يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصْدُرُ ٱلنَّاسُ أَشْتَاتًا لِّيُرَوْا۟ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ 6
Translations
That Day, the people will depart separated [into categories] to be shown [the result of] their deeds.
Transliteration
Yawmaidhin yasdurun-nasu ashtatan liyaraw a'malahum
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when people will emerge from their graves in scattered groups to witness the deeds they performed in life. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the word 'ashtatan' (scattered/in groups) signifies that people will be separated by their deeds and destinations—some heading toward Paradise and others toward Hell. The phrase 'to see their deeds' indicates that on that Day, all actions will be made manifest and evident, as no deed remains hidden from Allah's knowledge and justice.
Revelation Context
Surah Az-Zalzalah is a Medinan chapter that depicts the events of the Day of Judgment, particularly the earthquake that will shake the earth and cause it to reveal all the deeds and secrets it has witnessed. This ayah contextualizes the purpose of humanity's emergence on that Day—to witness and be confronted with the reality of their earthly actions.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said in an authentic hadith: 'On the Day of Judgment, a person's feet will not move until they are asked about four things: their life and how they spent it, their youth and what they did with it, their wealth and how they acquired and spent it, and their knowledge and what they did with it.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). This directly relates to the confrontation with one's deeds mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that every action in this life will be accounted for and made visible on the Day of Judgment, encouraging mindfulness and conscious conduct. It instills the importance of conscious living, knowing that we will ultimately be confronted with the full reality of how we spent our time, abilities, and resources in this world.
Related Ayahs
يَوْمَ نَدْعُوا۟ كُلَّ أُنَاسٍۭ بِإِمَـٰمِهِمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَـٰبَهُمْ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
[Mention, O Muḥammad], the Day We will call forth every people with their record [of deeds]. Then whoever is given his record in his right hand - those will read their records, and injustice will not be done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside the date seed].
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.
ثُمَّ لَنَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِهَا صِلِيًّا
Then, surely it is We who are most knowing of those most worthy of burning therein.
فَكَيْفَ تَتَّقُونَ إِن كَفَرْتُمْ يَوْمًا يَجْعَلُ ٱلْوِلْدَٰنَ شِيبًا
Then how can you fear, if you disbelieve, a Day that will make the children white-haired?