The Noble Quran, English Translation and Tafsir of Surah al-Ghashiyah Ayah 17-26 Proofs Confirming Allah’s Perfect Ability

 

88:17 Will they not then look at the camels, how they are created,

88:18 and the heaven, how it is raised, 

88:19 and the mountains, how they are firmly set up, 

88:20 and the earth, how it is spread out? 

88:21 Then remind! You are but a reminder.

88:22 You have no control over them.

88:23 But he who turns away and disbelieves, 

88:24 Allah will punish him the greatest punishment.

88:25 Surely, to Us is their return, 

88:26 then surely upon Us will their reckoning. 

Relationship with the Previous Part   

The previous parts mention that the Day of Judgment will take place and that people will be divided into two groups on that day. Then this part mentions some proofs that confirm Allah’s Oneness and ability by mentioning some aspects of His ability in this universe. Then Messenger Muhammad was commanded to remind people of proofs that affirm Allah’s Oneness and be patient when inviting them to follow the path of guidance as Allah sent him to guide people to the right path, and not to force them to be believers. 

Tafsir

88:17 Will they not then look at the camels, how they are created,

88:18 and the heaven, how it is raised, 

88:19 and the mountains, how they are firmly set up, 

88:20 and the earth, how it is spread out? 

‘Will they not…’ the interrogation is for condemnation and criticism. It incites people to reflect on some aspects of Allah’s Oneness and perfect ability in this universe that no one can deny. 

‘Will they not look at…’ the intended meaning is to an invitation to reflect on those creatures, which will lead to learning beneficial lessons. 

‘Will they not look at…’ the address is to the disbelievers, who disbelieve in Allah’s Oneness and deny the resurrection for reckoning on the Day of Judgment. Though there are many clear proofs in this universe that affirm Allah’s Oneness before their eyes, they are heedless of them and insist on disbelieving in Allah’s Oneness. 

Will the disbelievers keep on their ignorance, deviation, and denying the occurrence of the Day of Judgment and recompense on that day. Will the disbelievers not look at and reflect on the camels that they can see with their eyes? Will they not consider how Allah created them? Allah created them in the best form and made their organs coordinated so that they can perform their functions properly. They can drink their milk, eat their meat, ride them when traveling, and carry their loads on their backs. 

The camels are specifically mentioned because they are considered the most valued wealth by the Arabs, the most familiar creatures in their environment, and the most beautiful creatures as to their creation, forms, and constitution.  

Someone may say, ‘Why are the camels mentioned with the sky, the mountains, and the earth and there is no relationship between them? The answer is, these things are present in the environment of the Arabs. They exist in their valleys and deserts. Therefore, they are mentioned according to their presence in their environment [Tafsir al-Kashshaaf, Al-Zamakhsahari].

Will the disbelievers not look at heaven and see how it is raised? If they carefully consider the amazing creation of heaven and how it is raised high without any pillar, they will certainly know that Allah created it in such a wonderful manner. 

Will the disbelievers not look at the mountains, how they are firmly set up? How are the great mountains set up on the earth so that they protect it from moving or shaking? 

Will the disbelievers not look at the earth, how it is spread out? How is the earth spread out so that people can safely live on it and benefit from its resources?

Qatada, may Allah be pleased with him, said, when Allah mentioned the attributes of Paradise in the Quran, the disbelievers became amazed. Then Allah revealed, [88:17 Will they not then look at the camels, how they are created…] They used to see the camels in their environment. 

88:21 Then remind! You are but a reminder.

88:22 You have no control over them.

After reprimanding the disbelievers, who arrogantly closed their eyes and ears lest they should see the truth, and who were heedless of proofs confirming Allah’s Oneness and ability, Allah commanded Messenger Muhammad to keep on reminding people of the message of the truth.

O noble Messenger Muhammad, We have told you about the conditions of people on the Day of Judgment and that We have created this universe by Our ability. Keep on inviting people to follow the religion of the truth, Islam. Remind them of Allah’s proofs that confirm that He is the only God, who deserves sincere worship. This is your duty. Do not occupy yourself with their affairs. You have no control over them and you cannot force them to believe in Islam. You only have to convey Allah’s message. If they believe, they will be guided to the right path, and if they turn away from the truth, they will go astray. We shall call them to account for their deeds on the Day of Judgment. 

88:23 But he who turns away and disbelieves, 

88:24 Allah will punish him the greatest punishment.

O noble Messenger Muhammad, keep on inviting people to follow the right path, Islam. Whoever turns away from listening to your reminding and invitation, and insists on disbelieving in Allah’s Oneness, We shall punish him the greatest punishment. He will suffer the severe torment of Hell on the Day of Judgment. 

88:25 Surely, to Us is their return, 

88:26 then surely upon Us will their reckoning. 

O noble Messenger Muhammad, keep on inviting people to Islam and reminding them of what brings them happiness in this world and the Hereafter. Then, do not busy yourself with their conditions. Surely, to Us is their return after death on the Day of Judgment. Then We shall surely call them to account for their deeds and recompense them according to them. 

Learned Lessons from Surah al-Ghashiyah Ayah 17-26

• The disbelievers rejected to believe in Allah’s Oneness. Thus, Allah reminded them of some proofs confirming His Oneness that they can see in their environment. He reminded them of the miraculous creation of the camels, the amazing creation of heaven, the earth, and the mountains. 

• Allah commanded Messenger Muhammad to keep on inviting people to Islam and told him that he only had to remind them of what brings them happiness in this world and the Hereafter and that he had no control over them to force them to be believers.

• Those who reject to follow Islam will suffer severe torment in Hell on the Day of Judgment. 

• All creatures will return to Allah after death and will be raised for reckoning on the Day of Judgment. 

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The Noble Quran English Translation and Tafsir of Surah al-Ghashiyah Ayah 8-16 Conditions of the Believers in Paradise

 

88:8 Some faces on that day will be radiant, 

88:9 well-pleased with their striving, 

88:10 in a lofty Garden,

88:11 where they will hear no idle talk, 

88:12 therein is a running spring, 

88:13 therein are raised couches, 

88:14 and cups placed ready, 

88:15 and cushions ranged, 

88:16 and carpets spread out. 

Relationship with the Previous Part

The previous part mentions the evil end of the wicked disbelievers on the Day of Judgment and it mentions the severe punishment that they will suffer in Hell. Then the surah mentions the happy end of the believers and refers to some of the rewards that Allah has prepared for them in Paradise. This is a typical characteristic of the style of the Quran. It mentions something and then it mentions its opposite to bring the intended meaning home to those who reflect on the meanings of the Quran. 

Tafsir

88:8 Some faces on that day will be radiant, 

88:9 well-pleased with their striving, 

88:10 in a lofty Garden,

On the Day of Judgment, the faces of the believers will be radiant because of the immense pleasures they will be enjoying in Paradise that Allah has given them as a recompense for their righteous deeds in the worldly life. 

The believers will be well-pleased with their striving in the worldly life as they will have a great reward even more than what they expected and hoped. They used to work hard in the worldly life to please Allah and they will find the fruits of this striving in Paradise where they will happy.

The believers will dwell in the lofty Garden of Paradise. It is a lofty place and has a lofty rank. 

88:11 where they will hear no idle talk, 

The believers will hear no idle talk nor falsehood in Paradise. They will hear only a pleasant talk that brings happiness to the soul. The inhabitants of Paradise will speak pleasant talks that contain wisdom and praise and thankfulness to Allah for all the blessings that He has given them. Indeed, Paradise is the dwelling of Allah’s friends and the house of the chosen ones. It will not be contaminated by falsehood nor idle talks. 

88:12 therein is a running spring, 

88:13 therein are raised couches, 

88:14 and cups placed ready, 

88:15 and cushions ranged, 

88:16 and carpets spread out.  

The ayah mentions some aspects of Allah’s blessings on the believers in Paradise. First, there is a running spring in Paradise from which the believers will always drink pure and fresh water. Second, the believers will comfortably sit on beautiful, raised couches. Third, there are cups that are placed ready for the believers to drink from Paradise water and tasty drinks, which will have no negative effects on their minds. They will drink from them without having to exert any effort to have or fill them. Fourth, there will be many beautiful cushions that are ranged one after another so that the believer can recline on them and sit comfortably. Fifth, there are large and luxurious carpets that are spread out in Paradise, where the believers can sit and enjoy the great reward that Allah has prepared for them. May Allah, out of His bounty and generosity, make us of the dwellers of Paradise.

Learned Lessons from Surah al-Ghashiyah Ayah 8-16

• Allah has described Paradise, the dwelling of the believers, with wonderful attributes that make people hope to enter it by worshipping Allah alone, and performing righteous deeds for Allah’s sake. 

• The faces of the believers will be well-pleased in Paradise as they will be happy with the immense reward that Allah has given them for believing in His Oneness and performing righteous deeds for His sake in the worldly life. 

• Paradise, the dwelling of the believers, is lofty, i.e. on a lofty place and has a lofty rank. It has what the souls desire and makes the hearts happy. 

• The believers will not hear idle talk in Paradise, as it dwelling of peace and safety.

• The believers will enjoy different kinds of blessings in Paradise, such as drinking from a running spring, sitting on raised couches, having cups that are placed ready for them to use, cushions that are ranged one after another, and large and beautiful carpets on which they can sit comfortably.

The Noble Quran English Translation of Surah al-Ghashiyah

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88:1 Has the news of the overwhelming Event reached you?

88:2 Some faces on that day will be humiliated,

88:3 laboring, weary, 

88:4 burning in a blazing fire, 

88:5 given to drink from a boiling spring, 

88:6 no food for them but thorns, 

88:7 neither fattening nor availing against hunger.

Tafsir 

88:1 Has the news of the overwhelming Event reached you?

The interrogation is to magnify the great horrors of the Day of Judgment. It is called ‘Ghashiyah, the overwhelming Event’ because its horrors will overwhelm people so that they cannot think about anything but its terrors and overwhelming events. 

O noble Messenger Muhammad, has the news of the overwhelming Event reached you? Has the news of the Day of Judgment reached you? It will overwhelm people with its terrifying events that they will feel as if they did not receive any important news before its coming. 

The surah begins by referring to the horrors of the Day of Judgment to attract people’s attention. This introduction implies that the news and events of the Day Judgment are important matters that people should prepare themselves to encounter. 

88:2 Some faces on that day will be humiliated,

On the Day of Judgment, the faces of the disbelievers will be humiliated because of the severe torment that they will be experiencing in Hell. 

The faces are specifically mentioned because the face is the most honored part of the human body and effects of humiliation mainly appear on it. 

88:3 laboring, weary, 

The wicked dwellers of Hell, whose faces will be humiliated because of the severe torment that they will be experiencing, will be laboring and weary on the Day of Judgment. They will do hard work, such as pulling heavy chains and carrying heavy loads in Hell, which will make them weary. 

These attributes of dwellers of Hell are mentioned to criticize them, as they refrained from in Allah’s Oneness, and performing righteous deeds in the worldly life. In addition, they favored the fleeting enjoyment of the worldly life over the lasting pleasures of the Hereafter. Thus, their recompense will be humiliation and hard work after which there is no rest. 

88:4 burning in a blazing fire, 

The wicked dwellers of Hell will be burning in the blazing fire of Hell on the Day of Judgment. 

88:5 given to drink from a boiling spring, 

The wicked dwellers of Hell will be given to drink from a boiling spring. The drink of this spring will be boiled until it reaches the maximum heat temperature. 

88:6 no food for them but thorns, 

88:7 neither fattening nor availing against hunger.

The wicked dwellers of Hell will have no food but thorns, which are bitter trees in Hell with foul odor. This food will neither fatten them nor avail them against the great hunger that they will be suffering in Hell.  

In sum, the wicked dwellers of Hell will drink an extremely hot drink and eat bitter and foul thorny plants that will increase them nothing but severe pain and great suffering. They deserve such painful punishment because they disbelieved in Allah’s Oneness and were wicked in the worldly life. 

Learned Lessons from Surah al-Ghashiyah Ayah 1-7

• The Day of Judgment is a great day and it will overwhelm people with its horrors. 

• On the Day of Judgment, the faces of the disbelievers will be humiliated. 

• The disbelievers will be laboring and weary in Hell. 

• The disbelievers will burn in the very hot fire of Hell and they will be given to drink from a boiling spring. 

• The food of the disbelievers will be thorny plants that will be neither nourishing, nor fattening, nor availing against hunger. 

• Mentioning the severe punishment of the dwellers of Hell should make one refrain from doing the things that lead them to suffer such painful torment, namely, disbelief in Allah’s Oneness and doing evil deeds.

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Introduction to Tafsir of Surah al-Ghashiyah

Name of the Surah

This surah is called surah al-Ghashiyah because it begins by the following Ayah:  88:1 Has the news of al-Ghashiyah ‘the overwhelming Event’ reached you?

Al-Ghashiyah is one of the names of the Day of Judgment. It is called so because its great horrors will overwhelm people.  

Relationship between Surah al-A’la and al-Ghashiyah

Surah al-Ghashiyah mentions details about what is mentioned in surah al-A’la in general. Surah al-A’la mentions some attributes of the believers and disbelievers and briefly refers to Paradise and Hell. 

87:10 He who fears will be mindful, 

87:11 and the most wretched will avoid it,

87:12 who will burn in the Great Fire, 

87:17 while the Hereafter is better and more lasting.

Surah al-Ghashiyah mentions details of some of the conditions of the disbelievers and the believers. 

88:2 Some faces on that day will be humiliated,

88:3 laboring, weary, 

88:4 burning in a blazing fire, 

88:8 Some faces on that day will be radiant, 

88:9 well-pleased with their striving, 

88:10 in a lofty Garden,

Theme of Surah al-Ghashiyah

This surah, like all surahs that were revealed in Mecca, discusses the basic principles of creed, i.e. confirming Allah’s Oneness, the Day of Judgment, and reckoning on that day. Surah al-Ghashiyah also refers to some aspects in the universe that confirm Allah’s perfect ability and that Allah alone deserves sincere worship, as well as it mentions that people will return to Allah on the Day of Judgment for reckoning. 

Messenger Muhammad [peace be upon him] used to recite surah al-Ghashiyah frequently. An-Nu’man bin Bashir, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ‘Prophet Muhammad used to recite surah al-A’la and al-Ghashiyah on two days of Eid and Friday.’ 

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