mabthooth) |
Scattered |
ุจ ุซ ุซ |
Passive participle |
Masculine, genitive. Verb: Past: ุจูุซูู (baththa, he scattered). Present: ููุจูุซูู (yabuththu, he scatters). Imperative: ุงูุจูุซูุซู (ibthuth, scatter!). |
ููุชูููููู (Watakoonu) |
And will be |
ู ู ู |
Verb (Form I) |
Same as ููููููู, feminine for mountains. |
ุงููุฌูุจูุงูู (Al-Jibalu) |
The mountains |
ุฌ ุจ ู |
Noun |
Definite, nominative, plural. |
ููุงููุนููููู (Kal-โIhn) |
Like wool |
ุน ู ู |
Noun |
Ka (like) + al-โihn (wool), genitive. |
ุงููู ูููููุดู (Al-Manfoosh) |
Carded |
ู ู ุด |
Passive participle |
Masculine, genitive. Verb: Past: ููููุดู (nafasha, he carded). Present: ููููููุดู (yanfushu, he cards). Imperative: ุงูููููุดู (infush, card!). |
ููุฃูู ููุง (Fa-amma) |
Then, as for |
โ |
Particle |
Conditional particle, introduces clause. |
ู ููู (Man) |
Who |
โ |
Relative pronoun |
Indefinite, nominative. |
ุซูููููุชู (Thaqulat) |
Are heavy |
ุซ ู ู |
Verb (Form I) |
Past tense: ุซููููู (thaqula, it was heavy). Present: ููุซููููู (yathqulu, it is heavy). Imperative: ุงูุซููููู (ithqul, be heavy!). Feminine for scales. |
ู ูููุงุฒูููููู (Mawazeenuh) |
His scales |
ู ุฒ ู |
Noun |
Plural, nominative. ูู = possessive pronoun (his). |
ูููููู (Fahuwa) |
Then he |
โ |
Particle + pronoun |
Fa (then) + huwa (he), nominative. |
ููู (Fee) |
In |
โ |
Preposition |
Governs genitive. |
ุนููุดูุฉู (โEeshatin) |
Life |
ุน ู ุด |
Noun |
Indefinite, genitive. |
ุฑูุงุถูููุฉู (Radiyah) |
Pleasant |
ุฑ ุถ ู |
Adjective |
Feminine, genitive. Describes life. |
ููุฃูู ููุง (Wa-amma) |
But, as for |
โ |
Particle |
Conditional particle, introduces clause. |
ุฎููููุชู (Khaffat) |
Are light |
ุฎ ู ู |
Verb (Form I) |
Past tense: ุฎูููู (khaffa, it was light). Present: ููุฎูููู (yakhiffu, it is light). Imperative: ุงูุฎููููู (ikhfif, be light!). Feminine for scales. |
ููุฃูู ูููู (Fa-ummuh) |
Then his abode |
ุฃ ู ู |
Noun |
Fa (then) + umm (mother/abode), nominative. ูู = possessive pronoun (his). |
ููุงููููุฉู (Hawiyah) |
Abyss |
ู ู ู |
Noun |
Indefinite, nominative. Refers to Hell. |
ู ูุง ูููููู (Ma hiyah) |
What it is |
โ |
Particle + pronoun |
Ma (what) + hiya (it, feminine). |
ููุงุฑู (Narun) |
Fire |
ู ู ุฑ |
Noun |
Indefinite, nominative. |
ุญูุงู ูููุฉู (Hamiyah) |
Blazing |
ุญ ู ู |
Adjective |
Feminine, nominative. Describes fire. |
๐ก Message
Surah Al-Qariโah is a stark reminder of the Day of Judgmentโs reality, urging believers to prioritize faith and good deeds. Its vivid imagery of scattered moths and crumbling mountains emphasizes the fleeting nature of worldly life, while the weighing of deeds determines eternal fate. The Surah calls for righteousness to secure a pleasant life in Paradise. ๐
๐๏ธ Key Lessons
-
Prepare for Judgment: The terror of Al-Qariโah urges readiness for the Hereafter. ๐ช๏ธ
-
Focus on Good Deeds: Heavy scales ensure a pleasant life in Paradise. โ๏ธ
-
Avoid Worldly Focus: Material pursuits are insignificant on Judgment Day. ๐
-
Fear the Abyss: Light scales lead to Hell; strive for righteousness. ๐ฅ
-
Live Mindfully: Reflect on accountability to align with faith. ๐
๐ Historical Significance of Surah Al-Qariโah
Revealed in Makkah, Surah Al-Qariโah countered the Qurayshโs denial of the Hereafter and their obsession with worldly gains. Its vivid depiction of the Day of Judgment challenged their disbelief, reinforcing the Prophetโs ๏ทบ call to Tawhid and ethical conduct. The Surahโs timeless message continues to guide believers to prioritize spiritual accountability over temporary pursuits. ๐
๐ Learn Surah Al-Qariโah with Expert Guidance
To truly understand the wisdom of this Surah, Online Learning Center offers expert online Quran teachers who guide learners with clarity and care. Begin your Quran learning experience today. ๐
READ OTHER SURAHS
Surah AL Fatiha
Surah Al Nas
Surah Al Falaq
Surah Al Ikhlas
Surah Al-Lahab (Surah Al-Masad]
Surah Al-Nasr
Surah Al-Kafiroon
Surah Al-Kauthar
Surah Al- Maun
Surah Al-Quraysh
Surah Al-Fil
Surah Al-Humazah
Surah Al-Asr
Surah Al Takathur