بِأَنَّ رَبَّكَ أَوْحَىٰ لَهَا 5
Translations
Because your Lord has inspired [i.e., commanded] it.
Transliteration
Bi-anna rabbaka awha laha
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah means 'Because your Lord has inspired it' (referring to the earth), indicating that Allah has commanded and guided the earth to bring forth its burdens and reveal what is hidden within it. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this divine inspiration (wahy) to the earth is a metaphorical expression of Allah's absolute command and control over creation, by which He ordains that the earth will shake and disclose its secrets on the Day of Judgment, demonstrating His complete sovereignty and the certainty of the resurrection.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the final portion of Surah Az-Zalzalah, which is a Medinan surah describing the cosmic events of the Day of Judgment when the earth trembles violently. The surah emphasizes Allah's complete authority over creation and the ultimate accountability of all beings, serving as a reminder of the certainty of the resurrection and divine justice.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said regarding the Day of Judgment: 'The earth will reveal all the blood that has been shed upon it' (reported in various forms in At-Tirmidhi and other collections). This hadith relates thematically to the earth's disclosure of secrets as mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that nothing is hidden from Allah and that creation itself obeys His divine command; it should inspire us to be conscious that our deeds are recorded and will be witnessed, even by the earth beneath our feet, motivating us toward righteousness and accountability.