Surah al-Haqqah (The Inevitable Reality) is Meccan. (1)

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

“The Inevitable Reality! What is the Inevitable Reality? And what will make you know what the Inevitable Reality is? Thamud and ‘Ad denied the Striking Calamity. As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the overwhelming blast.”

“The Inevitable Reality” means the Resurrection. It was called the Inevitable Reality because it is certain to come to pass, with no falsehood in it. It is also said that this is because, on that Day, the outcomes and realities of all matters will become manifest, and because recompense for deeds becomes due—that is, obligatory. One says, “A matter has become binding upon him,” when it becomes obligatory; it becomes binding, with binding force. (2) Allah Most High says: “But the decree of punishment has become binding upon the disbelievers” (al-Zumar 39:71). Al-Kisa’i said: “Al-Haqqah is the Day of Truth.”

“What is the Inevitable Reality?” This is an interrogative expression intended to magnify its gravity, just as one says, “Zayd—what is Zayd?” in order to emphasize his greatness.

“And what will make you know what the Inevitable Reality is?” That is, you do not know it, since you have not witnessed it or seen the terrors it contains.

“Thamud and ‘Ad denied the Striking Calamity.” Ibn ‘Abbas and Qatadah said: this means the Resurrection. It was called the Striking Calamity because it strikes the hearts of people with fear. It is also said that they denied the punishment with which their prophet had threatened them, until it descended upon them and struck their hearts.

“As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the overwhelming blast.” That is, by their transgression and disbelief. It was said that this is a verbal noun; and it was said that it is an adjective, meaning: by their transgressing deed. This is the meaning of Mujahid’s statement, as Allah says: “Thamud denied in their transgression” (al-Shams 91:11). Qatadah said: it was the overwhelming cry—the cry that exceeded the usual bounds of cries and destroyed them. It was also said: it overpowered its keepers, [who had no control over it and did not know how much had issued from it], (3) just as the water overwhelmed the people of Noah.