Commentary · Quran
Surah 88: The OverwhelmingThe Overwhelming
If you don’t know me, my name is Rachel, and these are my scripture notes on the Quran. The ayat are presented sequentially in English and Arabic, followed by my commentary. Think of it as a living midrash: whenever I learn something new, I add a note. My notes draw from an eclectic range of ancient sources, both Jewish and Gentile. See my about page for more.
I’ve used Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall’s 1930 translation of the Quran’s meanings since it’s both public domain and very pretty.
Surah 88: The Overwhelming, The Overwhelming Calamity, The Pallسُورَةُ الغَاشِيَةِ
1Hath there come unto thee tidings of the Overwhelming? 2On that day (many) faces will be downcast, 3Toiling, weary, 4Scorched by burning fire, 5Drinking from a boiling spring, 6No food for them save bitter thorn-fruit 7Which doth not nourish nor release from hunger. 8In that day other faces will be calm, 9Glad for their effort past, 10In a high Garden 11Where they hear no idle speech, 12Wherein is a gushing spring, 13Wherein are couches raised 14And goblets set at hand 15And cushions ranged 16And silken carpets spread. 17Will they not regard the camels, how they are created? 18And the heaven, how it is raised? 19And the hills, how they are set up? 20And the earth, how it is spread? 21Remind them, for thou art but a remembrancer, 22Thou art not at all a warder over them. 23But whoso is averse and disbelieveth, 24Allah will punish him with direst punishment. 25Lo! unto Us is their return 26And Ours their reckoning.
1بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ٱلْغَٰشِيَةِ 2وُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَٰشِعَةٌ 3عَامِلَةٌۭ نَّاصِبَةٌۭ 4تَصْلَىٰ نَارًا حَامِيَةًۭ 5تُسْقَىٰ مِنْ عَيْنٍ ءَانِيَةٍۢ 6لَّيْسَ لَهُمْ طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِن ضَرِيعٍۢ 7لَّا يُسْمِنُ وَلَا يُغْنِى مِن جُوعٍۢ 8وُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ نَّاعِمَةٌۭ 9لِّسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌۭ 10فِى جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍۢ 11لَّا تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لَٰغِيَةًۭ 12فِيهَا عَيْنٌۭ جَارِيَةٌۭ 13فِيهَا سُرُرٌۭ مَّرْفُوعَةٌۭ 14وَأَكْوَابٌۭ مَّوْضُوعَةٌۭ 15وَنَمَارِقُ مَصْفُوفَةٌۭ 16وَزَرَابِىُّ مَبْثُوثَةٌ 17أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى ٱلْإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ 18وَإِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيْفَ رُفِعَتْ 19وَإِلَى ٱلْجِبَالِ كَيْفَ نُصِبَتْ 20وَإِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ كَيْفَ سُطِحَتْ 21فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌۭ 22لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ 23إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ 24فَيُعَذِّبُهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَكْبَرَ 25إِنَّ إِلَيْنَآ إِيَابَهُمْ 26ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا حِسَابَهُم