(Revealed before Hijrah)

Date of Revelation and Context
There exists some difference of opinion about the time and place of the revelation of this Surah. Scholars like Mujahid, 'Ata' and Ibn 'Abbas are of the view that it was revealed at Mecca; some others think that it was revealed at Medina. The latter view is evidently not based on sound historical data. Whereas in the preceding Surah mention was made of the great moral revolution that was to be brought about by the Holy Prophet, in this Surah it is stated that a similar change will take place at a later date, in the time of the Great Deputy of the Holy Prophet, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, when all human institutions will be shaken to their foundations, and new discoveries and inventions in the domain of science and knowledge will change the entire shape of things, and the ideals and ideas of men will acquire a new orientation.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا
2. When the earth is shaken with her violent shaking[3402]

وَأَخْرَجَتِ الأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا
3. And the earth throws up her burdens,[3403]

وَقَالَ الإِنسَانُ مَا لَهَا
4. And man says, “What is the matter with her?”[3404]

يَوْمَئِذٍ تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا
5. On that day will she tell her news,[3405]

بِأَنَّ رَبَّكَ أَوْحَى لَهَا
6. For, thy Lord will have commanded[3406] her.

يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصْدُرُ النَّاسُ أَشْتَاتًا لِيُرَوْا أَعْمَالَهُمْ
7. On that day will men issue forth, in scattered groups[3407] that they may be shown the results of their works.[3408]

فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَه
8. Then whoso does an atom's weight of good will see it,

وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَه
9. And whoso does an atom's weight of evil will also see it.[3409]

3402. The whole earth will experience all manner of internal as well as external commotions and upheavals.

3403. (a) The bowels of the earth will be ripped open and it will throw up its treasures of mineral wealth; (b) there will be a vast release and upsurge of knowledge of all kinds relating to physical as well as spiritual sciences, especially to the sciences of geology and archaeology.

3404.  The changes will be so many and so far-reaching and the discoveries made so great that men will exclaim in wonder and bewilderment, 'What is the matter with the earth?'

3405. When asked about the meaning of the verse, the Holy Prophet is reported to have said that every action done in secret will come to light (Tirmidhi).

3406.  The earth will throw out its treasures because God had commanded her to do so, the word Auha  meaning; he commanded (Aqrab).

3407. In the Latter Days, in order to protect and safeguard their political, social and economic interests, people will form themselves into parties, companies and groups on political and economic bases; and powerful guilds, cartels and syndicates will come into existence.

3408. Individuals will pool their resources and collective efforts will take the place of individual efforts in order that they might make their weight felt and their labours to produce good result.

3409. No action of man, good or bad, is wasted. It must and does produce its result.