The Overwhelming Event
Al-Ghâshiyah
الغاشية
LEARNING POINTS
the wicked will be punished in jahannam for denying allah and failing to see the beauty of his creation.
the believers will be rewarded generously in jannah.
the prophet's duty is only to remind people, not force them to believe.
THE PEOPLE OF JAHANNAM
1Did you 'O Prophet' hear the news of the Shocking Disaster? 2On that Day 'some' faces will be hanging in shame, 3'totally' overworked, tired, 4burning in a hot Fire, 5left to drink from a boiling Spring. 6They will have no food except a nasty, thorny plant, 7that does not really benefit or satisfy hunger.
هَلۡ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ٱلۡغَٰشِيَةِ 1وُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٍ خَٰشِعَةٌ 2عَامِلَةٞ نَّاصِبَةٞ 3تَصۡلَىٰ نَارًا حَامِيَةٗ 4تُسۡقَىٰ مِنۡ عَيۡنٍ ءَانِيَةٖ 5لَّيۡسَ لَهُمۡ طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِن ضَرِيعٖ 6لَّا يُسۡمِنُ وَلَا يُغۡنِي مِن جُوعٖ7
WORDS OF WISDOM
In 32:17 of the Quran, Allah says that the amazing things which He has prepared for the believers in Jannah are beyond human imagination. This is why He uses general terms (for example, awe- some gardens, rivers, fruits, drinks, fancy carpets, clothes of silk, bracelets of gold, and so on), just to bring it down to our level of understanding. But Jannah is far beyond these descriptions.
If you take a time machine and travel back in time to the year 1876 C.E., how would you describe the newest smartphone (with touch screen, wireless inter- net, face recognition, Google Maps, Siri. and other fantastic gadgets) to Alex- ander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone? | assume you would have to use very simple words to explain to him, or he wouldn't know what you are talking about. In the same way, if Allah were to describe Jannah to us the way it is, we wouldnt be able to understand. So He uses simple words that we can relate to.
THE PEOPLE OF JANNAH
8On that Day 'other' faces will be glowing with joy, 9'fully' pleased with their Efforts, 10in a high Garden, 11Where no bad talking will be heard. 12In it will be a running spring, 13along with thrones raised high, 14and cups set in place, 15and amazing' cushions lined up, 16and 'fancy' carpets spread out.
وُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٖ نَّاعِمَةٞ 8لِّسَعۡيِهَا رَاضِيَةٞ 9فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٖ 10لَّا تَسۡمَعُ فِيهَا لَٰغِيَةٗ 11فِيهَا عَيۡنٞ جَارِيَةٞ 12فِيهَا سُرُرٞ مَّرۡفُوعَةٞ 13وَأَكۡوَابٞ مَّوۡضُوعَةٞ 14وَنَمَارِقُ مَصۡفُوفَةٞ 15وَزَرَابِيُّ مَبۡثُوثَةٌ16
BACKGROUND STORY
When the Quran came down to describe the wonderful things in Jannah (like verses 8-16 of this surah), Some Arab idol-worshippers questioned Allah's ability to create these amazing things. So, verses 17-26 were revealed, telling them to look at the awesome creation of Allah around them in nature-their camels, the sky with all its stars and galaxies, the mighty moun- tains, and the earth that has been smoothed out. All of this proves that Allah has the power to Create anything. {Recorded by Imam At-Tabari}
WORDS OF WISDOM
In the following passage, Allah speaks about the perfect creation of the camel, which i is known in Arabia as the ship of the desert' Camels are so strong that each cản easily carry a quarter of a ton. Their eyes, ears, and noses are perfectly designed to protect them from dusty winde Their long legs help them take big steps and keep their bodies away from the heat of the ground. Their hooves are flat so they don't sink in the sand. Their necks are long so they can have a better view of the path ahead and eat from high branches. And their humps store fat so they can go without food or water for weeks or even months.
A MESSAGE TO THE DENIERS
17Do they not ever reflect on camels—how they were 'perfectly' created; 18and the sky—how it was raised high; 19and the mountains—how they were set so strong; 20and the earth—how it was smoothed out? 21So, keep reminding, 'O Prophet', Your duty is only to remind. 22You are not there' to force them 'to believe'. 23But whoever turns away, and continues to disbelieve, 24then Allah will put them through the major punishment.! 25Surely to Us is their return, 26then surely with Us is their judgment.
أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى ٱلۡإِبِلِ كَيۡفَ خُلِقَتۡ 17وَإِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيۡفَ رُفِعَتۡ 18وَإِلَى ٱلۡجِبَالِ كَيۡفَ نُصِبَتۡ 19وَإِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ كَيۡفَ سُطِحَتۡ 20فَذَكِّرۡ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٞ 21لَّسۡتَ عَلَيۡهِم بِمُصَيۡطِرٍ 22إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ 23فَيُعَذِّبُهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ٱلۡأَكۡبَرَ 24إِنَّ إِلَيۡنَآ إِيَابَهُمۡ 25ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيۡنَا حِسَابَهُم26
Verse 26: The major punishment of Hell. The minor punishment includes losses and defeats in this world, and hardship in the grave.