الحاقة
Surah Al-Haqqah
The Reality · Surah 69 · Meccan · 52 verses
1ٱلۡحَآقَّةُ ١The Reality.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “al-Haqqah” is one of the names of the Hour, like “al-Waqi‘ah” and “as-Sa‘ah”; it relates to the meanings of truth, reality and coming to pass.2مَا ٱلۡحَآقَّةُ ٢What is the Reality.3وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلۡحَآقَّةُ ٣Ah, what will convey unto thee what the reality is.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this question conveys that the Hour is too great to be fully grasped by reason alone.4كَذَّبَتۡ ثَمُودُ وَعَادُۢ بِٱلۡقَارِعَةِ ٤(The tribes of) Thamud and A’ad disbelieved in the judgment to come.InsightElmalılı explains “al-qari‘ah” as an event that strikes people’s heads and bursts in their minds; as Surat al-Qari‘ah explains, it is one of the names of the Hour.5فَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَأُهۡلِكُواْ بِٱلطَّاغِيَةِ ٥As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the lightning.InsightElmalılı explains “taghiyah” as an event exceeding all bounds, or transgression; the “sayhah”, the terrible shout mentioned in Hud and other surahs, explains it.6وَأَمَّا عَادࣱ فَأُهۡلِكُواْ بِرِيحࣲ صَرۡصَرٍ عَاتِيَةࣲ ٦And as for A’ad, they were destroyed by a fierce roaring wind.7سَخَّرَهَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ سَبۡعَ لَيَالࣲ وَثَمَٰنِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ حُسُومࣰاۖ فَتَرَى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ فِيهَا صَرۡعَىٰ كَأَنَّهُمۡ أَعۡجَازُ نَخۡلٍ خَاوِيَةࣲ ٧Which He imposed on them for seven long nights and eight long days so that thou mightest have seen men lying overthrown, as they were hollow trunks of palm-trees.InsightElmalılı explains “husum” as cutting something off at the root, or cauterising repeatedly to root out a disease.8فَهَلۡ تَرَىٰ لَهُم مِّنۢ بَاقِيَةࣲ ٨Canst thou (O Muhammad) see any remnant of them.9وَجَآءَ فِرۡعَوۡنُ وَمَن قَبۡلَهُۥ وَٱلۡمُؤۡتَفِكَٰتُ بِٱلۡخَاطِئَةِ ٩And Pharaoh and those before him, and the communities that were destroyed, brought error.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, here the particular gives way to the general: earlier generations back to Noah’s people, and the cities of Lot’s people.10فَعَصَوۡاْ رَسُولَ رَبِّهِمۡ فَأَخَذَهُمۡ أَخۡذَةࣰ رَّابِيَةً ١٠And they disobeyed the messenger of their Lord, therefor did He grip them with a tightening grip.11إِنَّا لَمَّا طَغَا ٱلۡمَآءُ حَمَلۡنَٰكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡجَارِيَةِ ١١Lo! when the waters rose, We carried you upon the ship.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, in Noah’s flood, while the deniers were uprooted, you were not; you were preserved, carried in the loins of your believing ancestors.12لِنَجۡعَلَهَا لَكُمۡ تَذۡكِرَةࣰ وَتَعِيَهَآ أُذُنࣱ وَٰعِيَةࣱ ١٢That We might make it a memorial for you, and that remembering ears (that heard the story) might remember.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, that event is an unforgettable reminder for those saved and their descendants, recalling Allah’s power and wisdom.13فَإِذَا نُفِخَ فِي ٱلصُّورِ نَفۡخَةࣱ وَٰحِدَةࣱ ١٣And when the trumpet shall sound one blast.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, what came before were lesser Hours; from here begins the detail of the Great Hour, al-Haqqah.14وَحُمِلَتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَٱلۡجِبَالُ فَدُكَّتَا دَكَّةࣰ وَٰحِدَةࣰ ١٤And the earth with the mountains shall be lifted up and crushed with one crash.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the lifting of the earth and mountains is their being moved from their places and raised up.15فَيَوۡمَئِذࣲ وَقَعَتِ ٱلۡوَاقِعَةُ ١٥Then, on that day will the Event befall.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, on that day the second blast has happened and the Hour, the greatest calamity, has struck.16وَٱنشَقَّتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَهِيَ يَوۡمَئِذࣲ وَاهِيَةࣱ ١٦And the heaven will split asunder, for that day it will be frail.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, that day the sky has cracked, sagged and hangs down; not yet rolled up, but in a sorrowful and hazy state.17وَٱلۡمَلَكُ عَلَىٰٓ أَرۡجَآئِهَاۚ وَيَحۡمِلُ عَرۡشَ رَبِّكَ فَوۡقَهُمۡ يَوۡمَئِذࣲ ثَمَٰنِيَةࣱ ١٧And the angels will be on the sides thereof, and eight will uphold the Throne of thy Lord that day, above them.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the angels have withdrawn from the split parts of the sky to its unbroken sides, or stand in rows along the opened edges.18يَوۡمَئِذࣲ تُعۡرَضُونَ لَا تَخۡفَىٰ مِنكُمۡ خَافِيَةࣱ ١٨On that day ye will be exposed; not a secret of you will be hidden.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “presentation” here is a figure for reckoning, like soldiers being presented to a ruler so he may see their condition.19فَأَمَّا مَنۡ أُوتِيَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ فَيَقُولُ هَآؤُمُ ٱقۡرَءُواْ كِتَٰبِيَهۡ ١٩Then, as for him who is given his record in his right hand, he will say: Take, read my book.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is the record of deeds, the yield of a person’s life, made of pages of the deeds he did in the world and the angels recorded day and night.20إِنِّي ظَنَنتُ أَنِّي مُلَٰقٍ حِسَابِيَهۡ ٢٠Surely I knew that I should have to meet my reckoning.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, he believed he would one day meet his reckoning and nurtured this thought, and so kept his account carefully and his record in order.21فَهُوَ فِي عِيشَةࣲ رَّاضِيَةࣲ ٢١Then he will be in blissful state.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, attributing contentment to the life rather than its owner is an emphasis that unites the stages of being pleased and being pleasing.22فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةࣲ ٢٢In a high garden.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is the lofty Garden of the Hereafter, not mixed with toil and pain like worldly gardens, but pure happiness and blessing itself.23قُطُوفُهَا دَانِيَةࣱ ٢٣Whereof the clusters are in easy reach.24كُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ هَنِيٓـَٔۢا بِمَآ أَسۡلَفۡتُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَيَّامِ ٱلۡخَالِيَةِ ٢٤(And it will be said unto those therein): Eat and drink at ease for that which ye sent on before you in past days.InsightElmalılı explains “islaf” as offering something in advance with payment deferred, like a forward sale: deeds done beforehand in the world are repaid in the Hereafter.25وَأَمَّا مَنۡ أُوتِيَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ بِشِمَالِهِۦ فَيَقُولُ يَٰلَيۡتَنِي لَمۡ أُوتَ كِتَٰبِيَهۡ ٢٥But as for him who is given his record in his left hand, he will say: Oh, would that I had not been given my book.26وَلَمۡ أَدۡرِ مَا حِسَابِيَهۡ ٢٦And knew not what my reckoning.27يَٰلَيۡتَهَا كَانَتِ ٱلۡقَاضِيَةَ ٢٧Oh, would that it had been death.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the pronoun here refers to the first death: the one given his record in his left hand wishes that first death had ended everything.28مَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنِّي مَالِيَهۡۜ ٢٨My wealth hath not availed me.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this means: “What use was my wealth? None; if it helped, it helped others, and left me only regret and punishment.”29هَلَكَ عَنِّي سُلۡطَٰنِيَهۡ ٢٩My power hath gone from me.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is the dominion, wealth and prestige he boasted of, relied on and lorded over others with, or all the arguments and excuses he held on to.30خُذُوهُ فَغُلُّوهُ ٣٠(It will be said): Take him and fetter him.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these commands are given by Allah to the keepers of Hell, about that person who said his wealth and power were of no use.31ثُمَّ ٱلۡجَحِيمَ صَلُّوهُ ٣١And then expose him to hell-fire.InsightElmalılı explains “al-Jahim” as a great fiercely blazing fire, the most severe layer of Hell; its being placed first gives the sense “there and nowhere else”.32ثُمَّ فِي سِلۡسِلَةࣲ ذَرۡعُهَا سَبۡعُونَ ذِرَاعࣰا فَٱسۡلُكُوهُ ٣٢And then insert him in a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, discussions of what kind of cubit is meant are unnecessary; some said seventy expresses abundance rather than an exact number.33إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٣٣Lo! He used not to believe in Allah the Tremendous.34وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ ٱلۡمِسۡكِينِ ٣٤And urged not on the feeding of the wretched.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, he did not look after the poor, care what they ate, understand their condition or help; and just as he did not care for them himself, he did not urge others either.35فَلَيۡسَ لَهُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ هَٰهُنَا حَمِيمࣱ ٣٥Therefor hath he no lover here this day.InsightElmalılı explains “hamim” as a close relative or friend: since he did not believe in Allah, that day he has no friend to stand by him.36وَلَا طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِنۡ غِسۡلِينࣲ ٣٦Nor any food save filth.InsightElmalılı explains “ghislin” as a word recalling “ghusalah”, washings: what flows from the bodies of the people of Hell.37لَّا يَأۡكُلُهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلۡخَٰطِـُٔونَ ٣٧Which none but sinners eat.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these are great sinners whose whole business is wrongdoing; the greatest wrong is associating partners with Allah, the great injustice.38فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِمَا تُبۡصِرُونَ ٣٨But nay! I swear by all that ye see.39وَمَا لَا تُبۡصِرُونَ ٣٩And all that ye see not.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this oath covers everything seen and unseen, present and absent, hidden and open, and every event past and future.40إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوۡلُ رَسُولࣲ كَرِيمࣲ ٤٠That it is indeed the speech of an illustrious messenger.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Qur’an is speech recited by an honoured and noble Messenger, conveying, in eloquent words, news that reason alone could not know.41وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوۡلِ شَاعِرࣲۚ قَلِيلࣰا مَّا تُؤۡمِنُونَ ٤١It is not poet’s speech - little is it that ye believe.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, do not just listen to it and pass on as if it were poetry; appreciating its eloquence resembles faith but is not enough.42وَلَا بِقَوۡلِ كَاهِنࣲۚ قَلِيلࣰا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ ٤٢Nor diviner’s speech - little is it that ye remember.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, a soothsayer is one who deals with eavesdropping jinn and devils and, from what he gets from them, tells of the unseen by guesswork; the Qur’an is not like that.43تَنزِيلࣱ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٤٣It is a revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Messenger is a noble envoy charged with conveying it exactly as it is; this is the reality of the Qur’an.44وَلَوۡ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيۡنَا بَعۡضَ ٱلۡأَقَاوِيلِ ٤٤And if he had invented false sayings concerning Us.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this means: “If the Messenger had tried to invent words in Our name on his own, without Our saying them.”45لَأَخَذۡنَا مِنۡهُ بِٱلۡيَمِينِ ٤٥We assuredly had taken him by the right hand.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “yamin” here means either the Prophet’s right hand or Allah’s strength and power.46ثُمَّ لَقَطَعۡنَا مِنۡهُ ٱلۡوَتِينَ ٤٦And then severed his life-artery.InsightElmalılı explains “watin” as the heart’s artery, the aorta, or the spinal cord; both are places on which life depends.47فَمَا مِنكُم مِّنۡ أَحَدٍ عَنۡهُ حَٰجِزِينَ ٤٧And not one of you could have held Us off from him.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, but the truth is otherwise: he is a noble Messenger, free of lies and false oaths, possessing nobility and miracles.48وَإِنَّهُۥ لَتَذۡكِرَةࣱ لِّلۡمُتَّقِينَ ٤٨And lo! it is a warrant unto those who ward off (evil).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Qur’an is a reminder that shows the way to those who seek protection; those who benefit from it are the reverent who nurture a sense of guarding themselves.49وَإِنَّا لَنَعۡلَمُ أَنَّ مِنكُم مُّكَذِّبِينَ ٤٩And lo! We know that some among you will deny (it).50وَإِنَّهُۥ لَحَسۡرَةٌ عَلَى ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ ٥٠And lo! it is indeed an anguish for the disbelievers.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, those who failed to value it and were ungrateful will, on seeing the reward of the mindful on the Day of Resurrection, remain in eternal regret.51وَإِنَّهُۥ لَحَقُّ ٱلۡيَقِينِ ٥١And lo! it is absolute truth.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, far from being poetry, soothsaying or guesswork, the Qur’an is certainty by experience, higher even than certainty by knowledge and by sight.52فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٥٢So glorify the name of thy Tremendous Lord.