مَا ٱلْقَارِعَةُ 2
Translations
What is the Striking Calamity?
Transliteration
Mal-qāri'ah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah poses the rhetorical question 'What is Al-Qāri'ah?' referring to the Day of Judgment, also known as the Hour or the Day of Resurrection. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that Al-Qāri'ah literally means 'the striking' or 'the calamity,' as it strikes humanity with sudden terror and overwhelming events. The question serves to draw attention to the magnitude and inevitability of this Day, emphasizing its awesome and catastrophic nature.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Qari'ah is a Meccan surah primarily concerned with describing the events of the Day of Judgment and its terrors, delivered during the early Meccan period when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was warning the Quraysh of the coming judgment. This opening ayah immediately establishes the surah's theme by introducing Al-Qāri'ah and then providing vivid descriptions of its horrors in the subsequent verses.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The Hour will not be established until...,' as mentioned in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, which discusses signs preceding the Day of Judgment. Additionally, Surah Al-Haqqah (69:4) uses similar terminology ('Al-Hāqqah' - 'the Reality') to describe the same eschatological event.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the Day of Judgment is an inevitable reality that will strike unexpectedly, prompting reflection on one's deeds and preparation through righteous actions. Understanding the magnitude of Al-Qāri'ah should motivate believers to prioritize spiritual readiness and moral responsibility in their earthly lives.