وَقَالَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مَا لَهَا 3
Translations
And man says, "What is [wrong] with it?" -
Transliteration
Wa qāla al-insānu mā lahā
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, humanity expresses bewilderment and asks 'What is the matter with it (the earth)?' upon witnessing the violent convulsions of the Day of Judgment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain this as depicting the shock and confusion of mankind when confronted with the unprecedented upheaval of the earth, emphasizing human helplessness before divine power. The ayah underscores the terror and amazement that will grip humanity when the natural order—which they took for granted—is completely overturned.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Madinah and describes the cosmic events of the Day of Judgment, specifically the earthquake that will shake the earth violently. Verse 3 appears within the vivid depiction of this apocalyptic scene, where after witnessing the earth's convulsions and the emergence of its hidden burdens (verse 2), humanity questions what is happening, serving as a rhetorical device to emphasize the magnitude and terror of that day.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding the signs of the Hour: 'The earth will be shaken with a tremendous earthquake' (narrated in various forms in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Additionally, the Quran itself in Surah At-Tariq (86:1) and other surahs describing the Day of Judgment contain parallel themes of cosmic upheaval and human distress.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that all apparent stability and security in this world is temporary and subject to Allah's absolute will, encouraging constant mindfulness of the Hereafter and moral accountability. It serves as a powerful reminder to prepare spiritually for the inevitable meeting with our Creator rather than placing false confidence in worldly permanence.
Related Ayahs
وَبَرَزُوا۟ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا فَقَالَ ٱلضُّعَفَـٰٓؤُا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًا فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّغْنُونَ عَنَّا مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ قَالُوا۟ لَوْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ لَهَدَيْنَـٰكُمْ ۖ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْنَآ أَجَزِعْنَآ أَمْ صَبَرْنَا مَا لَنَا مِن مَّحِيصٍ
And they will come out [for judgement] before Allāh all together, and the weak will say to those who were arrogant, "Indeed, we were your followers, so can you avail us anything against the punishment of Allāh?" They will say, "If Allāh had guided us, we would have guided you. It is all the same for us whether we show intolerance or are patient: there is for us no place of escape."
إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْوَقْتِ ٱلْمَعْلُومِ
Until the Day of the time well-known."
۞ وَتَرَكْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَمُوجُ فِى بَعْضٍ ۖ وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ فَجَمَعْنَـٰهُمْ جَمْعًا
And We will leave them that day surging over each other, and [then] the Horn will be blown, and We will assemble them in [one] assembly.
فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ ۖ وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَنكَفُوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فَيُعَذِّبُهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will give them in full their rewards and grant them extra from His bounty. But as for those who disdained and were arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will not find for themselves besides Allāh any protector or helper.