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May 2024
1 m

Al-Zalzalah الزلزلة, "The Quake"

Qahramon
About this episode

Al-Zalzalah ( الزلزلة, al-zalzalah, meaning: "The Quake") is the 99th chapter (surah) of the Qur'an, composed of 8 ayat or verses. Although it is usually classified as a Medinan surah, the period during which the surah was revealed is not unanimously agreed upon by Qur'anic exegetes. Other Abrahamic religions also support the idea of punishment to the wrongdoers like in the Day of Judgement


Summary

  • 1-5 The judgment-day shall be ushered in by a declare why she trembles
  • 6-8 Men shall be judged according to their deeds[1]

The surah begins by describing how on the Day of Judgment, the Earth will give off a terrible earthquake and "throw up her burdens". Through the inspiration of God, the Earth will bear witness to the actions of men it has witnessed. According to Michael Sells, the earth opening up and bearing forth her secrets in this sura is indicative of a birth metaphor. The earth al-'Ard in the feminine gender bears forth of how her lord revealed the final secret to her. Human beings will then realize that the moment of accountability has arrived. This meticulous accountability will reflect good and evil deeds that might have seemed insignificant at the time.[2]

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