The Overwhelming
A question introduces the overwhelming event, followed by descriptions of downcast faces and hardship. Read these images with the chapter’s later contrast in view. Avoid treating the first scene as the whole of its message.
Based on Quran 88:1–5. 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 هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ٱلْغَٰشِيَةِ
(1) Has there reached you the report of the Overwhelming [event]?
وُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَٰشِعَةٌ
(2) [Some] faces, that Day, will be humbled,
عَامِلَةٌۭ نَّاصِبَةٌۭ
(3) Working [hard] and exhausted.[1910]
تَصْلَىٰ نَارًا حَامِيَةًۭ
(4) They will [enter to] burn in an intensely hot Fire.
تُسْقَىٰ مِنْ عَيْنٍ ءَانِيَةٍۢ
(5) They will be given drink from a boiling spring.
لَّيْسَ لَهُمْ طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِن ضَرِيعٍۢ
(6) For them there will be no food except from a poisonous, thorny plant
لَّا يُسْمِنُ وَلَا يُغْنِى مِن جُوعٍۢ
(7) Which neither nourishes nor avails against hunger.
وُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ نَّاعِمَةٌۭ
(8) [Other] faces, that Day, will show pleasure.
لِّسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌۭ
(9) With their effort [they are] satisfied
فِى جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍۢ
(10) In an elevated garden,
لَّا تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لَٰغِيَةًۭ
(11) Wherein they will hear no unsuitable speech.[1911]
فِيهَا عَيْنٌۭ جَارِيَةٌۭ
(12) Within it is a flowing spring.
فِيهَا سُرُرٌۭ مَّرْفُوعَةٌۭ
(13) Within it are couches raised high
وَأَكْوَابٌۭ مَّوْضُوعَةٌۭ
(14) And cups put in place
وَنَمَارِقُ مَصْفُوفَةٌۭ
(15) And cushions lined up
وَزَرَابِىُّ مَبْثُوثَةٌ
(16) And carpets spread around.
أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى ٱلْإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ
(17) Then do they not look at the camels - how they are created?
وَإِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيْفَ رُفِعَتْ
(18) And at the sky - how it is raised?
وَإِلَى ٱلْجِبَالِ كَيْفَ نُصِبَتْ
(19) And at the mountains - how they are erected?
وَإِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ كَيْفَ سُطِحَتْ
(20) And at the earth - how it is spread out?
فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌۭ
(21) So remind, [O Muḥammad]; you are only a reminder.
لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ
(22) You are not over them a controller.
إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ
(23) However, he who turns away and disbelieves –
فَيُعَذِّبُهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَكْبَرَ
(24) Then Allāh will punish him with the greatest punishment.
إِنَّ إِلَيْنَآ إِيَابَهُمْ
(25) Indeed, to Us is their return.
ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا حِسَابَهُم
(26) Then indeed, upon Us is their account.