Surah Ghashiyah Tafsir The Overwhelming |
Written by Nuraz |
Salaam (WRWB). The day of Judgement is one of the most feared days, and the day that will live in misery with everyone. It is a day where families look like rivals, friends break up with friends, and people will account for themselves, turning on people they once loved. It is not a day to joke around with.
That being said, there are various, relatively short surahs that talk about this Day and moreover reflecting on it. Not too long ago, I had made an article about Surah Qamar Tafsir and that surahs tells you about the disbelievers. You have other Surahs like Surah Haaqah and Surah Qiyamah both describing the day of judgement. Surah Ghashiyah isn’t any different.
Surah Ghashiyah is the 88th Surah in the Quran, that contains 26 ayats and that is a Makki Surah. The literal meaning of Ghasiyah is, “The Overwhelming.” As it dives deep into reflecting two sides in the Day of Judgement.
Firstly, throughout the first few ayahs, the scenario depicts the disbelievers and a preview to what it's like for them in the Last Day.
هَلۡ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ٱلۡغَٰشِيَةِ
Meaning - Has there reached you the report of the Overwhelming [event]? (88:1)
وُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٍ خَٰشِعَةٌ
Meaning - [Some] faces, that Day, will be humbled. (88:2)
عَامِلَةٞ نَّاصِبَةٞ
Meaning - Working [hard] and exhausted. (88:3)
تَصۡلَىٰ نَارًا حَامِيَة
Meaning - They will [enter to] burn in an intensely hot Fire. (88:4)
This Surah delves straight into the point. Emphasizing firstly the people who will enter the Hellfire. As it’s described for those people who oppressed others, who disobeyed Allah (SWT), and believed into their own faith as if they were superior, to all be “humbled.” Meaning astonishing, surprised by their fate. As the next few ayahs describe a slight preview to their punishment.
I say “slight preview”, because in actual scale, the Hellfire is such a punishment, that words can’t really describe its pain.
With malnourishment hunger which forces them to feast on a thorny poisonous plant. And will drink from boiling water.
But this surah isn’t all too dark. There’s a sudden twist, flipping sides.
وُجُوهٞ يَوۡمَئِذٖ نَّاعِمَةٞ
Meaning - [Other] faces, that Day, will show pleasure. (88:8)
لِّسَعۡيِهَا رَاضِيَةٞ
Meaning - With their effort [they are] satisfied. (88:9)
فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٖ
Meaning - In an elevated garden. (88:10)
لَّا تَسۡمَعُ فِيهَا لَٰغِيَةٗ
Meaning - Wherein they will hear no unsuitable speech. (88:11)
These last 4 ayats describe some of the beautiful characteristics of Jannah. The word “effort”, indicates the believers' hardwork in the dunya. Instead of partying with their friends, or investing on materialistic things, they had worshiped Allah (SWT) with sincerity. In the Gardens of Jannah, that are high up in the sky.
As joy will appeal to these peoples' faces, as they were motivated by these aspects of Jannah, to do good for Allah (SWT). As our purpose is to do nothing but worship Allah (SWT).
The next part of this Surah then criticizes those who don't believe and try to dispute Allah (SWT).
أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى ٱلۡإِبِلِ كَيۡفَ خُلِقَتۡ
Meaning - Then do they not look at the camels – how they are created? (88:17)
وَإِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيۡفَ رُفِعَتۡ
Meaning - And in the sky – how is it raised? (88:18)
وَإِلَى ٱلۡجِبَالِ كَيۡفَ نُصِبَتۡ
Meaning - And at the mountains – how are they erected? (88:19)
وَإِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ كَيۡفَ سُطِحَتۡ
Meaning - And on the earth – how is it spread out? (88:20)
These 4 ayats clearly mention reflection thinking, about the creations of Allah (SWT). As he responds to doubts of those who try to debunk the Creator. These ayats also show Allah (SWT)’s powers. This then ties to the last portion of the Surah where it talks about the fate of those who had doubted Allah (SWT)’s creations and attributes in the Day of Judgement.
فَذَكِّرۡ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٞ
Meaning - So remind, [O Muhammad]; you are only a reminder. (88:21)
لَّسۡتَ عَلَيۡهِم بِمُصَيۡطِرٍ
Meaning - You are not over them, a controller. (88:22)
This goes over the ayat of the main purpose of the Prophet (PBUH). And you might think this message, or “warning” just goes for the people at that time. You’d be wrong. His message is for all of us, in the times after him. As Allah (SWT), comforts the Prophet (PBUH), saying his purpose is fulfilled, like a pat in the back.
The next ayat transitions, to then the people Allah (SWT) refers to the Prophet (PBUH), with (the disbelievers, deniers of the message).
إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ
Meaning - However, he who turns away and disbelieves – (88:23)
فَيُعَذِّبُهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ٱلۡأَكۡبَرَ
Meaning - Then Allah will punish him with the greatest punishment. (88:24)
إِنَّ إِلَيۡنَآ إِيَابَهُمۡ
Meaning - Indeed, to Us is their return. (88:25)
ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَاحِسَابَهُم
Meaning - Then indeed, upon Us is their account. (88:26)
These last ayats talk about the fire and Jannham, thus with “the greatest punishment.” You may have heard this example before, from not just me, though I mention it a lot. Imagine you put your finger over the hottest water in the sink, going to the leftist point. You take away your finger really quickly, because your nerves tell you it’s boiling hot. But on the day of Jannaham, the Hellfire’s punishment will be incomprehensible. Imagine suffering that pain that you had for seconds, for centuries and years to go by.
The same as the hot water in the sink, think about those ice bath challenges. Did you ever dive in a swimming pool at night? It feels cold and freezing, the waters shallow, as the body feels that coldness. Or to make more sense, I live where the weather gets really cold in the winter.
Imagine going down in freezing weather without a jacket. You’d get sick and feel horrible and your body would thaw. As it’s described in many Surahs in the Quran those people in the punishment will wear molten garments that will scorch through their skin.
Furthermore the last 2 ayats, show that the Day of Judgement is to their return. As their accounts on that day will foreshadow their fate upon it.
Surah Ghashiyah is a short surah, but still has a lot to reflect. May Allah (SWT) forgive our sins and give us all Paradise. Salaam (WRWB).