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Surah 101 of 114

سورة القارعة

Al-Qaaria

11 verses · tap any ayah to deep-dive

Ayat 1

ٱلْقَارِعَةُ.(1)

The Striking Calamity -(1) [Al-Qaaria: 1]

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Section 01

Traditional understanding

Translation, tafseer from classical and modern scholars, transliteration, word-by-word grammar.

Translation Sahih International

The Striking Calamity -(1)

Tafseer Abdullah Yusuf

(6251) The Day of Noise and Clamour is the Day of Judgement, when the whole of the present order of things will be overthrown with a tremendous convulsion. All our present landmarks will be lost. It will be a stunning experience to begin with, but it will inaugurate a new world of true and permanent values, in which every human deed will have its true and just consequences, as if weighed in the balance. See verses 6-11 below.

Tafseer Dr. Farooq Azam

Period of Revelation

This Sûrah was revealed at Makkah and is one of the early Sûrahs.


Major Issue, Divine Law and Guidance

* A scene from the scenes of the Day of Judgement.

The theme of this Sûrah is the Resurrection and the Hereafter. The people are warned: "The Great Disaster! What is the Great Disaster? And do you know what the Great Disaster is?" Thus preparing the listeners for the news of the dreadful calamity, then the incident of resurrection is depicted, that on that Day, people will be running around in confusion and bewilderment, just like scattered moths around a light, and the mountains will be uprooted and flung about like carded wool. Then Allah’s Court will be established and the people will be called upon to account for their deeds. The people whose scale of good deeds will be heavier than their evil deeds, will be blessed with bliss and happiness, and the people whose good deeds will be lighter than their evil deeds, will be cast into the burning fire of hell.
The Striking Calamity!

Tafseer Ibn Abbas

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying (Calamity! What is the Calamity?): '(Calamity!

Tafseer Jalalain

The Clattering Blow, the Resurrection that will make hearts clatter by its terrors.

Tafseer Ma’arif Ul-Quran

The Striking Event!

Tafseer Mufti Taqi Usmani

The Striking Event![

Tafseer Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi

This Surah describes Judgment day (Qiyamah) as someone knocking at one's door. When resurrection Day comes, people will be engaged in their various activities. Some will be attending to their businesses and occupations while others will be sleeping. It will take place suddenly and everyone will be caught unaware, just as people are surprised by unexpected visitors knocking at their doors. To emphasise the importance of the Day of Judgment, Allah asks, "What is the knocker? What shall inform you what the knocker is?"

Tafseer Tafheem Ul-Quran

Qari'ah" literally means the "striking one" Qar` is to strike one thing upon another so severely as to produce a noise. In view of this literal meaning, the word qari'ah is used for a dreadful disaster and a great calamity. At another place in the Qur'an this word has been used for a great affliction befalling a nation. In Surah Ar-Ra`d 31, it has been said: "As for the disbelievers, because of their misdeeds, one affliction or the other does not cease to visit them every now and then."

Transliteration

Ayah 1

AlqariAAatu

Word-by-word

Ayah 1

# Arabic Pronunciation Meaning Root
1 الْقَارِعَةُ AlqariAAatu The Striking Calamity! ق ر ع

Section 02

Cross-references

Similar verses elsewhere in the Qur’an and authentic ahadith narrated about this ayah.

Section 03

Articles & resources

Long-form articles, scientific commentary, and historical context linked from the legacy archive.

Articles

Scientific Data

Section 04

Audio & video lectures

16 videos · 0 audio lectures from contemporary scholars.

Tafseer of Qur'an - Surah Al-Qariah & Surah At Takathur(ch 101-102) - EP 49 - Sh Assim Al Hakeem Sheikh Assim Al Hakeem Video · youtube Tafseer of Qur'an - Surah Al-Qariah & Surah At Takathur(ch 101-102) - EP 49 - Sh Assim Al Hakeem Sheikh Assim Al Hakeem Video · youtube Tafseer Surah Al Qariah (Dr Muhammad Salah) Dr.Muhammad Salah Video · youtube Tafseer Surah Al Qariah (Dr Muhammad Salah) Dr.Muhammad Salah Video · youtube illustrated Lessons From Surah Al Qariah | FULL Nouman Ali Khan Video · youtube illustrated Lessons From Surah Al Qariah | FULL Nouman Ali Khan Video · youtube Tafseer of Surah 101 - Qaria'h - Nouman Ali Khan Nouman Ali Khan Video · youtube Tafseer of Surah 101 - Qaria'h - Nouman Ali Khan Nouman Ali Khan Video · youtube 101 Tafseer of Surah Al Qariah- Sheikh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen Sheikh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen Video · youtube 101 Tafseer of Surah Al Qariah- Sheikh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen Sheikh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen Video · youtube Broken Heart Syndrome Psych2Go - Youtube Channel Video · youtube Broken Heart Syndrome Psych2Go - Youtube Channel Video · youtube Broken heart syndrome explained News Direct - Youtube Channel Video · youtube Broken heart syndrome explained News Direct - Youtube Channel Video · youtube Heart Attack vs. Panic Attack Medical City ER Video · youtube Heart Attack vs. Panic Attack Medical City ER Video · youtube

References

  1. Tafseer — Abdullah Yusuf
  2. Tafseer — Dr. Farooq Azam
  3. Tafseer — Ibn Abbas
  4. Tafseer — Jalalain
  5. Tafseer — Ma’arif Ul-Quran
  6. Tafseer — Mufti Taqi Usmani
  7. Tafseer — Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi
  8. Tafseer — Tafheem Ul-Quran
  9. Translation — Sahih International
  10. Quranic cross-references — 10 parallel verses
  11. Linked articles — 24 long-form pieces

Ayat 2

مَا ٱلْقَارِعَةُ.(2)

What is the Striking Calamity?(2) [Al-Qaaria: 2]

Back to surah / Surah 101 · Al-Qaaria / Ayah 2

Section 01

Traditional understanding

Translation, tafseer from classical and modern scholars, transliteration, word-by-word grammar.

Translation Sahih International

What is the Striking Calamity?(2)

Tafseer Abdullah Yusuf

What is the (Day) of Clamour?

Tafseer Dr. Farooq Azam

What is the Striking Calamity?

Tafseer Ibn Abbas

What is the Calamity?) He says: the Hour! What is the Hour? He said this to arouse his wonder; the Hour is called Calamity because it shakes people's hearts.

Tafseer Jalalain

What is the Clattering Blow? — [intended] to emphasise its awesomeness (mā’l-qāri‘a: both of these [elements] constitute a subject and a predicate, and [together] the predicate of [the first] al-qāri‘a).

Tafseer Ma’arif Ul-Quran

What is the Striking Event?

Tafseer Mufti Taqi Usmani

What is the Striking Event?

Tafseer Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi

This Surah describes Judgment day (Qiyamah) as someone knocking at one's door. When resurrection Day comes, people will be engaged in their various activities. Some will be attending to their businesses and occupations while others will be sleeping. It will take place suddenly and everyone will be caught unaware, just as people are surprised by unexpected visitors knocking at their doors. To emphasise the importance of the Day of Judgment, Allah asks, "What is the knocker? What shall inform you what the knocker is?"

Tafseer Tafheem Ul-Quran

What is the Great Disaster?

Transliteration

Ayah 2

Ma alqariAAatu

Word-by-word

Ayah 2

# Arabic Pronunciation Meaning Root
1 مَا Ma What? —
2 الْقَارِعَةُ alqariAAatu (is) the Striking Calamity ق ر ع

Section 02

Cross-references

Similar verses elsewhere in the Qur’an and authentic ahadith narrated about this ayah.

Section 03

Articles & resources

Long-form articles, scientific commentary, and historical context linked from the legacy archive.

Articles

Scientific Data

References

  1. Tafseer — Abdullah Yusuf
  2. Tafseer — Dr. Farooq Azam
  3. Tafseer — Ibn Abbas
  4. Tafseer — Jalalain
  5. Tafseer — Ma’arif Ul-Quran
  6. Tafseer — Mufti Taqi Usmani
  7. Tafseer — Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi
  8. Tafseer — Tafheem Ul-Quran
  9. Translation — Sahih International
  10. Quranic cross-references — 10 parallel verses
  11. Linked articles — 22 long-form pieces

Ayat 3

وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْقَارِعَةُ.(3)

And what can make you know what is the Striking Calamity?(3) [Al-Qaaria: 3]

Back to surah / Surah 101 · Al-Qaaria / Ayah 3

Section 01

Traditional understanding

Translation, tafseer from classical and modern scholars, transliteration, word-by-word grammar.

Translation Sahih International

And what can make you know what is the Striking Calamity?(3)

Tafseer Abdullah Yusuf

And what will explain to thee what the (Day) of Clamour is?

Tafseer Dr. Farooq Azam

And what could make you understand what the Striking Calamity (the Day of Resurrection) is?

Tafseer Ibn Abbas

: (Ah, what will convey unto thee) O Muhammad (what the Calamity is!) he said this to show its tremendousness.

Tafseer Jalalain

And what will show you, [what] will make known to you, what the Clattering Blow is? — additional emphasis of its awesomeness (the first mā is a subject, and what follows it is its predicate; the second mā and its predicate also function together as the second direct object of [the verb] adrā, ‘show’).

Tafseer Ma’arif Ul-Quran

And what may let you know what the Striking Event is?

Tafseer Mufti Taqi Usmani

And what may let you know what the Striking Event is?

Tafseer Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi

This Surah describes Judgment day (Qiyamah) as someone knocking at one's door. When resurrection Day comes, people will be engaged in their various activities. Some will be attending to their businesses and occupations while others will be sleeping. It will take place suddenly and everyone will be caught unaware, just as people are surprised by unexpected visitors knocking at their doors. To emphasise the importance of the Day of Judgment, Allah asks, "What is the knocker? What shall inform you what the knocker is?"

Tafseer Tafheem Ul-Quran

And what will explain to you what the Great Disaster is?

Transliteration

Ayah 3

Wama adraka ma alqariAAatu

Word-by-word

Ayah 3

# Arabic Pronunciation Meaning Root
1 وَمَآ Wama And what? —
2 أَدْرَاكَ adraka will make you know د ر ي
3 مَا ma what? —
4 الْقَارِعَةُ alqariAAatu (is) the Striking Calamity ق ر ع

Section 02

Cross-references

Similar verses elsewhere in the Qur’an and authentic ahadith narrated about this ayah.

Section 03

Articles & resources

Long-form articles, scientific commentary, and historical context linked from the legacy archive.

Articles

Scientific Data

References

  1. Tafseer — Abdullah Yusuf
  2. Tafseer — Dr. Farooq Azam
  3. Tafseer — Ibn Abbas
  4. Tafseer — Jalalain
  5. Tafseer — Ma’arif Ul-Quran
  6. Tafseer — Mufti Taqi Usmani
  7. Tafseer — Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi
  8. Tafseer — Tafheem Ul-Quran
  9. Translation — Sahih International
  10. Quranic cross-references — 10 parallel verses
  11. Linked articles — 22 long-form pieces

Ayat 4

يَوْمَ يَكُونُ ٱلنَّاسُ كَٱلْفَرَاشِ ٱلْمَبْثُوثِ.(4)

It is the Day when people will be like moths, dispersed,(4) [Al-Qaaria: 4]

Back to surah / Surah 101 · Al-Qaaria / Ayah 4

Section 01

Traditional understanding

Translation, tafseer from classical and modern scholars, transliteration, word-by-word grammar.

Translation Sahih International

It is the Day when people will be like moths, dispersed,(4)

Tafseer Abdullah Yusuf

(6252) Moths are frail light things. To see them scattered about in a violent storm gives some idea of the confusion, distress, and helplessness in which men will be at first overwhelmed on the Day of Account. Old memories will be like a book almost blotted out. New hopes will be vague in a new world just rising on the horizon. But it will be a perfectly just world, and no good action will be lost and no evil one but will have its compensating value estimated.

Tafseer Dr. Farooq Azam

It is that Day when men shall be like scattered moths

Tafseer Ibn Abbas

Allah then gave more details about it, saying: (A day wherein mankind will be) a day when people will fall on each other (as thickly scattered moths

Tafseer Jalalain

raising, stirring up, therein, in the place of their charge or at that time [of dawn], a trail of dust, by the power of their movement,

Tafseer Ma’arif Ul-Quran

(It will happen) on a day when people will be like scattered moths

Tafseer Mufti Taqi Usmani

; (It will happen) on a day when people will be like scattered moths,

Tafseer Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi

Allah Ta'ala then describes Judgment day as "the day when people will become like scattered moths." Just as moths are bewildered and dazed by a bright light and scatter in confusion, people will suffer the same confusion on the Day of Judgment. Allah uses another simile in Surah Qamar when He says, "they shall emerge., from their graves as if they are scattered locusts." [Surah 54,verse 7]

Tafseer Tafheem Ul-Quran

This will be the first stage of Resurrection, when in consequence of the Great Disaster the whole of the present order of the world will be overthrown; the people then will be running about in confusion and bewilderment like so many scattered moths around a light; and the mountains will be flying about like carded wool of different colors. The mountains have been compared to wool of different colors because of the existence of a variety of colors in them.

Transliteration

Ayah 4

Yawma yakoonu alnnasu kaalfarashi almabthoothi

Word-by-word

Ayah 4

# Arabic Pronunciation Meaning Root
1 يَوْمَ Yawma (The) Day ي و م
2 يَكُونُ yakoonu will be ك و ن
3 النَّاسُ alnnasu the mankind ن و س
4 كَالْفَرَاشِ kaalfarashi like moths ف ر ش
5 الْمَبْثُوثِ almabthoothi scattered ب ث ث

Section 02

Cross-references

Similar verses elsewhere in the Qur’an and authentic ahadith narrated about this ayah.

Section 03

Articles & resources

Long-form articles, scientific commentary, and historical context linked from the legacy archive.

Articles

References

  1. Tafseer — Abdullah Yusuf
  2. Tafseer — Dr. Farooq Azam
  3. Tafseer — Ibn Abbas
  4. Tafseer — Jalalain
  5. Tafseer — Ma’arif Ul-Quran
  6. Tafseer — Mufti Taqi Usmani
  7. Tafseer — Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi
  8. Tafseer — Tafheem Ul-Quran
  9. Translation — Sahih International
  10. Hadith collections — 2 narrations from Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and others (see Cross-references)
  11. Quranic cross-references — 6 parallel verses
  12. Linked articles — 2 long-form pieces

Ayat 5

وَتَكُونُ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَٱلْعِهْنِ ٱلْمَنفُوشِ.(5)

And the mountains will be like wool, fluffed up.(5) [Al-Qaaria: 5]

Back to surah / Surah 101 · Al-Qaaria / Ayah 5

Section 01

Traditional understanding

Translation, tafseer from classical and modern scholars, transliteration, word-by-word grammar.

Translation Sahih International

And the mountains will be like wool, fluffed up.(5)

Tafseer Abdullah Yusuf

(6253) Cf. n. 5682 to 70:9. The mountains are solid things, which seem as if nothing could move them. But in that tremendous cataclysm they will be scattered about like flakes of teased or carded wool. This is a metaphor to show that what we consider very substantial in this life will be as an airy nothing in the spiritual world.

Tafseer Dr. Farooq Azam

and the mountains like colorful carded wool.

Tafseer Ibn Abbas

And the mountains will become as carded wool.

Tafseer Jalalain

and the mountains will be like tufts of wool, like carded wool in terms of the lightness with which it floats [in the air] until it comes to settle upon the earth.

Tafseer Ma’arif Ul-Quran

and the mountains will be like carded wool.

Tafseer Mufti Taqi Usmani

and the mountains will be like carded wool.

Tafseer Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi

Describing the condition of the mighty mountains on the Day of Judgment, Allah says,"the mountains will become like coloured cotton wool."Even though they are symbols of stability, the mountains will fly about like wool on the day of Judgment. Allah Ta'ala says in Surah Waqi'ah, "And the mountains will he shattered to pieces and become like scattered dust." Verse 3 of Surah Takwir (Surah 81) reads: "When the mountains are made to fly about." If this is to be the state of the mountains, one cannot imagine the disorientation that the rest of creation will experience. Allah Ta'ala says that the mountains will resemble coloured wool because mountains are of different colours, as Allah says in Surah Fatir, "From the mountains there are different ridges,varying from white to red of different shades and some which are extremely black." [Surah 35,verse 27]

Tafseer Tafheem Ul-Quran

This will be the first stage of Resurrection, when in consequence of the Great Disaster the whole of the present order of the world will be overthrown; the people then will be running about in confusion and bewilderment like so many scattered moths around a light; and the mountains will be flying about like carded wool of different colors. The mountains have been compared to wool of different colors because of the existence of a variety of colors in them.

Transliteration

Ayah 5

Watakoonu aljibalu kaalAAihni almanfooshi

Word-by-word

Ayah 5

# Arabic Pronunciation Meaning Root
1 وَتَكُونُ Watakoonu And will be ك و ن
2 الْجِبَالُ aljibalu the mountains ج ب ل
3 كَالْعِهْنِ kaalAAihni like wool ع ه ن
4 الْمَنفُوشِ almanfooshi fluffed up ن ف ش

Section 02

Cross-references

Similar verses elsewhere in the Qur’an and authentic ahadith narrated about this ayah.

References

  1. Tafseer — Abdullah Yusuf
  2. Tafseer — Dr. Farooq Azam
  3. Tafseer — Ibn Abbas
  4. Tafseer — Jalalain
  5. Tafseer — Ma’arif Ul-Quran
  6. Tafseer — Mufti Taqi Usmani
  7. Tafseer — Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi
  8. Tafseer — Tafheem Ul-Quran
  9. Translation — Sahih International
  10. Hadith collections — 4 narrations from Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and others (see Cross-references)
  11. Quranic cross-references — 24 parallel verses

Ayat 6

فَأَمَّا مَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ.(6)

Then as for one whose scales are heavy [with good deeds],(6) [Al-Qaaria: 6]

Back to surah / Surah 101 · Al-Qaaria / Ayah 6

Section 01

Traditional understanding

Translation, tafseer from classical and modern scholars, transliteration, word-by-word grammar.

Translation Sahih International

Then as for one whose scales are heavy [with good deeds],(6)

Tafseer Abdullah Yusuf

The Good Deeds will be weighed and appraised. This appraisement will be of the nicest and justest kind: for it will take into account motives, temptations, provocations, surrounding conditions, antecedents, subsequent amends, and all possible connected circumstances. Against them, presumably, will be deeds of the opposite kind, appraised in the same way. If the good predominates, the judgement will be in the man's favour, and he will be ushered into a life of good pleasure and satisfaction. This will of course be on another plane.

Tafseer Dr. Farooq Azam

On that day, he whose scale of good deeds is heavy,

Tafseer Ibn Abbas

Then, as for him whose scales are heavy (with good works)) as for him whose good works weigh heavy on his scale; this refers to the believer,

Tafseer Jalalain

Then as for him whose scales weigh heavy, in that his good deeds outweigh his misdeeds,

Tafseer Ma’arif Ul-Quran

This Surah mentions the weighing of human deeds. He whose scales are heavy will be led to Paradise, and he whose scales are light will be led to Hell. Please see Ma'ariful Qur'an, Vol. 3/ pp 539-547, for a full and complete analysis of the Weighing of human deeds. The analysis also allays the doubts raised against the concept of weighing of deeds.
We have also explained there that it appears from reconciliation of conflicting narrations and Qur'anic verses that the weighing on Plain of Resurrection will take place twice. The first weighing will be to separate the believers from the non-believers. Anyone whose Book of Deeds is put on the scale and contains the belief ('Iman) will be heavy, and the scale of anyone whose Ledger of Deeds does not contain 'Iman will be light. At this stage, the believers will be separated from the non-believers. Weighing on the second time will be to distinguish between good and evil deeds of the believers. The reference, in the present Surah, is probably to the first weighing in which the scale of every believer will be heavy regardless of his other deeds, while the scale of an unbeliever will be light, even though he might have performed some good acts.
It is explained in Mazhari that the Holy Qur'an generally contrasts the unbelievers and righteous believers, when speaking of retribution [reward or punishment], because the latter are the perfect believers. As for the believers who have performed righteous as well as unrighteous deeds, the Qur'an is generally silent on the issue. However, the principle may be noted that on the Day of Judgement human deeds will not be counted, but weighed. Fewer good deeds with high degree of faith and sincerity, and in accordance with Sunnah will be heavier than many good deeds - prayers, fasting, charity and pilgrimage with lesser degree of faith and sincerity, or not completely in accordance with Sunnah.

Tafseer Mufti Taqi Usmani

Then, as for him whose scales (of good deeds) are heavy,

Tafseer Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi

After describing the advent of the Day of Judgment, Allah Ta'ala describes the condition of people on the Plains of Resurrection. Allah says "As for him whose scales are weighty, he shall be (enjoying) a life of happiness." The people of Heaven shall be completely satisfied with their lives. They will have absolutely no hardship or worries in Heaven.
On the other hand, "As for him whose scales are light, his abode shall be 'Hawiya'. How will you know what this is? It is) the blazing fire." Allah says about the scales of deeds in Surah A'raf, "The weighing on that day is the truth! As for him whose scale is heavy, these will be the successful ones. As for him whose scale is light, these are the ones who have lost their souls because they were unjust towards Our verses." The details of the scales of deeds are discussed in Surah Kahf [ Surah 18, verse 105] and Surah Mu'minun [ Surah 23, verses 102,103].
Some Scholars state that the scales here in Surah Qari'ah refer to the scales that measure belief and disbelief. Therefore, those who have belief shall be admitted into Heaven, while the disbelievers shall suffer eternally in Hell. It is this same group of Scholars who interpret verse 105 of Surah Kahf ( Surah 18 ) to mean that the deeds of the disbelievers will not be weighed at all on the day of Judgment. Some commentators state that the weighing of deeds here refers to Allah Ta'ala's weighing of the deeds of the believers. Therefore, those whose evil deeds are heavier will be admitted into Hell to be cleansed of their sins while those whose good deeds are heavier will go straight to Heaven.
Sayyidina Abdullah bin Abbas has mentioned that those whose good deeds are heavier than their sins shall be admitted into Heaven even if they are heavier by a single deed. On the other hand, those whose sins are heavier than their good deeds will be doomed for Hell even if they are heavier by a single sin. He then recited the above verses of Surah A'raf where Allah Ta'ala says, "The weighing on that day is the truth! As for him whose scale is heavy, these will be the successful ones. As for him whose scale is light, these are the ones who have lost their souls because they were unjust towards Our verses." [ Surah 7, verses 8,9 ]
Sayyidina Abdullah bin Abbas also mentioned that these scales will be sensitive to even an iota's weight of good or sin. Those whose good deeds are equal to their sins will be detained at "A'raff (the barrier between Heaven and Hell. They will also be admitted in Heaven eventually). Those whose sins are heavier will also be eventually admitted into Heaven either by someone's intercession, after being cleansed of sin or purely by Allah's grace. A Mumin (Believer) cannot remain eternally in Hell nor on A'raf.

Tafseer Tafheem Ul-Quran

From here begins description of the second stage of Resurrection when after having been resurrected men will appear in the Court of God. The word mawazin in the original can be plural of mauzun as well as, of mizan. In the first case, mawazin would imply the deeds which might have some weight in the sight of Allah and be, thus, worthy of appreciation; in the second case, mawazin would imply scales of a balance. In the first case, the meaning of the mawazin's being heavier or lighter is that the good deeds will be heavy or light as ,against the evil deeds, for in the sight of Allah only good deeds have any weight and worth. In the second case. the meaning of the mawazin's being heavy is that the scale of the good deeds will be heavier than the scale of evil deeds, in Allah Almighty's Balance of Justice, and their being light means that the scale of good deeds will be lighter than the scale of evil deeds. Besides, in Arabic idiom the word mizan is also used for weight (wazan); accordingly, the weight's being heavy of light implies the good deeds being heavy or light. In any case, whether mawazin is taken in the meaning of mauzun or of mizan, or of wazan, the intention remains the same, which is that the basis of judgment in the Divine Court will be whether the provision of the deeds that a man has brought is weighty or weightless, or whether his good deeds are heavier than his evil deeds or lighter. This theme has occurred at several places in the Qur'an which explains the meaning fully well.
In Surah Al-A'raf it has been said: "On that Day the weight will be identical with the Truth: accordingly, those whose scales, will be heavy will alone come out successful; and those whose scales are light will be the ones who will have incurred loss upon themselves." (v. 8-9).
In Surah Al-Kahf, it was said: 'O Prophet, say to them: Should we tell you who are the most un-successful people and miserable failures in regard to their deeds? They are those whose all endeavors in the worldly life had gone astray from the Right Way, but they were under the delusion that everything they were doing, was rightly directed: these are the people who rejected the Revelations of their Lord and did not believe that they would ever go before Him. Therefore, all their deeds were Lost, for We will assign no weight to them on the Day of Resurrection." (v. 103-105).
In Surah Al-Anbiya': "On the Day of Resurrection, We will set up just and accurate balances so that no one will be wronged in the least in any way; even if it be an act equal in weight to a grain of mustard seed, We will bring it forth (to be weighed) and We suffice for reckoning". (v.47).
These verses show that kufr and denial of the truth is in itself such a stupendous evil that it will certainly lower the scale of evils, and there will be no good act of the disbelievers, which may have any weight in the scale of good deeds so that its scale of goodness may become heavy. However, in the scales of the believer there will be the weight of Faith as well as the weight of the good deeds which he performed in the world. On the other hand, every evil done by him will be placed in the scale of evil deeds and then it will be seen whether his scale of the good deeds is heavier or his scale of the evil deeds.

Transliteration

Ayah 6

Faamma man thaqulat mawazeenuhu

Word-by-word

Ayah 6

# Arabic Pronunciation Meaning Root
1 فَأَمَّا Faamma Then as for —
2 مَن man (him) whose —
3 ثَقُلَتْ thaqulat (are) heavy ث ق ل
4 مَوَازِينُهُۥ mawazeenuhu his scales و ز ن

Section 02

Cross-references

Similar verses elsewhere in the Qur’an and authentic ahadith narrated about this ayah.

Section 03

Articles & resources

Long-form articles, scientific commentary, and historical context linked from the legacy archive.

Articles

Misconceptions

Historical Data

References

  1. Tafseer — Abdullah Yusuf
  2. Tafseer — Dr. Farooq Azam
  3. Tafseer — Ibn Abbas
  4. Tafseer — Jalalain
  5. Tafseer — Ma’arif Ul-Quran
  6. Tafseer — Mufti Taqi Usmani
  7. Tafseer — Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi
  8. Tafseer — Tafheem Ul-Quran
  9. Translation — Sahih International
  10. Hadith collections — 6 narrations from Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and others (see Cross-references)
  11. Quranic cross-references — 6 parallel verses
  12. Linked articles — 10 long-form pieces

Ayat 7

فَهُوَ فِى عِيشَةٍۢ رَّاضِيَةٍۢ.(7)

He will be in a pleasant life.(7) [Al-Qaaria: 7]

Back to surah / Surah 101 · Al-Qaaria / Ayah 7

Section 01

Traditional understanding

Translation, tafseer from classical and modern scholars, transliteration, word-by-word grammar.

Translation Sahih International

He will be in a pleasant life.(7)

Transliteration

Ayah 7

Fahuwa fee AAeeshatin radiyatin

Word-by-word

Ayah 7

# Arabic Pronunciation Meaning Root
1 فَهُوَ Fahuwa Then he —
2 فِى fee (will be) in —
3 عِيشَةٍ AAeeshatin a life ع ي ش
4 رَّاضِيَةٍ radiyatin pleasant ر ض و

Section 03

Articles & resources

Long-form articles, scientific commentary, and historical context linked from the legacy archive.

Historical Data

References

  1. Translation — Sahih International
  2. Linked articles — 2 long-form pieces

Ayat 8

وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ.(8)

But as for one whose scales are light,(8) [Al-Qaaria: 8]

Back to surah / Surah 101 · Al-Qaaria / Ayah 8

Section 01

Traditional understanding

Translation, tafseer from classical and modern scholars, transliteration, word-by-word grammar.

Translation Sahih International

But as for one whose scales are light,(8)

Tafseer Abdullah Yusuf

But he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) light,-

Tafseer Dr. Farooq Azam

But he whose scale of good deeds is light,

Tafseer Ibn Abbas

(But as for him whose scales are light) i.e. the disbeliever,

Tafseer Jalalain

but as for him whose scales weigh light, in that his evil deeds outweigh his good ones,

Tafseer Ma’arif Ul-Quran

This Surah mentions the weighing of human deeds. He whose scales are heavy will be led to Paradise, and he whose scales are light will be led to Hell. Please see Ma'ariful Qur'an, Vol. 3/ pp 539-547, for a full and complete analysis of the Weighing of human deeds. The analysis also allays the doubts raised against the concept of weighing of deeds.
We have also explained there that it appears from reconciliation of conflicting narrations and Qur'anic verses that the weighing on Plain of Resurrection will take place twice. The first weighing will be to separate the believers from the non-believers. Anyone whose Book of Deeds is put on the scale and contains the belief ('Iman) will be heavy, and the scale of anyone whose Ledger of Deeds does not contain 'Iman will be light. At this stage, the believers will be separated from the non-believers. Weighing on the second time will be to distinguish between good and evil deeds of the believers. The reference, in the present Surah, is probably to the first weighing in which the scale of every believer will be heavy regardless of his other deeds, while the scale of an unbeliever will be light, even though he might have performed some good acts.
It is explained in Mazhari that the Holy Qur'an generally contrasts the unbelievers and righteous believers, when speaking of retribution [reward or punishment], because the latter are the perfect believers. As for the believers who have performed righteous as well as unrighteous deeds, the Qur'an is generally silent on the issue. However, the principle may be noted that on the Day of Judgement human deeds will not be counted, but weighed. Fewer good deeds with high degree of faith and sincerity, and in accordance with Sunnah will be heavier than many good deeds - prayers, fasting, charity and pilgrimage with lesser degree of faith and sincerity, or not completely in accordance with Sunnah.

Tafseer Mufti Taqi Usmani

But he whose scales are light,

Tafseer Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi

After describing the advent of the Day of Judgment, Allah Ta'ala describes the condition of people on the Plains of Resurrection. Allah says "As for him whose scales are weighty, he shall be (enjoying) a life of happiness." The people of Heaven shall be completely satisfied with their lives. They will have absolutely no hardship or worries in Heaven.
On the other hand, "As for him whose scales are light, his abode shall be 'Hawiya'. How will you know what this is? It is) the blazing fire." Allah says about the scales of deeds in Surah A'raf, "The weighing on that day is the truth! As for him whose scale is heavy, these will be the successful ones. As for him whose scale is light, these are the ones who have lost their souls because they were unjust towards Our verses." The details of the scales of deeds are discussed in Surah Kahf [ Surah 18, verse 105] and Surah Mu'minun [ Surah 23, verses 102,103].
Some Scholars state that the scales here in Surah Qari'ah refer to the scales that measure belief and disbelief. Therefore, those who have belief shall be admitted into Heaven, while the disbelievers shall suffer eternally in Hell. It is this same group of Scholars who interpret verse 105 of Surah Kahf ( Surah 18 ) to mean that the deeds of the disbelievers will not be weighed at all on the day of Judgment. Some commentators state that the weighing of deeds here refers to Allah Ta'ala's weighing of the deeds of the believers. Therefore, those whose evil deeds are heavier will be admitted into Hell to be cleansed of their sins while those whose good deeds are heavier will go straight to Heaven.
Sayyidina Abdullah bin Abbas has mentioned that those whose good deeds are heavier than their sins shall be admitted into Heaven even if they are heavier by a single deed. On the other hand, those whose sins are heavier than their good deeds will be doomed for Hell even if they are heavier by a single sin. He then recited the above verses of Surah A'raf where Allah Ta'ala says, "The weighing on that day is the truth! As for him whose scale is heavy, these will be the successful ones. As for him whose scale is light, these are the ones who have lost their souls because they were unjust towards Our verses." [ Surah 7, verses 8,9 ]
Sayyidina Abdullah bin Abbas also mentioned that these scales will be sensitive to even an iota's weight of good or sin. Those whose good deeds are equal to their sins will be detained at "A'raff (the barrier between Heaven and Hell. They will also be admitted in Heaven eventually). Those whose sins are heavier will also be eventually admitted into Heaven either by someone's intercession, after being cleansed of sin or purely by Allah's grace. A Mumin (Believer) cannot remain eternally in Hell nor on A'raf.

Tafseer Tafheem Ul-Quran

The word mawazin in the original can be plural of mauzun as well as, of mizan. In the first case, mawazin would imply the deeds which might have some weight in the sight of Allah and be, thus, worthy of appreciation; in the second case, mawazin would imply scales of a balance. In the first case, the meaning of the mawazin's being heavier or lighter is that the good deeds will be heavy or light as ,against the evil deeds, for in the sight of Allah only good deeds have any weight and worth. In the second case. the meaning of the mawazin's being heavy is that the scale of the good deeds will be heavier than the scale of evil deeds, in Allah Almighty's Balance of Justice, and their being light means that the scale of good deeds will be lighter than the scale of evil deeds. Besides, in Arabic idiom the word mizan is also used for weight (wazan); accordingly, the weight's being heavy of light implies the good deeds being heavy or light. In any case, whether mawazin is taken in the meaning of mauzun or of mizan, or of wazan, the intention remains the same, which is that the basis of judgment in the Divine Court will be whether the provision of the deeds that a man has brought is weighty or weightless, or whether his good deeds are heavier than his evil deeds or lighter. This theme has occurred at several places in the Qur'an which explains the meaning fully well.
In Surah Al-A'raf it has been said: "On that Day the weight will be identical with the Truth: accordingly, those whose scales, will be heavy will alone come out successful; and those whose scales are light will be the ones who will have incurred loss upon themselves." (v. 8-9).
In Surah Al-Kahf, it was said: 'O Prophet, say to them: Should we tell you who are the most un-successful people and miserable failures in regard to their deeds? They are those whose all endeavors in the worldly life had gone astray from the Right Way, but they were under the delusion that everything they were doing, was rightly directed: these are the people who rejected the Revelations of their Lord and did not believe that they would ever go before Him. Therefore, all their deeds were Lost, for We will assign no weight to them on the Day of Resurrection." (v. 103-105).
In Surah Al-Anbiya': "On the Day of Resurrection, We will set up just and accurate balances so that no one will be wronged in the least in any way; even if it be an act equal in weight to a grain of mustard seed, We will bring it forth (to be weighed) and We suffice for reckoning". (v.47).
These verses show that kufr and denial of the truth is in itself such a stupendous evil that it will certainly lower the scale of evils, and there will be no good act of the disbelievers, which may have any weight in the scale of good deeds so that its scale of goodness may become heavy. However, in the scales of the believer there will be the weight of Faith as well as the weight of the good deeds which he performed in the world. On the other hand, every evil done by him will be placed in the scale of evil deeds and then it will be seen whether his scale of the good deeds is heavier or his scale of the evil deeds.

Transliteration

Ayah 8

Waamma man khaffat mawazeenuhu

Word-by-word

Ayah 8

# Arabic Pronunciation Meaning Root
1 وَأَمَّا Waamma But as for —
2 مَنْ man (him) whose —
3 خَفَّتْ khaffat (are) light خ ف ف
4 مَوَازِينُهُۥ mawazeenuhu his scales و ز ن

Section 02

Cross-references

Similar verses elsewhere in the Qur’an and authentic ahadith narrated about this ayah.

Section 03

Articles & resources

Long-form articles, scientific commentary, and historical context linked from the legacy archive.

Articles

Misconceptions

References

  1. Tafseer — Abdullah Yusuf
  2. Tafseer — Dr. Farooq Azam
  3. Tafseer — Ibn Abbas
  4. Tafseer — Jalalain
  5. Tafseer — Ma’arif Ul-Quran
  6. Tafseer — Mufti Taqi Usmani
  7. Tafseer — Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi
  8. Tafseer — Tafheem Ul-Quran
  9. Translation — Sahih International
  10. Hadith collections — 4 narrations from Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and others (see Cross-references)
  11. Quranic cross-references — 8 parallel verses
  12. Linked articles — 4 long-form pieces

Ayat 9

فَأُمُّهُۥ هَاوِيَةٌۭ.(9)

His refuge will be an abyss.(9) [Al-Qaaria: 9]

Back to surah / Surah 101 · Al-Qaaria / Ayah 9

Section 01

Traditional understanding

Translation, tafseer from classical and modern scholars, transliteration, word-by-word grammar.

Translation Sahih International

His refuge will be an abyss.(9)

Tafseer Abdullah Yusuf

(6256) Just as grades of bliss are indicated for the righteous, so apparently we are to understand grades of punishment suited to the sins of the individual sinners concerned.

Tafseer Dr. Farooq Azam

his abode shall be Hâwiyah;

Tafseer Ibn Abbas

(The Bereft and Hungry One will be his mother) his abode and destination will be the Fire; it is also said this means: he will be thrown in the Fire.

Tafseer Jalalain

his home will be the Abyss.

Tafseer Ma’arif Ul-Quran

This Surah mentions the weighing of human deeds. He whose scales are heavy will be led to Paradise, and he whose scales are light will be led to Hell. Please see Ma'ariful Qur'an, Vol. 3/ pp 539-547, for a full and complete analysis of the Weighing of human deeds. The analysis also allays the doubts raised against the concept of weighing of deeds.
We have also explained there that it appears from reconciliation of conflicting narrations and Qur'anic verses that the weighing on Plain of Resurrection will take place twice. The first weighing will be to separate the believers from the non-believers. Anyone whose Book of Deeds is put on the scale and contains the belief ('Iman) will be heavy, and the scale of anyone whose Ledger of Deeds does not contain 'Iman will be light. At this stage, the believers will be separated from the non-believers. Weighing on the second time will be to distinguish between good and evil deeds of the believers. The reference, in the present Surah, is probably to the first weighing in which the scale of every believer will be heavy regardless of his other deeds, while the scale of an unbeliever will be light, even though he might have performed some good acts.
It is explained in Mazhari that the Holy Qur'an generally contrasts the unbelievers and righteous believers, when speaking of retribution [reward or punishment], because the latter are the perfect believers. As for the believers who have performed righteous as well as unrighteous deeds, the Qur'an is generally silent on the issue. However, the principle may be noted that on the Day of Judgement human deeds will not be counted, but weighed. Fewer good deeds with high degree of faith and sincerity, and in accordance with Sunnah will be heavier than many good deeds - prayers, fasting, charity and pilgrimage with lesser degree of faith and sincerity, or not completely in accordance with Sunnah.

Tafseer Mufti Taqi Usmani

his abode will be Abyss.

Tafseer Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi

"As for him whose scales are light,his abode shall be 'Hawiya'. How will you know what this is? It is the blazing fire." The Arabic word "umm" (translated above as "abode") literally refers to a mother. Hell will cling onto the people of Hell just as a mother clings onto her sibling. This is because these people clung to sin in this world in the same way. The Arabic word "Hawiya" refers to something that falls. Hell is described as "Hawiya" because of its extreme depth. Sayyidina Utba bin Ghazwan narrates that a stone cast into Hell will continue falling for seventy years without reaching the bottom. ["Mishkat" p. 497 from Muslim]

Tafseer Tafheem Ul-Quran

The words in the original are: ammu hu hawiyah: "his mother will be hawiyah. " Hawiyah is from hawa, which means to fall from a height to a depth, and hawiyah is the deep pit into which something falls. Hell has been called Hawiyah because it will be very deep and the culprits will be thrown into it from the height. As for the words, "his mother will be Hawiyah" they mean: Just as the mother's lap is the child's abode, so Hell will be the culprits' only abode in the Hereafter.

Transliteration

Ayah 9

Faommuhu hawiyatun

Word-by-word

Ayah 9

# Arabic Pronunciation Meaning Root
1 فَأُمُّهُۥ Faommuhu His abode أ م م
2 هَاوِيَةٌ hawiyatun (will be the) Pit ه و ي

Section 03

Articles & resources

Long-form articles, scientific commentary, and historical context linked from the legacy archive.

Articles

References

  1. Tafseer — Abdullah Yusuf
  2. Tafseer — Dr. Farooq Azam
  3. Tafseer — Ibn Abbas
  4. Tafseer — Jalalain
  5. Tafseer — Ma’arif Ul-Quran
  6. Tafseer — Mufti Taqi Usmani
  7. Tafseer — Shaikh Ashiq Ilahi
  8. Tafseer — Tafheem Ul-Quran
  9. Translation — Sahih International
  10. Linked articles — 2 long-form pieces

Ayat 10

وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا هِيَهْ.(10)

And what can make you know what that is?(10) [Al-Qaaria: 10]

Back to surah / Surah 101 · Al-Qaaria / Ayah 10

Section 01

Traditional understanding

Translation, tafseer from classical and modern scholars, transliteration, word-by-word grammar.

Translation Sahih International

And what can make you know what that is?(10)

Transliteration

Ayah 10

Wama adraka ma hiyah

Word-by-word

Ayah 10

# Arabic Pronunciation Meaning Root
1 وَمَآ Wama And what? —
2 أَدْرَاكَ adraka will make you know د ر ي
3 مَا ma what? —
4 هِيَهْ hiyah it is? —

References

  1. Translation — Sahih International

Ayat 11

نَارٌ حَامِيَةٌۢ.(11)

It is a Fire, intensely hot.(11) [Al-Qaaria: 11]

Back to surah / Surah 101 · Al-Qaaria / Ayah 11

Section 01

Traditional understanding

Translation, tafseer from classical and modern scholars, transliteration, word-by-word grammar.

Translation Sahih International

It is a Fire, intensely hot.(11)

Transliteration

Ayah 11

Narun hamiyatun

Word-by-word

Ayah 11

# Arabic Pronunciation Meaning Root
1 نَارٌ Narun A Fire ن و ر
2 حَامِيَةٌ hamiyatun intensely hot ح م ي

References

  1. Translation — Sahih International

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