وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا هِيَهْ 10
Translations
And what can make you know what that is?
Transliteration
Wa mā adrāka mā hiyah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This rhetorical question emphasizes the incomprehensibility and terrifying nature of the Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyāmah) to human minds. The phrase 'And what can make you know what it is?' conveys that no description or imagination can adequately capture the magnitude of that Day, as explained by classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir. This technique of repetition and questioning is used throughout Surah Al-Qari'ah to stress the gravity and overwhelming reality of the Last Hour.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Qari'ah is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam to warn the disbelievers of Mecca about the certainty of the Day of Judgment. This particular ayah continues the surah's theme of describing the Calamity—the sudden and catastrophic event of the Day of Judgment—using vivid imagery and rhetorical questions to awaken the hearts of the listeners and emphasize that human understanding falls short of grasping its true reality.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The Hour will not be established till the sun rises from the west; and when the people see it, whoever is on the earth will believe.' (Sahih Bukhari 3194). This hadith relates to the signs preceding the Day of Judgment mentioned in Surah Al-Qari'ah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the Day of Judgment is beyond human comprehension and imagination, urging constant mindfulness of the Hereafter and sincere repentance in this life. It teaches humility before Divine mysteries and the importance of preparing spiritually for events whose true magnitude we cannot fully grasp.
Related Ayahs
لِيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
That He may reward those who have believed and done righteous deeds out of His bounty. Indeed, He does not like the disbelievers.
أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ
That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جَمَعْنَـٰهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ وَوُفِّيَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
So how will it be when We assemble them for a Day about which there is no doubt? And each soul will be compensated [in full for] what it earned, and they will not be wronged.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌ لَّا بَيْعٌ فِيهِ وَلَا خُلَّةٌ وَلَا شَفَـٰعَةٌ ۗ وَٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
O you who have believed, spend from that which We have provided for you before there comes a Day in which there is no exchange [i.e., ransom] and no friendship and no intercession. And the disbelievers - they are the wrongdoers.