وَإِذَا ٱلْجِبَالُ نُسِفَتْ 10
Translations
And when the mountains are blown away
Transliteration
Wa-idha al-jibalu nusifat
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes one of the cataclysmic events of the Day of Judgment when the mountains will be blown away or scattered like dust. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that 'nusifat' (scattered/blown away) refers to the mountains being pulverized and dispersed as if they never existed, symbolizing the total destruction of the physical world. This imagery emphasizes the absolute power of Allah and the certainty of the Hereafter, serving as a warning to disbelievers who deny resurrection.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Mursalat is a Meccan surah primarily concerned with vivid descriptions of the Day of Judgment and warnings to those who reject faith. This ayah appears in the opening sequence (verses 8-15) that catalogues signs of the Final Hour, establishing the surah's central theme of accountability and the inevitability of divine justice.
Related Hadiths
Related to the broader theme: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The greatest surah in the Quran is Alif Lam Mim. Sajdah' and spoke extensively about the events of the Day of Judgment. Also, 'The mountains will be made like carded wool' (Sahih Muslim 2940), describing a similar transformation of mountains on the Day of Judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that all that appears permanent and solid in this world—including mountains—will be utterly destroyed, encouraging us to focus on eternal truths rather than temporal concerns. It serves as a humbling reminder that only Allah is eternal and worthy of ultimate devotion and obedience.
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلرُّوحُ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ صَفًّا ۖ لَّا يَتَكَلَّمُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَقَالَ صَوَابًا
The Day that the Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] and the angels will stand in rows, they will not speak except for one whom the Most Merciful permits, and he will say what is correct.
هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ٱلْغَـٰشِيَةِ
Has there reached you the report of the Overwhelming [event]?
وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ ٱلْجِبَالَ وَتَرَى ٱلْأَرْضَ بَارِزَةً وَحَشَرْنَـٰهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا
And [warn of] the Day when We will remove the mountains and you will see the earth exposed, and We will gather them and not leave behind from them anyone.
وَمَا قَدَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِۦ وَٱلْأَرْضُ جَمِيعًا قَبْضَتُهُۥ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ مَطْوِيَّـٰتٌۢ بِيَمِينِهِۦ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
They have not appraised Allāh with true appraisal, while the earth entirely will be [within] His grip on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded in His right hand. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.