069 Al-Haaqqa

What is the Inevitable Hour?

How do you know what the Inevitable Hour is?

Thamūd and ‘Ād denied the Striking Calamity of the Hour[1].

Translation notes: [1] The Striking Calamity is one of the names of the Day of Judgment.

As for Thamūd, they were destroyed by a dreadful blast.

And as for ‘Ād, they were destroyed by a furious windstorm[2]

Translation notes: [2] Or by a cold windstorm.

which He unleashed against them for seven successive nights and eight days, so you would see the people lying dead as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees.

Do you see any trace of them now?

Also, Pharaoh and those who came before him, and the overturned cities [of Lot] committed the grave sin,

each disobeying the messenger of their Lord, so He seized them with a severe punishment.

Indeed, when the floodwater overflowed, We carried you [O humans] in the sailing Ark[3],

Translation notes: [3] Which was made by Noah with Allah's command.

so that We might make it a reminder for you, and that attentive ears may take heed.

Then when the Trumpet is blown with a single blast,

and the earth and mountains are lifted up and crushed with a single blow,

on that Day the Inevitable Event will occur.

And the sky will split asunder and will be frail[4] on that day,

Translation notes: [4] i.e., weak and unstable.

with the angels on all its sides, and on that Day, eight [mighty angels] will bear the Throne of your Lord above them.

On that day, you will be brought forth [before Allah], and none of your secrets will remain hidden.

As for the one who is given his Record in his right hand, he will say, “Here is my Record, read it!

I was sure that I would meet my reckoning.”

So he will be in a pleasant life,

in a lofty garden,

with clustered fruit within his reach.

[They will be told,] “Eat and drink joyfully for what you did[5] in the days gone by.”

Translation notes: [5] Lit., "advanced" anticipating the reward in the Hereafter.

As for the one who is given his Record in his left hand, he will say, “Would that I had not been given my Record,

nor had I known anything of my reckoning!

Would that it [i.e., death] had been the end of me[6]!

Translation notes: [6] Rather than a gateway to eternal life.

My wealth has been of no avail to me.

My authority has vanished[7].”

Translation notes: [7] i.e., I have no valid argument or authority today.

[It will be said,] “Seize him and shackle him,

then make him burn in the Blazing Fire,

then tie him up with a chain of seventy cubits long.

For he did not believe in Allah, the Most Great,

nor did he encourage feeding the needy.

So Today he will have no close friend here,

nor any food except the discharge of wounds,

none will eat it except the sinners.”

I swear by what you can see.

and what you cannot see!

Indeed, this is the word of a noble Messenger[8],

Translation notes: [8] i.e., recited by Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

and it is not the word of a poet; little do you believe!

Nor is it the word of a soothsayer; little do you take heed!

It is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.

If he had falsely attributed something to Us,

We would have surely seized him by the right hand[9],

Translation notes: [9] Or "by [Our] Right Hand," i.e., Allah would have surely exacted revenge with might and power.

then severed his aorta[10],

Translation notes: [10] i.e., his life artery of the heart; causing immediate death.

and none of you could have rescued him.

This [Qur’an] is indeed a reminder for those who are righteous.

And We surely know that some of you will be deniers,

and it[11] will certainly be a source of regret for the disbelievers.

Translation notes: [11] i.e., denying this Qur’an.

And this[12] is indeed the absolute truth.

Translation notes: [12] i.e., this Qur’an.

So glorify the name of your Lord, the Most Great.