وَبُسَّتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ بَسًّا 5
Translations
And the mountains are broken down, crumbling
Transliteration
Wa bussati al-jibālu bassā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the mountains will be scattered and dispersed into dust on the Day of Judgment. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the word 'bassa' (scattered) emphasizes the complete disintegration of these massive structures, symbolizing the total upheaval of creation. This destruction of mountains, often mentioned as symbols of permanence and stability in the Quran, underscores the absolute power of Allah and the inevitable collapse of all worldly permanence.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Waqi'ah's vivid description of the Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyamah). The surah was revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period to emphasize the certainty of the Hereafter and to warn the disbelievers of their ultimate accountability before Allah. The theme of mountains being destroyed appears throughout Meccan surahs as a powerful image of cosmic transformation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The mountains will pass away and be replaced by clouds, and the earth will be stretched like the hide of a beast' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, Surah Al-Haqqah (69:14) mentions similarly: 'And the mountains will be carried away as clouds are carried away,' showing consistency in Quranic imagery of the Day of Judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a reminder that nothing in this world—no matter how seemingly permanent or powerful—will endure except through the will of Allah. Muslims should use this reflection on the transience of worldly structures to redirect their focus toward eternal deeds and spiritual preparation for the Afterlife.
Related Ayahs
ٱلْأَخِلَّآءُ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Close friends, that Day, will be enemies to each other, except for the righteous
وَبَرَزُوا۟ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا فَقَالَ ٱلضُّعَفَـٰٓؤُا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًا فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّغْنُونَ عَنَّا مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ قَالُوا۟ لَوْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ لَهَدَيْنَـٰكُمْ ۖ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْنَآ أَجَزِعْنَآ أَمْ صَبَرْنَا مَا لَنَا مِن مَّحِيصٍ
And they will come out [for judgement] before Allāh all together, and the weak will say to those who were arrogant, "Indeed, we were your followers, so can you avail us anything against the punishment of Allāh?" They will say, "If Allāh had guided us, we would have guided you. It is all the same for us whether we show intolerance or are patient: there is for us no place of escape."
وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ يَوْمُ ٱلْوَعِيدِ
And the Horn will be blown. That is the Day of [carrying out] the threat.
ٱقْتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلْقَمَرُ
The Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two].