Surah Al-Qari'ah (The Calamity)
Read in the interactive Mushaf readerAbout this surah
Name
The Surah takes its name from its first word al-qari'ah. This is not only a name but also the title of its subject matter, for the Surah is devoted to the subject of the Resurrection.
Period of Revelation
There is no dispute about this surah being a Makki Surah. Its contents show that this too is one of the earliest Surahs to be revealed at Makkah.
Theme and Subject Matter
Its theme is Resurrection and the Hereafter. At the outset, the people have been alerted and alarmed with: "The Great Disaster! What is the Great Disaster? And what do you know what the Great Disaster is?" After preparing the listeners for the news of the dreadful calamity, the Resurrection has been depicted before them in two sentences, saying that on that Day people will be running about in confusion and bewilderment like many scattered moths around a light, and the mountains uprooted, will fly about like carded wool. Then it has been said that when Allah's Court is established in the Hereafter and the people are called upon to account for their deeds, the people whose good deeds are found to be heavier than their evil deeds, will be blessed with bliss and happiness, and the people whose good deeds are found to be lighter than their evil deeds, will be cast into the deep pit full of burning fire.
Surah Al-Qari'ah — Arabic with English translation
وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلۡقَارِعَةُ ٣
And what can make you know what is the Striking Calamity?
يَوۡمَ يَكُونُ ٱلنَّاسُ كَٱلۡفَرَاشِ ٱلۡمَبۡثُوثِ ٤
It is the Day when people will be like moths, dispersed,1
وَتَكُونُ ٱلۡجِبَالُ كَٱلۡعِهۡنِ ٱلۡمَنفُوشِ ٥
And the mountains will be like wool, fluffed up.1
فَأَمَّا مَن ثَقُلَتۡ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ ٦
Then as for one whose scales are heavy [with good deeds],
وَأَمَّا مَنۡ خَفَّتۡ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ ٨
But as for one whose scales are light,
وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا هِيَهۡ ١٠
And what can make you know what that is?