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88: Al-Ghashiya - الغاشية
Introduction
This is a late Surah of early Makkan period, perhaps close in date to S.53. Its subject matter is the contrast between the destinies of the Good and the Evil in the Hereafter---0n the Day when the true balance will be restored: the Signs of Allah even in this life should remind us of the Day of Account, for Allah is good and just, and His creation is for a just Purpose.
88:1
[ Original ]
هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ الْغَاشِيَةِ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Has the story reached thee of the overwhelming (Event)?
Tafseer Commentary
6096 Al Ghashiyah: the thing or event that overshadows or overwhelms, that covers over or makes people lose their senses. In 12:107, it is described as the "covering veil of the Wrath of Allah"; where see n. 1790. The Day of Judgement is indicated, as the Event of overwhelming importance in which all our petty differences of this imperfect world are covered over and overwhelmed in a new world of perfect justice and truth.
88:2
[ Original ]
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَاشِعَةٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Some faces, that Day, will be humiliated,
88:3
[ Original ]
عَامِلَةٌ نَاصِبَةٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Labouring (hard), weary,-
Tafseer Commentary
6098 On the faces of the wicked will appear the hard labour and consequent fatigue of the task they will have in battling against the fierce Fire which their own Deeds will have kindled.
88:4
[ Original ]
تَصْلَىٰ نَارًا حَامِيَةً
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
The while they enter the Blazing Fire,-
88:5
[ Original ]
تُسْقَىٰ مِنْ عَيْنٍ آنِيَةٍ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
The while they are given, to drink, of a boiling hot spring,
88:6
[ Original ]
لَيْسَ لَهُمْ طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِنْ ضَرِيعٍ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
No food will there be for them but a bitter Dhari'
Tafseer Commentary
6099 The root meaning implies again the idea of humiliation. It is a plant, bitter and thorny, loathsome in smell and appearance, which will neither give fattening nourishment to the body nor in any way satisfy the burning pangs of hunger-a fit plant for Hell , like Zaqqum ( 56:52; or 17:60, n. 2250 ).
88:7
[ Original ]
لَا يُسْمِنُ وَلَا يُغْنِي مِنْ جُوعٍ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger.
88:8
[ Original ]
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَاعِمَةٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
(Other) faces that Day will be joyful,
88:9
[ Original ]
لِسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Pleased with their Striving,-
Tafseer Commentary
6100 Notice the parallelism in contrast, between the fate of the Wicked and that of the Righteous. In the one case there was humiliation in their faces; in the other, there is joy; where there was labour and weariness in warding off the Fire, there is instead a healthy Striving, which is itself pleasurable-a Striving which is a pleasant consequence of the spiritual Endeavour in the earthly life, which may have brought trouble or persecution from without, but which brought inward peace and satisfaction.
88:10
[ Original ]
فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
In a Garden on high,
Tafseer Commentary
6101 The most important point is their inward state of joy and satisfaction, mentioned in verses 8-9. Now are mentioned the outer things of bliss, the chief of which is the Garden. The Garden is in contrast to the Fire. Its chief beauty will be that they will hear there nothing unbecoming, or foolish, or vain. It will be a Garden on high, in all senses-fit for the best, highest, and noblest. (R).
88:11
[ Original ]
لَا تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لَاغِيَةً
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Where they shall hear no (word) of vanity:
88:12
[ Original ]
فِيهَا عَيْنٌ جَارِيَةٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Therein will be a bubbling spring:
Tafseer Commentary
6102 Instead of the boiling hot spring (verse 5) there will be a bubbling spring of sparkling water. Instead of the grovelling and grumbling in the place of Wrath, there will be Thrones of Dignity, with all the accompaniments of a brilliant Assembly.
88:13
[ Original ]
فِيهَا سُرُرٌ مَرْفُوعَةٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Therein will be Thrones (of dignity), raised on high,
88:14
[ Original ]
وَأَكْوَابٌ مَوْضُوعَةٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Goblets placed (ready),
88:15
[ Original ]
وَنَمَارِقُ مَصْفُوفَةٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And cushions set in rows,
88:16
[ Original ]
وَزَرَابِيُّ مَبْثُوثَةٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And rich carpets (all) spread out.
88:17
[ Original ]
أَفَلَا يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَى الْإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Do they not look at the Camels, how they are made?-
Tafseer Commentary
6103 In case men neglect the Hereafter as of no account, they are asked to contemplate four things, which they can see in everyday life, and which are full of meaning, high design, and the goodness of Allah to man. The first mentioned is the domesticated animal, which for Arab countries is par excellence the Camel. What a wonderful structure has this Ship of the Desert? He can store water in his stomach for days. He can live on dry and thorny desert shrubs. His limbs are adapted to his life. He can carry men and goods. His flesh can be eaten. Camel's hair can be used in weaving. And withal, he is so gentle! Who can sing his praises enough?
88:18
[ Original ]
وَإِلَى السَّمَاءِ كَيْفَ رُفِعَتْ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And at the Sky, how it is raised high?-
Tafseer Commentary
6104 The second thing they should consider is the noble blue vault high above them-with the sun and moon, the stars and planets, and other heavenly bodies. This scene is full of beauty and magnificence, design and order, plainness and mystery. And yet we receive our light and warmth from the sun, and what would our physical lives be without these influences that come from such enormous distances?
88:19
[ Original ]
وَإِلَى الْجِبَالِ كَيْفَ نُصِبَتْ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And at the Mountains, how they are fixed firm?-
Tafseer Commentary
6105 From everyday utility and affection in the Camel, to the utility in grandeur in the heavens above us, we had two instances touching our individual as well as our social lives. In the third instance, in the Mountains we come to the utility of mankind generally in the services the Mountains perform in storing water, in moderating climate, and in various other ways which it is the business of Physical Geography to investigate and describe.
88:20
[ Original ]
وَإِلَى الْأَرْضِ كَيْفَ سُطِحَتْ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And at the Earth, how it is spread out?
Tafseer Commentary
6106 The fourth and last instance given is that of the Earth as a whole, the habitation of mankind in our present phase of life. The Earth is a globe, and yet how marvellously it seems to be spread out before us in plains, valleys, hills, deserts, seas, etc.! Can man, seeing these things, fail to see a Plan and Purpose in his life, or fail to turn to the great Creator before Whom he will have to give an account after this life is done?
88:21
[ Original ]
فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ مُذَكِّرٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Therefore do thou give admonition, for thou art one to admonish.
88:22
[ Original ]
لَسْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِمُصَيْطِرٍ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Thou art not one to manage (men's) affairs.
Tafseer Commentary
6107 The Prophet of Allah is sent to teach and direct people on the way. He is not sent to force their will, or to punish them, except insofar as he may receive authority to do so. Punishment belongs to Allah alone. And Punishment is certain in the Hereafter, when true values will be restored.
88:23
[ Original ]
إِلَّا مَنْ تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
But if any turn away and reject Allah,-
88:24
[ Original ]
فَيُعَذِّبُهُ اللَّهُ الْعَذَابَ الْأَكْبَرَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Allah will punish him with a mighty Punishment,
88:25
[ Original ]
إِنَّ إِلَيْنَا إِيَابَهُمْ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
For to Us will be their return;
88:26
[ Original ]
ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا حِسَابَهُمْ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Then it will be for Us to call them to account.
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