Surah 88. Al-Ghashiyah
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKuFg8kt1EI[/ame]
Verses: 26
Verses: 26
(88:-1 to 16)
Has the news of the overwhelming event reached you? *1
Some faces *2 that Day shall be downcast with fear,
be toiling and worn-out;
they shall burn in a Scorching Fire;
their drink shall be from a boiling spring.
They shall have no food except bitter dry thorns *3
that will neither nourish nor satisfy their hunger.
On that very Day some faces shall be radiant with joy,
well-pleased with their striving. *4
They will be in a lofty Garden
wherein they shall hear no vain talk. *5
In it there shall be a flowing spring,
and couches raised high,
and goblets laid out, *6
and cushions arrayed in rows,
and rich carpets levelled out.
(88:17 to 20)
Do (these unbelievers) not observe the camels: how they were created?
And the sky: how it was raised high?
And the mountains: how they were fixed?
And the earth: how it was spread out? *7
*1"The over-shadowing calamity": the Resurrection which will overshadow the whole world. One should know that here the Hereafter as a whole is being depicted, which comprehends aII the stages from the upsetting of the present system to the resurrection of all human beings and the dispensation of rewards and punishments from the Divine Court.
*2 Some faces : some persons, so said for the face is the most conspicuous part of the human body by which man s personality is judged and which reflects the good or bad states through which man passes.
*3 At some places in the Qur'an it has been stated that the dwellers of Hell will be given zaqqum to eat; at another place it has been said that they will have no other food but glhislin (washing from wounds), and here that "their only food will he thorny, dry grass."
There is, in fact, no contradiction between these statements. This may as welt mean that Hell will have many different compartment in which different categories of the criminals will be lodged according to their crimes, and subjected to different punishments.
This may also mean that if they try to avoid zaqqum they will be given ghislin, and if they try to avoid even that, they will only get thorny grass. In short, they would get nothing to suit their taste.
*4 That is. they will be overjoyed to see the best results in the Hereafter of their endeavours and deeds in the world; they will be satisfied to see that they had, in fact, made a profitable bargain in that they had adopted a life of faith, virtue and piety, by sacrificing the desires of the flesh, undergone hardships in carrying out their obligations, endured afflictions in obeying the Divine Commands, incurred losses and suffered deprivation of benefits and pleasures while trying to avoid sins and acts of disobedience.
*5 This thing has been mentioned at several places in the Qur'an as a major blessing of Paradise. (For explanation, see E.N. 38 of Maryam, E.N. 18 of At-Tur, E.N. 13 of Al-Wiiqi`ah, E.N. 21 of An-Naba).
*6 That is, filled goblets already supplied so that they do not have to ask for them.
Do (these unbelievers) not observe the camels: how they were created?
And the sky: how it was raised high?
And the mountains: how they were fixed?
And the earth: how it was spread out? *7
::::::::::::::::::(88:21) (88:26)
So render good counsel, for you are simply required to counsel,
and are not invested with the authority to compel them. *8
But whoever will turn away (from the Truth),
Allah will chastise him with the most terrible chastisement.
Surely to Us is their return;
and then it is for Us to call them to account.
*1"The over-shadowing calamity": the Resurrection which will overshadow the whole world. One should know that here the Hereafter as a whole is being depicted, which comprehends aII the stages from the upsetting of the present system to the resurrection of all human beings and the dispensation of rewards and punishments from the Divine Court.
*2 Some faces : some persons, so said for the face is the most conspicuous part of the human body by which man s personality is judged and which reflects the good or bad states through which man passes.
*3 At some places in the Qur'an it has been stated that the dwellers of Hell will be given zaqqum to eat; at another place it has been said that they will have no other food but glhislin (washing from wounds), and here that "their only food will he thorny, dry grass."
There is, in fact, no contradiction between these statements. This may as welt mean that Hell will have many different compartment in which different categories of the criminals will be lodged according to their crimes, and subjected to different punishments.
This may also mean that if they try to avoid zaqqum they will be given ghislin, and if they try to avoid even that, they will only get thorny grass. In short, they would get nothing to suit their taste.
*4 That is. they will be overjoyed to see the best results in the Hereafter of their endeavours and deeds in the world; they will be satisfied to see that they had, in fact, made a profitable bargain in that they had adopted a life of faith, virtue and piety, by sacrificing the desires of the flesh, undergone hardships in carrying out their obligations, endured afflictions in obeying the Divine Commands, incurred losses and suffered deprivation of benefits and pleasures while trying to avoid sins and acts of disobedience.
*5 This thing has been mentioned at several places in the Qur'an as a major blessing of Paradise. (For explanation, see E.N. 38 of Maryam, E.N. 18 of At-Tur, E.N. 13 of Al-Wiiqi`ah, E.N. 21 of An-Naba).
*6 That is, filled goblets already supplied so that they do not have to ask for them.