Tag Archives: underscores Allah’s perfect justice:

Islamic knowledge

Chapter 101/ Al Qari’ah

Summary of the chapter & the links: 

1. Audio discussion of the chapter summary: 

https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/c46a6729-20d4-411e-9d78-3385ec1b9a9c/audio

2. Mesmerizing recitation of the chapter with English translation:

https://surahquran.com/sorah-english-101.html

3. Free app for complete Quran , translations in multiple world languages: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1118663303

4. Free app for complete Quran, recitation, multiple tafaseer, books of ahadees: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1006098149

Based on Tafheem-ul-Quran’s commentary, here is a concise summary of Surah Al-Qari’ah (Chapter 101):

Key Themes and Explanations:

  1. The “Striking Calamity” (Al-Qari’ah)
  • The term refers to the Resurrection (Day of Judgment), depicted as a catastrophic event that strikes with overwhelming force. “Qari’ah” linguistically signifies a disaster that strikes so violently it produces a deafening noise .
  1. Chaos on Resurrection Day
  • Humanity will be in disarray, like scattered moths around a light, symbolizing utter confusion and helplessness.
  • Mountains will disintegrate and float like carded wool of varied colors, emphasizing the complete collapse of the worldly order .
  1. The Scales of Deeds (Mawazin)
  • Three Interpretations:
    • Mauzun: Good deeds with intrinsic “weight” in Allah’s sight.
    • Mizan: Literal scales weighing good deeds against evil ones.
    • Wazan: The “weight” of deeds themselves.
  • Regardless of interpretation, the outcome hinges on whether good deeds outweigh evil ones. Faith is foundational; without it, good deeds hold no weight .
  1. Two Eternal Destinies
  • Heavy Scales: Attain a “blissful life” (eeshatan radiyah) of divine contentment .
  • Light Scales: Abode is Hawiyah (the Pit), a deep, raging Hellfire. The phrase “his mother will be Hawiyah” metaphorically signifies it as the sinner’s only “embrace” .

Theological Emphasis:

  • The Surah underscores Allah’s perfect justice: Every deed, “even the weight of a mustard seed,” is accounted for. Denial of truth (kufr) renders all deeds weightless .
  • It serves as a grave warning to prioritize faith and righteous actions before the irreversible calamity unfolds .

“A Blazing Fire!” (Qur’an 101:11) – Tafheem clarifies this final verse as the ultimate fate for those whose scales are void of goodness .

This summary distills Tafheem-ul-Quran’s exegesis, focusing on its linguistic, theological, and eschatological insights. For the full Arabic text and detailed commentary, refer to the original Tafheem source.

Key Points

  • Surah Al-Qari’ah (Chapter 101) warns of the Day of Judgment, described as a great calamity.
  • It seems likely that the surah depicts the chaos of Judgment Day, with humans like scattered moths and mountains like carded wool.
  • Research suggests that deeds will be weighed on scales, with heavy scales (good deeds) leading to a blissful life and light scales (evil deeds) to Hell, known as Hawiyah.
  • The evidence leans toward this surah emphasizing accountability and the importance of righteous actions for the hereafter.

Overview of Surah Al-Qari’ah

Surah Al-Qari’ah, the 101st chapter of the Quran, is a short surah with 11 verses. It focuses on the Day of Judgment, portraying it as a significant and disruptive event. The surah uses vivid imagery to describe the chaos and the ultimate reckoning of human deeds, serving as a reminder of divine justice and the need for righteous living.

Description of the Day of Judgment

The surah begins by introducing “The Calamity” (Qariah), which refers to the Day of Resurrection. It describes a scene where human beings will be like scattered moths, symbolizing their helplessness and disarray, and mountains will be reduced to fluffs of carded wool, highlighting the insignificance of worldly structures and power on that day.

Judgment and Accountability

The latter part of the surah discusses the judgment process, where individuals’ deeds are weighed on divine scales. Those with heavy scales, indicating more good deeds, are promised a blissful life in the hereafter. Conversely, those with light scales, burdened by evil deeds, will dwell in Hawiyah, described as a deep pit or Hell, full of blazing fire. This imagery underscores the importance of living a life aligned with righteousness.

Significance and Themes

Surah Al-Qari’ah emphasizes the certainty of divine judgment and the accountability of one’s actions. It contrasts the fleeting nature of worldly life with the eternal consequences in the hereafter, urging believers to prioritize good deeds and prepare for the Day of Judgment.

Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Chapter 101 (Surah Al-Qari’ah) from Tafheemul Quran

This section provides a comprehensive examination of Chapter 101, Surah Al-Qari’ah, as interpreted in Tafheemul Quran, a renowned tafsir by Syed Abul A’la Maududi. The analysis aims to cover all aspects of the surah, drawing from the detailed commentary available online, and is structured to offer a thorough understanding for readers interested in Quranic exegesis.

Introduction to Tafheemul Quran and Surah Al-Qari’ah

Tafheemul Quran, authored by Maududi, is a significant work combining orthodox and modernist interpretations of the Quran. It provides detailed commentary, including historical context, linguistic analysis, and application to contemporary issues. Surah Al-Qari’ah, the 101st chapter, is a Meccan surah revealed before the Prophet Muhammad’s migration to Medina, consisting of 11 verses. It is named after the term “Qariah,” meaning “The Calamity,” and focuses on the theme of the Day of Judgment.

The commentary for this surah, as found on islamicstudies.info, offers insights into its meaning, structure, and implications. The URL for reference is https://www.islamicstudies.info/tafheem.php?sura=101, which provides the English translation and commentary used in this analysis.

Translation and Verse-by-Verse Summary

Below is a table summarizing the translation of each verse as per Tafheemul Quran, followed by key commentary points:VerseTranslation 101:1 The Calamity! 101:2 What is the Calamity? 101:3 And what do you know what the Calamity is? 101:4 On that Day human beings shall be like scattered moths. 101:5 And the mountains shall be like fluffs of carded wool in varying colours. 101:6 Then he whose scales weigh heavier. 101:7 Shall have a blissful life. 101:8 But he whose scales weigh lighter. 101:9 His shall be the deep pit for a dwelling. 101:10 And what do you know what that is? 101:11 A Blazing Fire!

This translation highlights the dramatic and vivid imagery used to describe the Day of Judgment, emphasizing its severity and inevitability.

Detailed Commentary and Analysis

The commentary in Tafheemul Quran provides a deeper understanding of the surah’s themes and linguistic nuances. Below are the key points extracted from the analysis:

  1. Meaning of Qariah:
    The term “Qariah” literally means “the striking one,” derived from the root “qar,” which signifies striking something severely to produce a noise. In Quranic usage, it denotes a dreadful disaster or great calamity. The commentary notes that it is used elsewhere, such as in Surah Ar-Raad (13:31) and Surah Al-Haaqqah (69:4), to refer to the Day of Resurrection. This establishes the surah’s focus on the hereafter and divine judgment.
  2. Description of the Day of Judgment:
    Verses 101:1-5 paint a picture of chaos and upheaval. Humans are likened to “scattered moths,” suggesting a state of helplessness and disarray, unable to find stability or direction. Mountains, often symbols of permanence and might, are described as “fluffs of carded wool in varying colours,” indicating their reduction to insignificance. This imagery, as per the commentary, underscores the complete disruption of the world order, where earthly power and structures lose all meaning.
  3. Judgment Based on Scales:
    Verses 101:6-11 introduce the concept of divine scales (mawazin), a recurring theme in the Quran (e.g., Surah Al-Aaraf 7:8-9, Surah Al-Kahf 18:103-105, Surah Al-Anbiya 21:47). The commentary explains that “heavy scales” imply good deeds outweighing evil ones, leading to a “blissful life” in the hereafter. Conversely, “light scales” indicate evil deeds outweighing good, resulting in dwelling in Hawiyah, described as a deep pit or Hell, full of raging fire. The term “Hawiyah” is metaphorically explained as “his mother will be Hawiyah,” meaning Hell as their only abode, emphasizing the severity of punishment.
  4. Linguistic and Idiomatic Insights:
    The commentary clarifies that “mawazin” can mean scales, weight, or the act of weighing, but the intention remains the same: the basis of judgment is whether one’s provision of deeds is weighty or weightless. This aligns with other Quranic passages, such as Surah Al-Aaraf, which states, “On that Day the weight will be identical with the truth: accordingly, those whose scales will be heavy will alone come out successful; and those whose scales are light will be the ones who will have incurred loss upon themselves.”
  5. Theological and Ethical Implications:
    The surah serves as a reminder of divine justice and accountability. It contrasts the fleeting nature of worldly life with the eternal consequences of one’s actions, urging believers to prioritize righteous deeds. The commentary highlights that this surah, being Meccan, was revealed in a context where the early Muslim community faced opposition, reinforcing the message of patience and preparation for the hereafter.

Themes and Relevance

Surah Al-Qari’ah’s themes include:

  • Certainty of Judgment: The surah leaves no doubt about the inevitability of the Day of Judgment, described as a calamity that will affect all humanity.
  • Accountability: Every individual will be judged based on their deeds, with no escape from divine scrutiny.
  • Contrast Between Worlds: The imagery of mountains and moths contrasts the temporary nature of earthly life with the eternal reality of the hereafter.
  • Call to Righteousness: The surah implicitly calls believers to live righteously, ensuring their scales are heavy with good deeds to attain bliss and avoid Hell.

These themes are particularly relevant for contemporary audiences, reminding them of the transient nature of worldly pursuits and the importance of spiritual preparation.

Supporting Resources

For further reading, the following URLs provide additional insights into Tafheemul Quran and related Quranic studies:

  • [https://www.islamicstudies.info/quran/tafheem/tafheemintroduction.php](Introduction to Tafheemul Quran)
  • [https://www.islamicstudies.info/quran/maarif/maarif.php?sura=101&verse=1&to=11](Maarif-ul-Quran commentary on Surah 101)
  • [https://www.islamicstudies.info/quran/dawat.php?sura=101&verse=1&to=11](Dawat-ul-Quran commentary on Surah 101)
  • [https://www.islamicstudies.info/quran/ishraq.php?sura=101&verse=1&to=11](Ishraq al-Ma’ani commentary on Surah 101)
  • [https://www.islamicstudies.info/quran/theclearquran.php?sura=101&verse=1&to=11](The Clear Quran translation of Surah 101)

These resources offer complementary perspectives, enhancing the understanding of Surah Al-Qari’ah’s message and Maududi’s interpretation.

Conclusion

Surah Al-Qari’ah, as interpreted in Tafheemul Quran, is a powerful reminder of the Day of Judgment, the weighing of deeds, and the eternal consequences of one’s actions. Its vivid imagery and theological depth make it a significant chapter for reflection on accountability and righteousness, aligning with Maududi’s approach of applying Quranic guidance to contemporary life. This detailed analysis ensures a comprehensive understanding, suitable for scholars, students, and lay readers interested in Quranic exegesis.