Commentary on the Surah of the Striking Calamity

﴿In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful﴾

﴿The Striking Calamity! What is the Striking Calamity? And what can make you know what the Striking Calamity is? It is the Day when people will be like scattered moths, and the mountains will be like fluffed wool. Then as for one whose scales are heavy, he will enjoy a pleasant life. But as for one whose scales are light, his refuge will be the Abyss. And what can make you know what that is? A fiercely burning Fire.﴾

The basmala has already been discussed.

﴿The Striking Calamity﴾ is an active participle derived from “to strike.” It refers to that which strikes the hearts and terrifies them when the Trumpet is blown, as Allah Most High says:

﴿And on the Day when the Trumpet is blown, all those in the heavens and on the earth will be terrified, except whomever Allah wills, and all will come before Him humbled.﴾ [al-Naml: 87]

Thus, it strikes the hearts after striking the ears. This Striking Calamity is an immense event unlike anything before it. It is one of the names of the Day of Resurrection, just as it is also called the Overwhelming Event and the Inevitable Reality.

In His words, ﴿What is the Striking Calamity?﴾, “what” is an interrogative expressing grandeur and magnitude. In other words: What is this Striking Calamity whose momentousness is being proclaimed? ﴿And what can make you know what the Striking Calamity is?﴾ further magnifies its grandeur and terror. That is: What could acquaint you with this Striking Calamity? How tremendous and severe it is!

Then He, Glorious and Exalted, explained when it would occur, saying: ﴿It is the Day when people will be like scattered moths﴾. That is, it will occur at that time—on the Day when people emerge from their graves like scattered moths. The scholars said that they will be