Commentary on Sūrat al-Zalzala (The Earthquake)
“In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
“When the earth is shaken with its final earthquake * and the earth casts out its burdens * and man asks, ‘What is the matter with it?’ * on that Day it will recount its news * because your Lord will have inspired it * on that Day people will go forth in separate groups to be shown their deeds * so whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it * and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”
The basmala has already been discussed.
“When the earth is shaken with its final earthquake”: What is meant is that which Allah Most High mentions in His words:
“O mankind, fear your Lord. Indeed, the earthquake of the Hour is a tremendous thing. On the Day you see it, every nursing mother will be distracted from the child she is nursing, every pregnant woman will deliver her burden, and you will see people as though they were drunk, though they will not be drunk; rather, Allah’s punishment is severe” [al-Hajj: 1–2].
The words “its earthquake” mean that tremendous earthquake, the like of which has never occurred. Hence Allah—Mighty and Majestic is He—says, “You will see people as though they were drunk, though they will not be drunk.” In other words, because of their extreme bewilderment and what has befallen them, you will find them appearing as though they were drunk. Yet they will not be drunk; rather, they will be sober. Because of the sheer terror, however, a person will become like someone intoxicated, not knowing how to act or what to do.
“And the earth casts out its burdens”: What is meant by its burdens is the occupants of the graves. When the Trumpet is blown, all those in the heavens and on earth will fall dead, except those whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown again, and at once they will be standing, looking on. They will emerge from their graves to stand before the Lord of all worlds—Mighty and Majestic is He—as Allah—Mighty and Majestic is He—says, “On the Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of all worlds” [al-Mutaffifīn: 6].
“And man asks, ‘What is the matter with it?’” Here, “man” refers to humankind as a whole; that is, human beings will ask, “What is the matter with it?”