Chapter 88 - 31
The Overwhelming Event (Surah Al-Ghashiyah)
(26 verses in total; revealed in Makkah)
The Day of Resurrection is the beginning of the process of judgment, known as the Day of Judgement. This early and short chapter provide a visual narrative of the condition of those who believe and do good vs. those who deny and do evils.
Key themes in this chapter are as follows:
Those burdened with the denial of God in this life and who have pursued evil and injustice on earth will have a life of deprivation and humiliation
But those believed and did good will have good company, pure provision and a life devoid vanities, illness and humiliation
The wonders of the natural world – the mountain, the ocean, the cloud, the sky, the vastness of this earth – all bear evidence of God’s presence
The Prophet is encouraged to continue to convey the message and not be worried about the results, which God will bring out as He pleases - the ultimate accountability is to God for all creations, including human beings
In the Name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
Has the narrative of the Overwhelming Event come to you yet?
(Some) faces on that day will be downcast
Weary and laboring
Entering fire blazing
Forced to drink from a boiling spring
Nothing of food but thorns
Neither nourishing nor satisfying hunger! (v. 1-7)
(Some) faces on that day will be content
Satisfied with their pursuits (in life)
Situated a lofty garden
Not hearing in it any vain talks
With fountains flowing
Seated on raised couches
Drinking cups ready in place
Cushions in rows
On carpet spread out! (v. 8-16)
Do they (the disbelievers) not see how?
The clouds are created!
The heavens are raised high!
The mountains are fixed firm!
The earth is spread out! (v. 17-20)
Therefore remind
Your only task is to remind
You are not a warden over them
Whoever then turns away and denies
God is there to chastise them
With grave consequences
Surely to Us (God) is their return
Then it is on Us to call them to account! (v. 21-26)
1See similar verses 75:24-30, 80:40-42
2See similar verses 75:22-23, 80:38-39, 83:24-28
3See similar verses 3:20, 5:92, 36:17,30:48
4See similar verses 29:40, 6:70, 13:40-42
