The Calamity
A named calamity is followed by questions about it and images of people and mountains transformed. Notice how repetition draws the listener in. The later account of weighing deeds gives the opening its wider frame.
Based on Quran 101:1–5. Original study prompt, not a complete tafsir. Compare the passage ↗English Translation - Noor International Center · QuranEnc.com · v1.1.2 ↗
Issued by Noor International Center. Publisher footnotes appear with their verses.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱلْقَارِعَةُ
(1) The Striking Calamity -
مَا ٱلْقَارِعَةُ
(2) What is the Striking Calamity?
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْقَارِعَةُ
(3) And what can make you know what is the Striking Calamity?
يَوْمَ يَكُونُ ٱلنَّاسُ كَٱلْفَرَاشِ ٱلْمَبْثُوثِ
(4) It is the Day when people will be like moths, dispersed,[1975]
وَتَكُونُ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَٱلْعِهْنِ ٱلْمَنفُوشِ
(5) And the mountains will be like wool, fluffed up.[1976]
فَأَمَّا مَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ
(6) Then as for one whose scales are heavy [with good deeds],
فَهُوَ فِى عِيشَةٍۢ رَّاضِيَةٍۢ
(7) He will be in a pleasant life.
وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ
(8) But as for one whose scales are light,
فَأُمُّهُۥ هَاوِيَةٌۭ
(9) His refuge[1977] will be an abyss.[1978]
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا هِيَهْ
(10) And what can make you know what that is?
نَارٌ حَامِيَةٌۢ
(11) It is a Fire, intensely hot.