101- Surat Alqari'ah/Tafseer
11 Verses Meccan (revealed in Mecca)
A'auzu Bellahi mena ash-shytani ar-rajim
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan
Bismi Ellahi Ar-rhmani Ar-rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Alqari'ah (1).
The Striking Calamity.
Ma Alqari'ah (2).
What is the Striking Calamity?.
Wa-ma adraka ma Alqari'ah (3).
And what will make You know what is the Striking Calamity.
Yawma yakunu alnasu kal-farashi almabthuth (4).
It is the day when people will be like scattered butterflies.
Wa takunu aljebalu kal-ehni almanfush (5).
And the mountains will be like fluffed up wool.
Fa-amma man thaqulat muazeenuh (6).
Then as for the one whose scales are heavy.
Fa-huwa fi ishatin radiah (7).
Then he will be in a pleasant life.
Wa amma man khaffat mawazinuh (8).
And as for the one whose scales are light.
Fa-aummuhu hawiyah (9).
Then his abode will be abyss .
Wa-ma adraka ma heiyah (10).
And what will make You know what that is?.
Narrun hamiyah (11).
A blazing fire.
Simplified interpretation:
Alqari'ah (The Striking Calamity) is one of the names of the day of resurrection, and the Arabs used to call the terrible calamity with Alqari'ah, so Allah confirms how the day of resurrection is terrible, and Allah describes some scenes that will happen on that day, and makes clear the abode of those obey Allah and do righteous deeds and the abode of those who disobey Him and do evil deeds.
Allah Almighty says in the first three verses (1-3) "The Striking Calamity, What is the Striking Calamity?, and what will make You know what is the Striking Calamity", that is, Allah addresses His Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) by the question form to assure How terrible the day of resurrection is, so it is as if He says to His Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) what will make You know how severe and terrifying the day of resurrection is.
Allah Almighty says in the next two verses (4,5) "It is the day when people will be like scattered butterflies, and the mountains will be like fluffed up wool", that, Allah describes some scenes that will happen on the day of resurrection, so mankind will be in a great disaster, and then they will not be able to control their coming and their going, and they will ride one another and walk around each other, so they will be like scattered butterflies. And the mountains will be like fluffed up wool, and it was said that Mountains will move on the earth and they will be in the form of dust.
Allah Almighty says in the next two verses (6,7) "Then as for the one whose scales are heavy, then he will be in a pleasant life", that is, Allah will set the scales of the justice for the day of resurrection, so no soul will be wronged in anything, and if there is the weight of a grain of mustard, Allah will bring it forth as He has stated in Aya (47) of Surat Alanbiyaa, so all people will be brought before the scales of justice for the weighing of their deeds, then they will be divided into two groups; the first one is the ones whose scales are heavy, they are the believers whose their good deeds more than their bad deeds, and as a reward for that, they will be in a satisfied life which is a pleasant life in Paradise.
Allah Almighty says in the last four verses (8-11) "And as for the one whose scales are light, then his abode will be abyss, and what will make You know what that is?, a blazing fire.", that is, as for the second group, they are the ones whose scales are light because their bad deeds are more than their good deeds, and as a recompense for their evil deeds, Allah has made the abyss "Alhawyah" their abode, and Alhawyyah is one of the names of Hellfire, and it will be a fire of intensely hot .