وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا هِيَهْ 10
Translations
And what can make you know what that is?
Transliteration
Wa mā adrāka mā hiyah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This rhetorical question emphasizes the incomprehensibility and terrifying nature of the Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyāmah) to human minds. The phrase 'And what can make you know what it is?' conveys that no description or imagination can adequately capture the magnitude of that Day, as explained by classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir. This technique of repetition and questioning is used throughout Surah Al-Qari'ah to stress the gravity and overwhelming reality of the Last Hour.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Qari'ah is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam to warn the disbelievers of Mecca about the certainty of the Day of Judgment. This particular ayah continues the surah's theme of describing the Calamity—the sudden and catastrophic event of the Day of Judgment—using vivid imagery and rhetorical questions to awaken the hearts of the listeners and emphasize that human understanding falls short of grasping its true reality.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The Hour will not be established till the sun rises from the west; and when the people see it, whoever is on the earth will believe.' (Sahih Bukhari 3194). This hadith relates to the signs preceding the Day of Judgment mentioned in Surah Al-Qari'ah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the Day of Judgment is beyond human comprehension and imagination, urging constant mindfulness of the Hereafter and sincere repentance in this life. It teaches humility before Divine mysteries and the importance of preparing spiritually for events whose true magnitude we cannot fully grasp.
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ تَبْيَضُّ وُجُوهٌ وَتَسْوَدُّ وُجُوهٌ ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْوَدَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ أَكَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَـٰنِكُمْ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
On the Day [some] faces will turn white and [some] faces will turn black. As for those whose faces turn black, [to them it will be said], "Did you disbelieve [i.e., reject faith] after your belief? Then taste the punishment for what you used to reject."
وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ فَصَعِقَ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا مَن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ ثُمَّ نُفِخَ فِيهِ أُخْرَىٰ فَإِذَا هُمْ قِيَامٌ يَنظُرُونَ
And the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead except whom Allāh wills. Then it will be blown again, and at once they will be standing, looking on.
يَوْمَ نَطْوِى ٱلسَّمَآءَ كَطَىِّ ٱلسِّجِلِّ لِلْكُتُبِ ۚ كَمَا بَدَأْنَآ أَوَّلَ خَلْقٍ نُّعِيدُهُۥ ۚ وَعْدًا عَلَيْنَآ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا فَـٰعِلِينَ
The Day when We will fold the heaven like the folding of a [written] sheet for the records. As We began the first creation, We will repeat it. [That is] a promise binding upon Us. Indeed, We will do it.
ثُمَّ يُجْزَىٰهُ ٱلْجَزَآءَ ٱلْأَوْفَىٰ
Then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense -