Sūrat al-Zalzala
سورۃ الزلزلہ
Sūrat al-Zalzala, Madanī — revealed in Madīna. It has eight (8) āyāt.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhi l-Raḥmāni l-Raḥīm.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا
idhā zulzilati l-arḍu zilzālahā.
"When the earth is shaken with its final earthquake." (al-Zalzala 99:1)
Idhā — when. Zulzilat — it shook, it was set to trembling. Al-arḍ — the earth. Zilzālahā — its earthquake — idhā zulzilati l-arḍ — when the whole earth is shaken by an earthquake — its trembling — (from za, meaning) the shaking, the quaking.
Translation: "Imagine when all the earth will be shaken by an earthquake."
The earth will shake and split open — the warm molten material inside the earth will gush out and come forth.
وَأَخْرَجَتِ الْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا
wa-akhrajati l-arḍu athqālahā.
"And the earth disgorges its burdens." (al-Zalzala 99:2)
Wa-akhrajat — and she brought out, cast forth. Al-arḍ — the earth. Athqālahā — its burdens — ath-thiqāl — heavy things, burdens — those who are buried in the earth, the dead, their treasures — buried treasures, minerals — al-thaqīl — (things that are) heavy — the house's valuables.
Translation: "And the earth (from its interior) will throw out her heavy burdens — and eject them."
When the earth shakes, gold, silver, coal, minerals and precious metals will all become exposed. The earth will split open and a thunderous explosion will occur — like a great star coming from some direction and striking the earth in pieces.
وَقَالَ الْإِنسَانُ مَا لَهَا
wa-qāla l-insānu mā lahā.
"And the human being says: 'What is wrong with it?'" (al-Zalzala 99:3)
Wa-qāl — and he said. Al-insān — the human being, the man — wa-qāla l-insān — and the human being, distressed and bewildered, says: mā lahā — what has happened to the earth?
Translation: "And when every person (bewildered and distressed by the earthquake) cries out asking: what has happened to the earth?"
يَوْمَئِذٍ تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا
yawmaʾidhin tuḥaddithu akhbārahā.
"On that Day it will report its news." (al-Zalzala 99:4)
Yawmaʾidh — on that day, that is the Day of Resurrection and the earthquake. Tuḥaddith — it will speak out, proclaim. Akhbārahā — its own news — what transpired upon it.
Translation: "On that day (that is the Day of Resurrection) the earth will narrate all its own history (what was done on it and who did what good and who did what evil)."
بِأَنَّ رَبَّكَ أَوْحَىٰ لَهَا
bi-anna rabbaka awḥā lahā.
"Because your Lord will have commanded it." (al-Zalzala 99:5)
Bi-anna — because, by reason. Rabbaka — your Lord. Awḥā — He indicated, He inspired — al-waḥy — the indication, the inspiration — He put it in her heart. Lahā — to the earth.
Translation: "Because your Lord will have given the earth the command (to give account)."
يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصْدُرُ النَّاسُ أَشْتَاتًا لِّيُرَوْا أَعْمَالَهُمْ
yawmaʾidhin yaṣduru l-nāsu ashtātan li-yuraw aʿmālahum.
"On that Day the people will emerge in scattered groups to be shown their deeds." (al-Zalzala 99:6)
Yawmaʾidh — on that day, that is the Day of Resurrection. Yaṣduru l-nās — people will emerge from their graves. Ashtātan — in scattered groups, in different parties. Li-yuraw — so that they may be shown. Aʿmālahum — their deeds, their works, their actions.
Translation: "On the Day of Resurrection the people will emerge (from their graves) in various groups (scattered) so that their deeds may be shown to them (their accounts will be given to them just as they are)."
فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ
fa-man yaʿmal mithqāla dharratin khayran yarah.
"So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it." (al-Zalzala 99:7)
Fa-man — so whoever. Yaʿmal — performs. Mithqāla — the weight, measure. Dharra — a speck — a tiny speck — those fragments which appear in the dust swirling in sunlight. Mithqāla dharratin — a speck's worth. Khayran — good, a good thing, beneficence. Yarah — will see it, will observe it — it will come before him.
Translation: "So whoever does even a speck's worth of goodness (it will never be lost) — it will come before him and he will see it (it will be manifest)."
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ
wa-man yaʿmal mithqāla dharratin sharran yarah.
"And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it." (al-Zalzala 99:8)
Wa-man yaʿmal — and whoever performs. Mithqāla dharratin — a speck's weight. Sharran — evil, wickedness, bad. Yarah — will see it — it will come before him.
Translation: "And whoever does a speck's worth of evil — that too will come before him and he will see his deeds."
That is, all deeds — every good and evil one has ever done — will be evident, just as they are.
Esteemed readers! The Qurʾān repeatedly confronts people with the terrifying realities of the Day of Resurrection in order to draw people's attention to good deeds and abandon evil ones. "Bear in mind: 'When the earthquake comes to the earth.' The dead will come forth from their graves, and people will be bewildered and distressed by these earthquakes — the earth will narrate its own history in its own tongue — no one's goodness will be lost, no one's evil will be concealed from anyone — the good will receive the reward of goodness and the evil will be punished. And the human being — why does he forget God? His outcome is death — to appear in the court of God — then what will be your state? Repent and do good work! If you are not careful now you will regret it later." Consider this: here there is life, here is the court of God — his account will be taken, then what will be the result? Do not worry. Repent — serve others: with Allah's blessings do not withhold the gratitude for the blessings — in everything seek the pleasure of God: inna l-insāna la-rabbih la-kanūd — "Indeed the human being is ungrateful to his Lord" — you will be written as kanūd — Heed! Wake up! Open your eyes before you are bound — let go of negligence!