ٱلْقَارِعَةُ 1
Translations
The Striking Calamity -
Transliteration
Al-Qari'ah
Tafsir (Explanation)
Al-Qari'ah (The Calamity) is one of the names of the Day of Judgment, referring to the Hour that will strike suddenly and inevitably. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this term emphasizes the shocking, overwhelming nature of the Day of Judgment, which will strike people with such force and surprise that it is called 'the striking calamity.' This opening establishes the surah's focus on the reality and certainty of the afterlife, meant to awaken hearts and minds to ultimate accountability.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Qari'ah is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of the Prophet's mission when the Quraysh rejected the concept of resurrection and the Day of Judgment. The surah addresses their denial by vividly describing the Day of Judgment to convince them of its reality and nearness. This opening ayah immediately confronts the listener with the central theme: the inevitability of the Last Day.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The Hour (Day of Judgment) will come suddenly' (Sahih Bukhari 4735). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself,' connecting accountability on that Day to righteous conduct (Sahih Muslim 45).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the Day of Judgment is an absolute certainty and will arrive unexpectedly, calling us to constant mindfulness of our actions and preparation through righteous deeds. It serves as a spiritual wake-up call to transcend materialism and worldly preoccupations, focusing instead on our eternal destiny.
Related Ayahs
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ ۚ قَالَ أَلَيْسَ هَـٰذَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَا ۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
If you could but see when they will be made to stand before their Lord. He will say, "Is this not the truth?" They will say, "Yes, by our Lord." He will [then] say, "So taste the punishment for what you used to deny."
وَوُفِّيَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا عَمِلَتْ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ
And every soul will be fully compensated [for] what it did; and He is most knowing of what they do.
يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُكُمْ لِيَوْمِ ٱلْجَمْعِ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ ٱلتَّغَابُنِ ۗ وَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ وَيَعْمَلْ صَـٰلِحًا يُكَفِّرْ عَنْهُ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِۦ وَيُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
The Day He will assemble you for the Day of Assembly - that is the Day of Deprivation. And whoever believes in Allāh and does righteousness - He will remove from him his misdeeds and admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.
وَلَوْ أَلْقَىٰ مَعَاذِيرَهُۥ
Even if he presents his excuses.