📕 Tafsir of Selected Chapters from The Qur’aan

The lesson begins with recitation of Surah Zalzalah, which is followed by the translation. The topic of this surah is the sign of the day of resurrection and being rewarded for the good & evil that a person puts forward. The sign itself of the day of judgment is the shaking of the earth. This surah is known as surah ‘zalzalah’ due to the surah beginning by informing us of the events that will take place i.e. that violent shaking shortly before the standing (on the day of judgment).

The relevance of this surah coming after surah Bayyinah is the punishment of hellfire for those who are from the mushrikeen. After Allaah mentioned the promise for the believer (of Paradise), it is relevant

The ordering of the different chapters in the Quran is not Tawkeefiyah (revealed from Allaah) but that ordering was from the actions of the Sahaba. This Surah, Surah Zalzalah comes after Surah Bayyinah as a sign that this will take place- the punishment for the disbelievers and the reward for the believers.

The disbelievers used to ask about the day of reckoning, so Allaah made clear to them through this surah, a sign for them.

 

  • “When the earth is shaken with its (final) earthquake.”

Allaah says the earth will tremble until everything that is upon it will fall, so the mountains and everything will be crushed until they are levelled.

  1. And when the earth throws out its burdens.”

This ayah is referring to the dead that are buried and the earth’s treasures.

 

  1. And man will say: “What is the matter with it?”

 

  1. That Day it will declare its information (about all that happened over it of good or evil).

It was narrated that for the Muadhin (one who gives the adhan), there is not a tree or stone that hears the muadhin except that it will bear witness for that person on the day of judgment.

  1. “Because your Lord will inspire it.”
  2. “That Day mankind will proceed in scattered groups that they may be shown their deeds.”
  3. “So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it.”
  4. “And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it.”

To summarise, this surah encourages a person to be mindful of that day and to have this day on the forefront of one’s mind that this is a clear sign of the day of standing, and that Allaah will cause the earth to be witness for a person’s actions- as small as it may be. Likewise, this surah is an encouragement to complete good deeds, even if it is small.

Concerning evil deeds, the messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said to his wife Aa’isha: Oh Aa’isha! Beware of those sins that you pay no attention to, for indeed there is for them one who seeks them out”, meaning an angel seeks out those sins that we belittle.