SURAH AL GHASHIYAH: Chapter: 88

This blog is part of a series of blogs based on my research and compilation of all the Surahs of Holy Quran. An effort to make each of these Surahs understandable in an easy way. Today's effort is SURAH AL GHASHIYAH - Chapter. 88, hope going through it will be a learning experience for each one of you. May Allah forgive any mistake, omission, or error on my part in its compilation (Aameen Summa Aameen).

English Translation:

1. Has the news of the Calamity overwhelming (everything) reached you? 2. Many faces on that Day will be humiliated and degraded, 3. (Forgetting Allah,) toiling (for worldly gains), sustaining (strenuous) rigorous (for a fleeting luxury), 4. Will plunge into the Blazing Fire. 5. (They will be) offered to drink (water) from a boiling spring. 6. They will have no food except thorny and dry venomous herbage 7. (This food) will neither nourish nor gratify hunger. 8. (On the contrary) that Day a number of faces will be (pleasing to the eye,) glowing with joy and freshness, 9. Delighted and rejoicing over their (righteous) travail, 10. (Abiding) in a magnificent Paradise, 11. Where they will not hear anything absurd (as the disbelievers used to say to them in the world). 12. In it there will be flowing springs, 13. And raised-up couches (laid), 14. And goblets (decently) set in place, 15. And silken cushions orderly lined up, 16. And soft and refined carpets and rugs (richly) spread. 17. (The disbelievers wonder how all that would be arranged in Paradise. So) do they not see how the camel has been created (in an unusual form)? 18. And (do they not observe) how the heaven is raised so high (with its vast expanse)? 19. And (do they not see) how the mountains have been created (raised out of the earth)? 20. (Nor do they consider) how the earth has been spread out (besides its round shape)? 21. So, continuously admonish them, for you are but an admonisher, 22. You are not imposed upon them (as) an oppressor and persecutor. 23. But anyone who turns away and becomes a disbeliever, 24. Allah will torment him with the greatest punishment. 25. Indeed, it is to Us that they will return (in the end); 26. Then, surely, it is Our concern to call them to account.

Introduction:

Surah Al Ghasiyah is the 88th Surah and found in the 30^th JUZZ (Parah) of the Holy Quran. This Surah contains 26 verses (Ayats), 92 words with 76 unique words without repetition and 382 letters, and it is revealed in “Makka” approximately between 618 – 621 AD, so referred as the “Makki” Surah. And this surah is called The Overwhelming. This is one of the earliest Surahs revealed at Makkah revealed during the period when the Prophet (PBUH) had started preaching his message publicly, and the people of Makkah were hearing it and ignoring it carelessly and thoughtlessly. Al-Ghasiyah is one of the names of the Day of Judgement.

The first subject is the 'Resurrection' and the contrast between the destinies of the Good and the Evil in the 'Hereafter'.

The second subject is 'Monotheism' with reference to the creation of the sky, the earth, and the mountains. Man should consider these wonderful matters as admonishments.

The third subject is ‘Prophecy' and some of the duties that the holy Prophet (S) was required to perform. On the whole, the Surah strengthens the idea for the basis of religion and faith, as well as all Meccan Surahs do.

The Surah begins by describing the state of people on the Day of Judgment when their faces will be humbled and their hearts filled with fear and anxiety. It emphasizes that no one will be able to escape the consequences of their actions and that every individual will be held accountable for their deeds. The Surah also highlights the rewards and punishments that await individuals based on their faith and actions.

Background:

This Surah is one of the Meccan Surahs which contains mainly the following three themes: The first subject is the 'Resurrection' and the contrast between the destinies of the Good and the Evil in the 'Hereafter'. The second subject is 'Monotheism' with reference to the creation of the sky, the earth, and the mountains.

The Message given in surah al-Ghasiyah:

This surah refers to three broad-ranging topics. First, God describes the difference between good and evil paths that an individual can take and the consequence of each path. God then clarifies their destiny and describes what hell would be like for the non-believers. Surah Al-Ghasiyah describes the conditions of creatures on the Day of Resurrection. The conditions of people on this great Day are divided into two sections: those of Hell and those of Paradise.

The case of the infidels who denied God and did not worship Him and denied the resurrection. Their faces will be humiliated on that day and tired. They will be given water from a boiling spring. There is no food for the people of Hell except a poisonous plant with thorns that does not benefit them.

The faces of the believers on the Day of Resurrection will be blessed. They are pleased with their efforts in this world through acts of worship. These believers will be in an elevated garden, in which they will not hear an idle talk, in which there is a spring with waters flow, in which there are lofty couches, and cups prepared for the drinkers, and cushions lined up, one next to the other, and many rugs furnished.

Then the verses are mentioned to reflect on the universe and its creatures and how they were created.

Allah Almighty then says to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah upon him): Remind and preach those who deny the Resurrection and do not grieve (O Messenger) over their denial, but you are just a reminder. And you do not have to force them to believe.

At the end of the verses, God says those who refused to believe and continued to disbelieve will be severely punished. To Us is their return after death, and then We have to hold them accountable.

Major Issues, Divine Laws and Guidance

Ø  The condition of the disbelievers and the believers on the Day of Judgement.

Ø  The wonders of nature, admonition and accountability.

Theme f the Surah:

Surah Ghasiyah is one of the chapters of the 30th juz’ of the Quran and like many chapters of this part of the Quran, talks of the Day of Judgment. In this chapter the happy and sad, weary and humiliated faces of the good and evil doers according to their deeds, have been spoken about. It also describes some of the blessings and punishments that await them in Heaven and Hell and finally ends with a discussion about the Prophet’s role as a reminder for the people.

To understand the subject matter of this Surah one should keep in view the fact that in the initial stage the preaching of the Prophet (pbuh) mostly centered around two points which he wanted to instill in the peoples' minds:

Ø  Tawhid, and

Ø  The Life after death.

Guidance is provided through questions inviting people to think, such as: do these people not observe the common things which they experience daily in their lives? Do they not consider how the camels, on whom their whole life's activity in the Arabian desert depends, came into being? How they were endowed precisely with the same characteristics required to live the desert life? When they go on their journeys, they see the sky, the mountains, and the earth. Let them ponder over these three phenomena and consider as to how the sky was stretched above them, how the mountains were erected and how the earth was spread beneath them? Has all this come about without the skill and craftsmanship of an All-Powerful, All Wise Designer? If they acknowledge that a Creator has created all this with great wisdom and power and that no one else is an associate with Him in their creation, why then do they refuse to accept Him Alone as their Sustainer? And if they acknowledge that Allah (God) had the power to create all this, then on what rational ground do they hesitate to acknowledge that Allah also has the power to bring about resurrection, to recreate man, and to make hell and heaven?

Benefits Of Reciting Surah Al Ghasiyah

Ø  It provides solace and comfort to believers, reminding them that Allah is aware of their actions and will reward or punish them accordingly.

Ø  It instills a sense of accountability and responsibility in believers, reminding them that their actions have consequences.

Ø  Reciting Surah Al-Ghasiyah can bring about a deeper understanding of the Day of Judgment and motivate believers to seek Allah’s guidance and forgiveness.

Ø  Reciting Surah Ghasiyah near a baby removes fright from him and stops his crying.

Ø  Our Beloved Imam Ali Ibn Abu Talib (radi allahu tala anhu) has said that if Surat Ghasiyah is recited over a part of the body which is paining, the pain will go away and if recited over food items, it removes any bad effects of that food.

Ø  If Surah Al-Ghasiyah s recited for a child (human or animal) who screams very much, he would get rid of this habit and have an ordinary life of a child. If a person is suffering pain in a molar tooth or in the teeth recite this surah to remove pain, uneasiness.

Ø  The reciter of Surah Al-​Ghasiyah will have an easy accounting in Qiyamah.

Ø  If Surah Ghasiyah is recited for a man who is straying he would come back on the right path.

Ø   The virtues of Surah Ghasiyah:

It is narrated from the Holy Prophet (S) that the one who recites this Surah will not face difficulty in the accounting of deeds on the Day of Judgement and Allah (S.W.T.) will show Mercy to him and save him from Jahannam. Reciting this Surah near a baby removes fright from him and stops his crying.

The holy Prophet (S) that says: “He who recites this Surah will be reckoned with an easy Reckoning by Allah.”

The Prophet would recite this Surah in the second Rakah of Eid and Jummah prayer. [Sahih Muslim]

And another narration from Imam Sadiq (as) says: "He who continues reciting this Surah in his obligatory or voluntary prayers, Allah will put him in His Grace both in this world and the Next, and will keep him safe from fire in the Hereafter.”

Summary of Surah Ghasiyah

Surah Ghasiyah is one of the chapters of the 30th juz’ of the Quran and as with many chapters of this juz’, deals with Qiyamah.

It starts by talking about the states of the people on that Day; some of the faces are happy because of their deeds in the world and some are humiliated, abject, weary due to their evil deeds in the world.

It then goes on to describe to describe some of the punishments and rewards that await the doers of good in Hell and Heaven. It also presents proof of Qiyamah and of God’s Lordship and finally indicates the role of the Prophet as a reminder for the people.

 

Researched & Compiled by:

Ovais Asad Khan