Juz 30: An-Nabaʾ to An-Nās
Section 9 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
9. Surah Al-Ghashiyah and Al-Fajr: The Overwhelming Event and Time
Surah Al-Ghashiyah begins by addressing one of the most profound questions in Islamic eschatology - what will happen on the Day of Judgment? The title itself, "Al-Ghashiyah," refers to the overwhelming event that will encompass all creation.
هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ الْغَاشِيَةِ
“Has there come to you the description of the Overwhelming Event?”
Allah opens this surah with a rhetorical question that immediately draws attention to the severity and importance of that Day. The surah then continues to describe two contrasting groups of people on the Day of Judgment. First, there will be faces in a state of extreme humiliation, toiling and laboring:
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَاشِعَةٌ عَامِلَةٌ نَاصِبَةٌ تَصْلَى نَارًا حَامِيَةً
“Many faces on that day will be downcast, working hard, exhausted. They will enter into the scorching fire.”
These people will suffer the consequences of their disbelief and wrongdoing in this world. Allah describes their punishment with vivid imagery - they will be given food that neither nourishes nor satisfies their hunger, emphasizing the complete futility of their situation.
In stark contrast, Allah mentions those who will be in complete bliss:
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاعِمَةٌ لِّسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌ
“Many faces on that day will be full of joy, well pleased with their endeavor.”
These believers will reside in lofty gardens where they will hear no idle talk. They will have fountains flowing, raised couches, cups set at hand, cushions arrayed, and carpets spread out - all symbolizing comfort, honor, and tranquility.
After these contrasting descriptions, Allah directs our attention to four of His magnificent creations that demonstrate His power and wisdom: the camel, the sky, the mountains, and the earth. Each of these creations manifests Allah's greatness in different ways. The camel is specifically mentioned because it was a marvel of creation familiar to the Arabs - able to survive harsh desert conditions, carrying heavy burdens with minimal water.
أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى الْإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ
“Do they not look at the camels, how they are created?”
The surah concludes with a reminder of the Prophet's role as merely a reminder, not one who forces people to believe. The final judgment and reckoning belong to Allah alone.
Surah Al-Fajr continues the eschatological theme but begins with a series of oaths that emphasize the significance of time:
وَالْفَجْرِ وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ وَالشَّفْعِ وَالْوَتْرِ وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَسْرِ
“I swear by the dawn, and by the Ten Nights, and by the even and the odd, and by the night when it moves away.”
Allah swears by the dawn, the ten nights (widely understood to be the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah), the even and the odd, and the night when it passes. These oaths establish the importance of time and the cyclical nature of existence that ultimately leads to accountability.
The surah then shifts to historical examples of powerful civilizations that were destroyed due to their transgression - 'Ād of Iram, Thamūd, and Pharaoh. These once-mighty peoples built impressive structures and wielded great power, yet when they crossed the boundaries set by Allah, they faced His punishment:
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ إِرَمَ ذَاتِ الْعِمَادِ
“Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with 'Ād, of Iram, the men of lofty pillars?”
Allah also describes the human condition - when man is given bounties, he considers it an honor from Allah, but when his provision is restricted, he considers it a humiliation. This reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of trials and provision in this world.
The surah concludes with a profound address to the tranquil soul that returns to its Lord well-pleased and well-pleasing:
يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ ارْجِعِي إِلَى رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً
“O contented soul! Return to your Lord, well-pleased, well-pleasing.”
This beautiful ending provides comfort and hope for the believers who strive in this world - they are promised an honorable return to their Lord, joining His righteous servants, and entering His Paradise.