SURAH AL-QARIAH Chapter - 101

This blog is part of a series of blogs based on my research and compilation of surahs of the Quran, in an effort to understand these surahs in an easy way. Today's effort is on Surah AL-QARIAH Chapter - 101, hope going through it will be a learning journey for all of you. May Allah forgive any mistake, omission, or error on my part in its compilation (Aameen Summa Aameen).

Introduction:

Surah Al-Qariah is the 101st Surah of the Holy Quran with 11 verses. It is known for its vivid description of the Day of Judgement. The Surah emphasizes the importance of considering the consequences of our deeds and intentions confirming the belief that they will be weighed on Judgment Day. Al-Qari'ah means (the striking, hours i.e. the day of resurrection and has been translated as calamity, striking, catastrophe and clatterer. According to Ibn Kathir, a traditionalistic exegete, Al-Qariah is one of the names of the Day of Judgement, like Al-Haaqqa, At-Tammah, As-Sakhkhah and others.

When it was Revealed & Background:

This Surah was revealed at Mecca. Scholars identified this because of its composition characteristics and structure. Surahs of this period are characterized by being short with short verses. In addition to Al Qariah’s structure, scholars were certain that Qariah was revealed in Mecca because of the meaning and the message it conveyed. This Surah reiterates the warning of the preceding Surah that, in order to awaken Man from a sleep of ignorance, sometimes a thunderous sound will knock at their door. The probable reason mentioned that Surah Qariah was revealed is to remind “Quraish” and the whole of mankind of doomsday and how horrible it will be, how they will look like and act after being resurrected, how weak they will be in front of Allah's great power. This Surah, on the whole, describes the Resurrection Day and its preliminary events. The style is alarming and awakening with some clear warnings.

Teaching of Surah Qariah:

The surah describes the day of Resurrection as the day of noise:

Ø  When the evils-doers will come to an end.

Ø  It confirms this world will come to an end.

Ø  It shows that everything on earth including mountains will perish.

Ø  The surah teaches the importance of good work and shall be rewarded accordingly.

     Lesson learned from Surah, Al-Qariah:

  According to this Surah, people are divided into two definite groups:

  Ø  Those whose good deeds weigh heavy by the Divine Scales will rejoice in a pleasant life;

  Ø  And those whose good deeds weigh light will have the abyss as their abode.

Message Of Surah Qariah:

All of us know that there will be consequences for our actions. “What comes around, goes around.”, for this sake, we have to behave well in this life to get rewarded in the afterlife.

Surah Qariah (Arabic: سورة القارعة) awesomely delivers this message; when we are resurrected to be judged by Allah on the Day Of Judgement, we will feel lost, going here and there for fear of meeting Allah by carrying our sins above our shoulders. So if you were good in this life, you will be rewarded by Allah with his prize of entering his paradise. But if you behave badly, Allah forbids, you will be punished forever after judgment in the hellfire.

The Virtue of Studying this Surah

No certain Hadith was said by our beloved Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) about Surah Qariah, but by reading it, you will be rewarded by Allah like reading all other surahs of the Holy Quran.

However, on the virtue of reciting the Surah, a tradition from Imam Baqir (as) says:

"He who recites Al-Qariah, Allah secures him from the calamity of (believing in) Dajjal (the deceiver) and also from the hideousness of Hell on the Day of Judgement, Allah willing,"

Surah Qariah benefits:

The Holy Quran is full of benefits and virtues. There are general benefits of reading the Quran that Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) told us about to make us keen on reading daily. By reading the Holy Quran your soul will be enlightened, you will get closer to Allah, and be loved by Him. The more you read the more raise of rank you will get among Allah’s servants in life and the afterlife. You will be rewarded 10 times and more for each letter you read. It will prevent you from being punished and it will be your intercessor in front of Allah.

Al Qariah reciting in particular has its benefits:

Ø  A reminder of doomsday and what it will look like, and this will make us think a lot before taking any action and prevent us from behaving badly.

Ø  It mentions that the day of resurrection will be a terrifying day for mankind, so every individual has to increase his good deeds as much as he can.

Ø  Mountains will be like fluffed-up wool, so we the weak have to think a lot about our weakness in front of Allah’s greatness.

Ø  Our Judgement will be based on our scales, if our scales are heavy we will be rewarded, and if not we will be punished.

Ø  Believers and good-doers have to calm down when they know that Allah is the most merciful.

Ø  We have to trust Allah’s Judgement because He is the fairest.

Ø  Increase in Sustenance.

Ø  Protection from Poverty & Business Growth.

Ø  Protection from Dajjal & Insect Protection.

Ø  Strengthened Belief & Overcoming Bad Habits.

Ø  Wish Fulfillment & Easiness in Work.

    

      Researched & Compiled by: 

      OVAIS ASAD KHAN