Surah Zilzal, Chapter 99

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Verses 1 – 8

إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا {1}

1. When the earth shall quake

وَأَخْرَجَتِ الْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا {2}

2. and throw off its hidden treasures1

وَقَالَ الْإِنْسَانُ مَا لَهَا {3}

3. and when Ali shall address her, “What is up with you?”

يَوْمَئِذٍ تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا {4}

4. Onthat day whe will, in response, inform (what has been penetrated into her).

بِأَنَّ رَبَّكَ أَوْحَىٰ لَهَا {5}

5. Of what her Providence shall reveal to her.

يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصْدُرُ النَّاسُ أَشْتَاتًا لِيُرَوْا أَعْمَالَهُمْ {6}

6. On that Day (of Reckoning) shall emerge men in varying moods to view their deeds.

فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ {7}

7. He who has done good, least little bit, shall see it.

وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ {8}

8. And similarly, he who has done ill, the least little bit shall see it.2

Moral

Once Earth quaked in Medina and both Khalifas being helpless to ease the situation, ran to Ali, who quelled it, after laying his hand therein and uttering in a commanding tone. People were surprised, when he warned them of this Surah, presages his future relation with Earth.

• 1. Human deeds, wealth concealed without payment of tithe, etc.
• 2. Man, in hell, having seen good ofhis deed shall be grieved for not having done in winning Divine Will. Similarly men in paradise having done ill will think of the Almighty for being forgiven due to penance.