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Tafsir Surat al-Ghashiyah (The Overwhelming)
By: Ayatullah Naser Makarem Shirazi, Tafsir Namooneh
Translated into English by Fatima Zabeth Beenesh
รฅรณรกรบ รรณรรณรรรณ รรณรรถรญรรต รรกรบรรณรรรถรญรณรรถ (88:1)
88:1
Has there reached you the report of the Overwhelming [event]?
รฆรตรรตรฆรฅรฑ รญรณรฆรบรฃรณรรถรรฒ รรณรรรถรรณรรฑ (88:2)
88:2
Some faces, that Day, will be humiliated (in the Hell-fire,)
รรณรรฃรถรกรณรรฑ รครธรณรรรถรรณรรฑ (88:3)
88:3
Labouring (hard in the worldly life by worshipping others besides Allah), weary (in the Hereafter with humility and disgrace).
รรณรรบรกรณรฌ รครณรรรฐร รรณรรฃรถรญรณรรฐ (88:4)
88:4
They will [enter to] burn in an intensely hot Fire.
รรตรรบรรณรฌ รฃรถรครบ รรณรญรบรครฒ รรครถรญรณรรฒ (88:5)
88:5
They will be given drink from a boiling spring.
รกรธรณรญรบรรณ รกรณรฅรตรฃรบ รรณรรณรรฃรฑ ร
รถรกรธรณร รฃรถรค รรณรรถรญรรฒ (88:6)
88:6
No food will there be for them but a poisonous thorny plant,
รกรณร รญรตรรบรฃรถรครต รฆรณรกรณร รญรตรรบรครถรญ รฃรถรค รรตรฆรรฒ (88:7)
88:7
This neither nourishes nor avails against hunger.
Sura e Gashiyah is descended in Mecca; it rotates around three points:
The first axis is the judgment day specifically the painful punishments for unbelievers and delightful rewards for the believers.
The second axis is Monotheism which indicates the creation of the earth, the sky and the establishment of the mountains, earth and brings the attention of the man towards these strange subjects.
The third axis is the prophecy and a part of the duties of the prophet of Islam.
The virtues of reading Sura e Gashiyah
We read in a narration from Prophet Muhammad sallallaho alaihi va ala alehi who said: The person who reads Sura e Gashiyah, the Merciful God made his accounts easy on judgment day.
In a hadis from Imam Sadiq alaihis salam we read: One who continually recites Sura e Gashiyah in the obligatory รฆรรร namaz or supererogatory รครรรกรฅ prayers the compassionate God covers him with his kindness in this world and hereafter. On the judgment day he is safe from the punishment of hell fire.
Unquestionably the person earns such a great reward and favors when Sura e Gashiyah creates a thought and makes the person to practice it.
The exhausted and unlucky
In the beginning we come across a new name of the judgment day which is รรกรรรรญร Gashiyah and said: Does the tale of Gashiyah reached you?
รฅรณรกรบ รรณรรณรรรณ รรณรรถรญรรต รรกรบรรณรรรถรญรณรรถ (88:1)
รรกรบรรณรรรถรญรณรรถ means to cover, the choice of this name for the day of resurrection is for the reason that the dreadful events of that day suddenly enwraps and covers everybody. That day when the man from first to last of creation will be gathered, for giving the accounts of their deeds there the fire will cover the faces of the infidels and wrong doers.
Outwardly it addressed the prophet in the interrogatory and questioning form to point out the importance and grandeur of that day.
Then it describes the state of the evildoers and said: The faces on that day are humble, meek and full of humiliation.
รฆรตรรตรฆรฅรฑ รญรณรฆรบรฃรณรรถรรฒ รรณรรรถรรณรรฑ (88:2)
That day insults, fear of punishment and torments will prevail upon their whole existence such that their spiritual status more than anything will get revealed from their faces. The fear, insult and terror reflect from their countenance.
Then it adds: They are those people who constantly practiced (their deeds) and got tired.
รรณรรฃรถรกรณรรฑ รครธรณรรรถรรณรรฑ (88:3)
In the worldly life they struggled to the last extent but of no use, they did not get anything except fatigue. They do not have a single accepted รฃรรรฆรก deed in the court of the Dominant and Elevated God. They cannot take with them anything from their accumulated wealth. They do not leave any righteous name in the memories nor a virtues child and they are tired toilers. Such a proper definition รรณรรฃรถรกรณรรฑ รครธรณรรรถรรณรรฑ is for them.
At last these unfruitful arduous laborers and hard workers, completely tired will enter the enormous fire of the hell and burn into it.
รรณรรบรกรณรฌ means entrance into the fire and remaining burnt into it.
รรครถรญรณรรฒ here it gives the meaning of the extremely hot water whose temperature reached to its utmost point.
The next ayat is about their food when they get hungry and added: They do not have the food except thorn.
What is รรณรรถรญรรฒ? Some interpreters said: It is a kind of thorn which sticks to the floor which is poisonous no animal or cattle dare to go near it. According to some, it is stinky and green.
Ibn Abbas said: It is a tree of fire which has such a capability that it can burn down the earth and everything in it.
But in a hadis from the last great prophet Muhammad sallallaho alaihi va ala alehi we read: รรณรรถรญรรฒ is a hell fire resembling the thorn more bitter than patience, more stinky than a dead body and more inflammable than fire. God, the Sovereign Lord named it รรณรรถรญรรฒ Zariโ.
It does not make them plump and fat nor satiate their hunger.
รกรณร รญรตรรบรฃรถรครต รฆรณรกรณร รญรตรรบรครถรญ รฃรถรค รรตรฆรรฒ (88:7)
Those who eat delicious spicy food and sweet dishes of this world by the way of earning with cruelty and aggression in the rights of the people and did not permit the deprived people to eat except the harsh, unpleasant and throat sticking food they have to eat the foods that torment them painfully.
As many a times we told that the heavenly blessings and the chastisement of the hell cannot be described by us, as we are the prisoners of this world. The definition of the pleasures and horrors of the hereafter are the indications and they only look like the shadows from far away, (the reality of punishment is more horrible).
รฅรณรกรบ รรณรรณรรรณ รรณรรถรญรรต รรกรบรรณรรรถรญรณรรถ (88:1)
88:1
Has there reached you the report of the Overwhelming [event]?
รฆรตรรตรฆรฅรฑ รญรณรฆรบรฃรณรรถรรฒ รรณรรรถรรณรรฑ (88:2)
88:2
Some faces, that Day, will be humiliated (in the Hell-fire,)
รรณรรฃรถรกรณรรฑ รครธรณรรรถรรณรรฑ (88:3)
88:3
Labouring (hard in the worldly life by worshipping others besides Allah), weary (in the Hereafter with humility and disgrace).
รรณรรบรกรณรฌ รครณรรรฐร รรณรรฃรถรญรณรรฐ (88:4)
88:4
They will [enter to] burn in an intensely hot Fire.
รรตรรบรรณรฌ รฃรถรครบ รรณรญรบรครฒ รรครถรญรณรรฒ (88:5)
88:5
They will be given drink from a boiling spring.
รกรธรณรญรบรรณ รกรณรฅรตรฃรบ รรณรรณรรฃรฑ ร
รถรกรธรณร รฃรถรค รรณรรถรญรรฒ (88:6)
88:6
No food will there be for them but a poisonous thorny plant,
รกรณร รญรตรรบรฃรถรครต รฆรณรกรณร รญรตรรบรครถรญ รฃรถรค รรตรฆรรฒ (88:7)
88:7
This neither nourishes nor avails against hunger.
Sura e Gashiyah is descended in Mecca; it rotates around three points: The first axis is the judgment day specifically the painful punishments for unbelievers and delightful rewards for the believers.
The second axis is Monotheism which indicates the creation of the earth, the sky and the establishment of the mountains, earth and brings the attention of the man towards these strange subjects.
The third axis is the prophecy and a part of the duties of the prophet of Islam.
The virtues of reading Sura e Gashiyah
We read in a narration from Prophet Muhammad sallallaho alaihi va ala alehi who said: The person who reads Sura e Gashiyah, the Merciful God made his accounts easy on judgment day.
In a hadis from Imam Sadiq alaihis salam we read: One who continually recites Sura e Gashiyah in the obligatory รฆรรร namaz or supererogatory รครรรกรฅ prayers the compassionate God covers him with his kindness in this world and hereafter. On the judgment day he is safe from the punishment of hell fire.
Unquestionably the person earns such a great reward and favors when Sura e Gashiyah creates a thought and makes the person to practice it.
Have a look at camel it is sign of God
In the mentioned ayaat it is defined to large extent about the heaven and its bounties. But in the ayat under the discussion is upon key subject to get the blessing of Benevolent God which is the recognition of God.
By mentioning the four types of manifestations of Sovereign Lord God, the Outstanding and Incomparable Creator, invites man towards reading. Meanwhile it is an indication towards the unending power of Merciful God which is the key to solve the problems of the judgment day.
First it is said: Do not they see the camel how it is created?
รรณรรณรกรณร รญรณรครรตรรตรฆรครณ ร
รถรกรณรฌ รรกรบร
รถรรถรกรถ รรณรญรบรรณ รรตรกรถรรณรรบ (88:17)
This animal is specifically a strange creature which made it noteworthy.
1 They are some farm animals whose meat provides for only consumption, for some their milk is mostly useful and some are useful for carrying the loads of burden. But the camel is such an animal which provides all the needs of man. Its meat as well as milk is useful and it can also be used for riding and loading the burdens.
2 Camel is the most powerful animal, full of resistance power compared to other domestic animals. It loads heavy burdens and strange fully, when it is sleeping the burden can be loaded upon it. It stands up straight, by a jerk on its feet while the other animals are not able to perform such a task (when they are loaded while sleeping).
3 The camel for many consecutive days (from one week to 10 days) can live thirsty and to face the hunger it have great tolerating stamina.
4 The camel can travel every day a long distance and pass through the difficult routes and sandy lands which the other animals are unable to undergo while travelling. For that reason the Arabs call it the ship of the desert.
5 In the matter of eating food camel is very inexpensive animal and can eat every kind of thorn and brush wood {(densely grown small shrubs or woodโs of cut off branches)(รร รฆ รรรรห)}.
6 In any inappropriate circumstances of desert, in middle of the sand storms which blinds oneโs eyes and makes the ears deaf, the Merciful God bestowed camel with exceptional means of eyelid, ears and nose to resist unfair situations which helps the camel to continue its journey.
7 Camel with all its capabilities and strength is the tamest animal such that a little child can lead the halter of a row of the camels wherever he wants.
In short, the distinctive qualities of the camel are established in such a manner that if any one who ponders over its creation, it brings the attention of a man towards the great creator who brought into existence such a strange creature (camel).
The Quran states: why do these people, lost in the valley of ignorance do not think over the mysterious secrets of this creature, to find the path of truth and return back from going astray.
Untold, it is evident that by the wordรครรตร in รรณรรณรกรณร รญรณรครรตรรตรฆรครณ it is not common way of seeing but observing, along with thinking and considering.
After that it turns towards the sky and said: do not you look at the sky, how it is established?
รฆรณร
รถรกรณรฌ รรกรรธรณรฃรณรร รรณรญรบรรณ รรตรรถรรณรรบ (88:18)
The sky with all its greatness, mysteries, stars, the milky wayโs, the beauty, grace and attractiveness sinks man into amazements. He cites himself trivial before the Wonderful Creator, fully accurate system and order, he feels himself like a zero before the infinite universe.
How these magnanimous spheres are nailed into their own orbit and without any pillar they are stable in their own place. Millions of years have passed from the solar system but the basic orbit has not still changed.
The creation of the sky is always astounding and magnificent and the present celestial scientific discoveries revealed them more impressive and majestic.
Do not we need to think about the creator of this grand universe and make ourselves closer to his high and lofty purposes and aims?
Then from the sky the topic turned towards the land and added: Do not you see the mountains, how they are erected on their places.
รฆรณร
รถรกรณรฌ รรกรบรรถรรณรรกรถ รรณรญรบรรณ รครตรรถรรณรรบ (88:19)
The roots of the mountains are connected to each other like the segments of the armor (a defensive metallic body covering) throughout the earth. They minimize the trembling of the earth which occurs due to the underground melted materials and the high and low tide of oceans happens due to the gravitational force of the moon and sun.
The mountains are the secure place of refuge and a shield to confront the floods and the storms. In case of their absence the earth would have been a desert, unable to inhabit on it.
Ultimately, the mountains save the waters in themselves and gradually flows it towards the thirsty lands. They create joy of life, greenery, pleasure and freshness on the extent of the earth. For these reasons the other ayaat of Quran had also mentioned the mountains and introduced them as the nails and tent-pegs of the earth.
Basically the mountains are the manifestations of dignity, grandeur and power which cause everywhere abundant benefits and welfare. May be for that reason in the mountains the man reaches to the heights of spirituality. It has some reasons that the prophet before reaching the prophetic mission, for a long period of time used to be occupied in worshiping the Merciful God in the mountain of light Jabalunur and the Cave of Hira.
รครตรรถรรณรรบ is taken from the word รครตรรถรรณ means firm and fixed. They are various causes for the creation of the mountains: The mountains came into existence by the shrinking of the earth.
The mountains are created by the volcanoes.
The mountains are caused by the alluviums (deposits of the sand and mud) caused by the rain.
The mountains came into existence in the oceans they are the sediments of the ocean and the remains of its animals (like the coral islands).
รฆรณร
รถรกรณรฌ รรกรบรรณรรบรรถ รรณรญรบรรณ รรตรรถรรณรรบ (88:20)
88:20
And at the earth - how it is spread out?
รรณรรณรรธรถรรบ ร
รถรครธรณรฃรณร รรณรครรณ รฃรตรรณรรธรถรรฑ (88:21)
88:21
So remind them (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)), you are only a reminder.
รกรธรณรรบรรณ รรณรกรณรญรบรฅรถรฃ รรถรฃรตรรณรญรบรรถรรฒ (88:22)
88:22
You are not a controller over them.
ร
รถรกรธรณร รฃรณรค รรณรฆรณรกรธรณรฌ รฆรณรรณรรณรรณ (88:23)
88:23
However, he who turns away and disbelieves -
รรณรญรตรรณรรธรถรรตรฅรต รรกรกรธรณรฅรต รรกรบรรณรรณรรรณ รรกรบรรณรรบรรณรรณ (88:24)
88:24
Then Allah will punish him with the greatest punishment.
ร
รถรครธรณ ร
รถรกรณรญรบรครณร ร
รถรญรณรรรณรฅรตรฃรบ (88:25)
88:25
Verily, to Us will be their return;
รรตรฃรธรณ ร
รถรครธรณ รรณรกรณรญรบรครณร รรถรรณรรรณรฅรตรฃรบ (88:26)
88:26
Then indeed, upon Us is their account.
Then describes the earth and said: Do not you see the earth, how it is in level.
รฆรณร
รถรกรณรฌ รรกรบรรณรรบรรถ รรณรญรบรรณ รรตรรถรรณรรบ (88:20)
How the constant rains washed the mountains, created the particles of the soil, then spread them into depression of the grounds and provided leveled lands to the man for agriculture and constructing the structures.
Here there is a question, put forth: what is the relationship and connection among these four matters, camel, sky, mountains and earth.
In the description of Fakhr e Razi it is mentioned: It is because the Noble Quran has descended in Arabic language and the Arabs were mostly occupied in travelling as their land were almost without any agriculture and production. They were mostly travelling on the camels and while passing through the dreadful deserts, away from the society in their journeys, the thoughts and consideration used to get alive in their minds as nobody used to be there with them to talk and nothing used to be there to occupy their sight and hearing. At these moments when they were involved in the thoughts their attention used to go towards the camel upon which they were riding and they used to sight the strange animal and think about its mysterious creations.
And when they used to observe upon their heads there observed nothing besides the sky and as they were sighted towards their left and right they saw nothing except the mountains while watching under their feet it was nothing besides the ground. As the Supreme light of Mighty God guided them and made them to think. In that loneliness naturally their thoughts went around the axis of these four things.
The sky is the home of lights, rains, winds. The earth is the centre of the production of the food materials. The mountains have the secret of peace and calmness, storing water and minerals and the camel is the clear example of domestic animals under the control of the human being.
Thus the matters of agriculture, animal husbandry and industry come under these four affairs. Thinking about these blessing any how makes the man to thank the one who favored upon them. And to thank that Benevolent and Compassionate patron makes the man aware of Allah and invite him to know the creator of the blessings.
Then in continuing the discussion regarding monotheism addressed the prophet Muhammad sallallaho alaihi va ala alehi and said: If the existing circumstances are in such a manner, remind them and you are only the reminder.
รรณรรณรรธรถรรบ ร
รถรครธรณรฃรณร รรณรครรณ รฃรตรรณรรธรถรรฑ (88:21)
You are never dominating over them, to force them to bring the faith (upon One and Only Sovereign Lord).
รกรธรณรรบรรณ รรณรกรณรญรบรฅรถรฃ รรถรฃรตรรณรญรบรรถรรฒ (88:22)
Yea the creation of the skies, earth, mountains and animals proved that this galaxy is not causeless. There is a purpose in the creation of human being. As this fact is evident introduce them by your instructions towards the aims of the creation, direct them the way which makes them near to the Compassionate God and be their guide and lead them in the path of perfection.
Of course the way of perfection is possible when it is accompanied by intentions, full authority and inclination else the perfection by force and compulsion is meaningless, you cannot enforce them and if you were able to do it then it is of no use.
The announcement and promotion of Islam was started from the first day of the prophetic mission till the last breath of Muhammad sallallaho alaihi va ala alehi. And after the death of prophet his mission continued and uninterrupted will persevere to last through his infallible successors and the Islamic scholars.
The same way No Compulsion in bringing to believe is the fundamental rule and the cause of Jihad (a holy war undertaken as a sacred duty by Muslims.) is particularly to fight with the unrestricted rebels and to remove the barriers before the truth seeking people.
In the ayat 80 of Sura e Nisa it is said:
รฆรณรฃรณรค รรณรฆรณรกรธรณรฌ รรณรฃรณร รรณรรบรรณรกรบรครณรรรณ รรณรกรณรญรบรฅรถรฃรบ รรณรรถรญรรฐร (4:80)
4:80
But those who turn away - We have not sent you over them as a guardian.
In the next ayat specifically said: except the one who turn back is an infidel.
ร
รถรกรธรณร รฃรณรค รรณรฆรณรกรธรณรฌ รฆรณรรณรรณรรณ (88:23)
The Self Sufficient and Exalter God punish him with great chastisement.
รรณรญรตรรณรรธรถรรตรฅรต รรกรกรธรณรฅรต รรกรบรรณรรณรรรณ รรกรบรรณรรบรรณรรณ (88:24)
In the ayat 83 Sura e Zukhruf said: Surat Az-Zukhruf (The Ornaments of Gold) - รรฆรร รรกรรรร
รรณรรณรรบรฅรตรฃรบ รญรณรรตรฆรรตรฆร รฆรณรญรณรกรบรรณรรตรฆร รรณรรธรณรฌ รญรตรกรณรรรตรฆร รญรณรฆรบรฃรณรฅรตรฃรต รรกรธรณรรถรญ รญรตรฆรรณรรตรฆรครณ (43:83)
43:83
So leave them to converse vainly and let them to amuse until they meet the Day which they are promised.
Leave them on their own to sink in the worthless deeds and engaged in their games till the day, they are promised to meet the God.
In the ayat 26 Sura e Zumur we read: Surat Az-Zumar (The Troops) - รรฆรร รรกรรฃร
รรณรรณรรณรรรณรฅรตรฃรต รรกรกรธรณรฅรต รรกรบรรถรรบรญรณ รรถรญ รรกรบรรณรญรณรรรถ รรกรรธรตรครบรญรณร รฆรณรกรณรรณรรณรรรต รรกรบรรรถรรณรรถ รรณรรบรรณรรต รกรณรฆรบ รรณรรครตรฆร รญรณรรบรกรณรฃรตรฆรครณ (39:26)
39:26
So Allah made them taste disgrace in worldly life. But the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew.
The Patient and Withholder God tasted them the humiliation in the life and the immense punishment of here after is for them, if they are aware of it.
In the end of the Sura รรฆรร รรกรรรรญร in the warning tone it said: certainly their return is towards us.
ร
รถรครธรณ ร
รถรกรณรญรบรครณร ร
รถรญรณรรรณรฅรตรฃรบ (88:25)
Later it adds: Then surely the calculation of their deeds is with us.
รรตรฃรธรณ ร
รถรครธรณ รรณรกรณรญรบรครณร รรถรรณรรรณรฅรตรฃรบ (88:26)
88:26
Then indeed, upon us is their account.
In fact this is to console and sympathize with the feelings of the prophet against the malicious attitudes of the enemies and not to make the messenger uneasy, dispirited, and discouraged so that he continued his mission. Meanwhile it is a warning to the stubborn unbelievers to make them know, with whom is their confrontation?
O God, the Majestic Creator, the day, the return of the entire creatures is towards you and the calculations of the deeds are before you, on that day be kind and benevolent to us.
O God, the Source of Peace, the one who bestows plenty of mercy upon the believers, with your divine kindness escapes us from your great punishment.
O God, the most Glorious and Generous, a corner of the heavenโs favors is narrated in this Sura, it is extremely precious and enthusiastic. By our deeds, if we do not deserve them, you bless us these favors by your grace.
Ameen, O the Lord of Universe
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