القارعة
Surah Al-Qari’ah
The Calamity · Surah 101 · Meccan · 11 verses
1ٱلۡقَارِعَةُ ١The Calamity.InsightElmalılı explains “al-qari‘ah” as something that strikes so hard it makes a violent sound: the Last Day. “What is it?” is not a question for information but expresses its terror, and repeating the name three times strengthens this.2مَا ٱلۡقَارِعَةُ ٢What is the Calamity.3وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلۡقَارِعَةُ ٣Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Calamity is.4يَوۡمَ يَكُونُ ٱلنَّاسُ كَٱلۡفَرَاشِ ٱلۡمَبۡثُوثِ ٤A day wherein mankind will be as thickly-scattered moths.InsightElmalılı sees in this image how bewildered, scattered and helpless people will be that day, like moths swept towards a fire.5وَتَكُونُ ٱلۡجِبَالُ كَٱلۡعِهۡنِ ٱلۡمَنفُوشِ ٥And the mountains will become as carded wool.InsightElmalılı explains “‘ihn” as wool of many colours and “manfush” as teased apart by fingers or carded. If the mountains become like that, imagine the state of man; woe to him if Allah’s mercy does not reach him.6فَأَمَّا مَن ثَقُلَتۡ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ ٦Then, as for him whose scales are heavy (with good works).InsightElmalılı points to a subtlety: the life itself is called “pleased”. Contentment is such a joy that it spills over from its owner into his very life.7فَهُوَ فِي عِيشَةࣲ رَّاضِيَةࣲ ٧He will live a pleasant life.8وَأَمَّا مَنۡ خَفَّتۡ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ ٨But as for him whose scales are light.InsightElmalılı gives several meanings to “his mother is the abyss”: the “mother’s lap” he shelters in is a pit; or he will fall so that his mother will weep. He will have no shelter left.9فَأُمُّهُۥ هَاوِيَةࣱ ٩A bereft and Hungry One will be his mother.10وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا هِيَهۡ ١٠Ah, what will convey unto thee what she is.11نَارٌ حَامِيَةُۢ ١١Raging Fire.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “hawiyah” is one of the names of Hell and comes from “falling”. This blazing fire is also called “jahim” and “the fire of Allah” in later surahs.