(Revealed before Hijrah)

Dated of Revelation and Context
The Surah, like the preceding one, was revealed early at Mecca. Eminent early Muslim scholars such as Ibn 'Abbas and Ibn Zubair hold this view. The famous German Orientalist Noldeke places it in the fourth year of the Call. This and some of the preceding Chapters deal with the collective life of the Muslim Community in the time of the Holy Prophet and also in the Latter Days. This is why the Holy Prophet generally used to recite it in the Friday and the 'Id Prayers. In some previous Chapters it was stated that Islam will never prosper by the employment only of material means. When Muslims will decline and decay and the Qur'an will, as it were, go up to Heaven, a Divine Reformer will appear who will bring it back to earth and will make its ideals and principles shine in resplendent glory. It was also stated that Islam will continue to have, in every age, sincere and devoted followers who will preach and propagate its Message, and that other unpredictable circumstances will also arise which will greatly contribute to its progress and prosperity. In the present Surah, it is stated that Muslims will have to face severe opposition and cruel persecution, and after they will have patiently stood the test, success will come to them. Though the Surah deals primarily with the vicissitudes through which Muslims have to pass in this life, it also refers, as its name shows, to the Day of Resurrection. On the Day of Reckoning whether in this or in the next life, when he scales are set up, some faces are downcast, covered with disgrace and ignominy, and some others beam with joy being pleased with the results of their labor.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم
[1] In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ الْغَاشِيَةِ
[2] Has there come to thee the news of the overwhelming calamity?[3327]

وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَاشِعَةٌ
[3] Some faces on that day will be downcast;

عَامِلَةٌ نَاصِبَةٌ
[4] Toiling, weary.

تَصْلَى نَارًا حَامِيَةً
[5] They shall enter a burning Fire;

تُسْقَى مِنْ عَيْنٍ آنِيَةٍ
[6] And will be made to drink from a boiling spring;

لَيْسَ لَهُمْ طَعَامٌ إِلاَّ مِنْ ضَرِيعٍ
[7] They will have no food save that of dry, bitter and thorny herbage,

لاَ يُسْمِنُ وَلاَ يُغْنِي مِنْ جُوعٍ
[8] Which will neither fatten, nor satisfy hunger.

وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَاعِمَةٌ
[9] And some faces on that day will be joyful,

لِسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌ
[10] Well pleased with their labour,[3328]

فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ
[11] In a lofty Garden,

لاَ تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لاَغِيَةً
[12] Wherein thou wilt hear no idle talk;

فِيهَا عَيْنٌ جَارِيَةٌ
[13] Therein is a running spring,[3329]

فِيهَا سُرُرٌ مَرْفُوعَةٌ
[14] Therein are raised couches,

وَأَكْوَابٌ مَوْضُوعَةٌ
[15] And goblets properly placed,

وَنَمَارِقُ مَصْفُوفَةٌ
[16] And cushions beautifully ranged,

وَزَرَابِيُّ مَبْثُوثَةٌ
[17] And carpets tastefully spread.

أَفَلاَ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَى الإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ
[18] Do they not then look at the camel[3330], how it is created?

وَإِلَى السَّمَاءِ كَيْفَ رُفِعَتْ
[19] And at the heaven, how it is raised high?

وَإِلَى الْجِبَالِ كَيْفَ نُصِبَتْ
[20] And at the mountains, how they are set up?

وَإِلَى الأَرْضِ كَيْفَ سُطِحَتْ
[21] And at the earth, how it is spread out?[3331]

فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ مُذَكِّرٌ
[22] Admonish, therefore, for thou art but an admonisher;

لَسْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِمُسَيْطِرٍ
[23] Thou hast no authority to compel them.

إِلاَّ مَنْ تَوَلَّى وَكَفَرَ
[24] But whoever turns away and disbelieves,

فَيُعَذِّبُهُ اللَّهُ الْعَذَابَ الأَكْبَرَ
[25] Allah will punish him with the greatest punishment.

إِنَّ إِلَيْنَا إِيَابَهُمْ
[26] Unto Us surely is their return,

ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا حِسَابَهُمْ
[27] Then, surely, it is for Us to call them to account.

3327. (a) The Judgment Day or a terrific calamity. (b) The severe famine that held Mecca in its grip for about seven years in the time of the Holy Prophet has also been referred to in the Qur'an as Ghashiyah (44: 1 1, 12).

3328. The righteous believers will be well-pleased with the marvellous results of the sacrifices they will have made for the cause of Islam.

3329. Like a running spring their beneficence and goodness will flow unceasingly.

3330. Believers; like camels going straight in a line, all behind the one that leads them, give unquestioning obedience to their Leader. Or, like camels which can go on for days without water in a hot, sandy desert, they have infinite patience under trials and hardships and continue their spiritual journey without complaining, Ibil also meaning clouds (Lane), the verse may signify that God will spread the teachings of the Qur'an which is spiritual water over the entire earth.

3331. The four verses (vv. 18-21) teach a Muslim the supreme moral lesson that (1) he should be generous like the clouds, (2) exalted like the heaven, (3) of fixed resolve like the mountains, and (4) soft and humble like the earth.