Surah Al-Ghashiyah (The Overwhelming Event)

الغاشية

26 Verses

In the Name of Almighty Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
26 آية

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Surah Al-Ghashiyah is the 88th chapter of the Quran, containing 26 verses. Revealed in Makkah, it opens by asking whether the news of the Overwhelming Event, the Day of Judgement, has reached the listener, and describes downcast faces, weary from toil, drinking from a boiling spring in the Fire, set against joyful faces in a lofty Garden, secure from all vanity. The surah points to Allah’s signs in creation, the camels, the sky, the mountains and the earth, as calls to reflection, and reminds the Prophet that his role is only to remind, not to compel, for it is to Allah that all will return for the final reckoning. Below you can read the full Surah Al-Ghashiyah in Arabic with a clear English translation and a verse-by-verse tafsir (explanation of the meaning) from Aysar al-Tafaseer, with the option to jump to any specific verse.

Tafsir of the Verses

{ هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ ٱلْغَاشِيَةِ }
{ ٱلْغَاشِيَةِ } { أَتَاكَ }

(1) – يَقُولُ تَعَالَى لِنَبِيِّهِ الكَرِيمِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: هَلْ بَلَغَكَ نَبَأُ يَوْمِ القِيَامَةِ؟

الغَاشِيَةُ – اسْمٌ مِنْ أَسْمَاءِ القِيَامَةِ لأَِنَّهَا تَغْشَى النَّاسَ بِأَهْوَالِهَا وَتَعمُّهُمْ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 1
1. Allah Almighty tells His holy Prophet: “Have you heard the news of Judgement Day (the overwhelming event)?
{ وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَاشِعَةٌ }
{ خَاشِعَةٌ } { يَوْمَئِذٍ }

(2) – فِي ذَلِكَ اليَوْمِ تَكُونُ وُجُوهُ الكَافِرِينَ المُجْرِمِينَ ذَلِيلَةً خَاشِعَةً، يَعْلُوهَا الخِزْيُ وَالذُّلُّ مِمَّا تَرَى مِنَ الهَوْلِ.

خَاشِعَةٌ – ذَلِيلَةٌ خَاضِعَةٌ مِنَ الخِزْيِ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 2
2. “On that day the faces of the wicked unbelievers will be fearful and humiliated, and covered with shame from the terrors they witness.
{ عَامِلَةٌ نَّاصِبَةٌ }
(3) – وَهَؤُلاَءِ الكُفَّارُ الذِينَ خَشَعَتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ، وَعَلاَهَا الذُّلُّ وَالهَوَانُ، كَانُوا فِي حَيَاتِهِم الدُّنْيَا يَعْمَلُونَ وَيجْتَهِدُونَ فِي أَعْمَالِهِمْ، لَكِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَنْتَفِعُوا بِأَعْمَالِهِمْ عِنْدَ اللهِ تَعَالَى، لأَِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ، وَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ خَالِصَةً لِوَجْهِ اللهِ.

(وَقَدْ يَكُونُ المَعْنَى: إِنَّهُمْ دَائِبُو العَمَلِ فِيمَا يُتْعِبُهُمْ وَيُشْقِيهِمْ، وَيُوصِلُهُمْ إِلَى النَّارِ).

نَاصِبَةٌ – مُتْعَبَةٌ فِي عَمَلِهَا.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 3
3. “Those unbelievers whose fearful faces are covered with shame and ignominy, laboured hard in their life on earth, but their deeds did not benefit them with Allah because they did not believe, nor were their actions purely for the sake of Allah. (The meaning could be that they persistently strived to do what exhausted them and caused them wretchedness, and eventually led them to the Fire.)
{ تَصْلَىٰ نَاراً حَامِيَةً }
(4) – وَتُقَاسِي هَذِهِ الوُجُوهُ حَرَّ النَّارِ الحَامِيَةِ، وَتُعَذَّبُ فِيهَا.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 4
4. These faces will suffer the heat of the blazing Fire and will be punished in it.
{ تُسْقَىٰ مِنْ عَيْنٍ آنِيَةٍ }
{ آنِيَةٍ }

(5) – وَإِذَا عَطِشَ أَهْلُ النَّارِ، وَطَلَبُوا مَا يُطْفِىءُ ظَمَأَهُمْ، جِيئَ لَهُمْ بِمَاءٍ مِنْ عَيْنِ مَاءٍ بَلَغَ مِنَ الحَرَارَةِ غَايَتَهَا، فَهُوَ لاَ يُطْفِئُ ظَمَأَهُمْ.

آنِيَةٍ – بَلَغَتِ الغَايَةَ فِي الحَرَارَةِ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 5
5. When the inhabitants of Hell are thirsty and ask for a drink, they will get water from a boiling hot spring which will not quench their thirst.
{ لَّيْسَ لَهُمْ طَعَامٌ إِلاَّ مِن ضَرِيعٍ }
(6) – وَإِذَا طَلَبُوا الطَّعَامَ جَيئَ لَهُمْ بِالضَّرِيعِ، وَهُوَ نَبَاتٌ كَالشَّوْكِ مُرٌّ مُنْتِنٌ، لاَ يُشْبعُ مِنْ جُوعٍ، وَلاَ يُسْمِنُ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 6
6. And when they ask for food, they will receive a bad-smelling bitter and thorny plant (like the cactus-thorn) which neither satisfies hunger nor nourishes them.”
{ لاَّ يُسْمِنُ وَلاَ يُغْنِي مِن جُوعٍ }
(7) – وَعَرَّفَ اللهُ تَعَالَى هَذَا الضَّرِيعَ بِأَنَّهُ لاَ خَيْرَ فِيهِ، وَلاَ فَائِدَةَ مِنْهُ، فَهُوَ لاَ يُسْمِنُ، وَلاَ يُغْنِي، وَلاَ يُشْبعُ مِنْ جُوعٍ.

لاَ يُغْنِي مِنْ جُوعٍ – لاَ يَدْفَعُ عَنْهُمْ جُوعاً.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 7
7. Allah Almighty describes that plant as being of no benefit: it does not nourish nor does it satisfy hunger.
{ وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاعِمَةٌ }
(8) – وَفِي يَوْمِ القِيَامَةِ تَكُونُ وُجُوهُ المُؤْمِنِينَ المُخْلِصِينَ المُتَّقِينَ ذَاتَ نَضْرَةٍ وَبَهْجَةٍ.

نَاعِمَةٌ – ذَاتُ بَهْجَةٍ وَحُسْنٍ وَنَضَارَةٍ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 8
8. On Judgement Day, the faces of the faithful believers will be joyful and fresh.
{ لِّسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌ }
(9) – رَاضِيَةٌ بِمَا كَانَ مِنْهَا مِنْ عَمَلٍ صَالِحٍ فِي الحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا، وَقَدْ وَجَدَتْ جََزَاءَ سَعْيِهَا عِنْدَ رَبِّهَا الكَرِيمِ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 9
9. These faithful believers will be pleased with their righteous deeds in life on earth and will find the reward for their efforts with their generous Lord.
{ فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ }
(10) – وَقَدْ أَنْزَلَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 10
10. Their Lord has admitted them into an elevated garden.
{ لاَّ تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لاَغِيَةً }
{ لاَغِيَةً }

(11) – وَلاَ يَسْمَعُ أَهْلُ الجَنَّةِ كَلِمَةَ لَغْوٍ لاَ خَيْرَ فِيهَا.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 11
11. The inhabitants of Paradise will not hear any trivial and vain words.
{ فِيهَا عَيْنٌ جَارِيَةٌ }
(12) – وَفِي الجَنَّةِ عُيُونُ مَاءٍ جَارِيَةٌ فِي جَنَبَاتِهَا.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 12
12. In the garden there are springs of running water on all sides.
{ فِيهَا سُرُرٌ مَّرْفُوعَةٌ }
(13) – وَفِيهَا أَسِرَّةٌ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ، إِذَا جَلَسَ عَلَيْهَا المُؤْمِنُ رَأَى جَمِيعَ مَا أَعْطَاهُ اللهُ مِنَ النَّعِيمِ.

مَرْفُوعَةٌ – مُرْتَفِعَةُ السَّمْكِ، أَوْ رَفِيعَةُ القَدْرِ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 13
13. There are raised couches, and when the believer sits on them, he will see all the blessings that Allah has granted him.
{ وَأَكْوَابٌ مَّوْضُوعَةٌ }
(14) – وَفِيهَا أَكْوَابٌ لِلْمَاءِ مَوْضُوعَةٌ عَلَى حَافَّاتِ عُيُونِ المَاءِ الجَارِيَةِ، فَكُلَّمَا أَرَادَ أَهْلُ الجَنَّةِ شُرْباً، وَجَدُوهَا حَاضِرَةً.

مَوْضُوعَةٌ – عَلَى حَافَّاتِ العُيُونِ، أَوْ مَوْضُوعَةٌ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 14
14. There are drinking containers set on the edges of the water springs. Thus, whenever the inhabitants of Paradise wish to drink, they will find these containers within easy reach.
{ وَنَمَارِقُ مَصْفُوفَةٌ }
(15) – وَفِيهَا وَسَائِدُ مَصْفُوفٌ بَعْضُهَا إِلَى جَانِبِ بَعْضٍ، لِيَجْلِسُوا عَلَيْهَا، وَيَسْتَنِدُوا إِلَيْهَا.

نَمَارِقُ – وَسَائِدُ وَمَرَافِقُ يُتَّكَأَ عَلَيْهَا.

مَصْفُوفَةٌ – مَوْضُوعٌ بَعْضُهَا إِلَى جَانِبِ بَعْضٍ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 15
15. There are cushions arranged one beside the other so that they can sit and recline on them
{ وَزَرَابِيُّ مَبْثُوثَةٌ }
(16) – وَفِيهَا بُسُطٌ مَمْدُودَةٌ فِي كُلِّ مَجْلِسٍ مِنْ مَجَالِسِهِمْ.

زَرَابِيُّ – بُسطٌ فَاخِرَةٌ.

مَبْثُوثَةٌ – مُفَرَّقَةٌ فِي المَجَالِسِ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 16
16. and magnificent carpets spread out in every sitting area.
{ أَفَلاَ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى ٱلإِبْلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ }
(17) – أَيُنْكِرُ هَؤُلاَءِ المُشْرِكُونَ قُدْرَةَ اللهِ تَعَالَى عَلَى بَعْثِ الخَلْقِ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِمْ، وَأَمَامَهُمُ الإِبلُ – الجِمَالُ – وَفِي خَلْقِهَا مَا يَدُلُّ عَلَى عَظَمَةِ خَالِقهَا وَقُدْرَتِهِ؟ فَالإِبلُ مِنْ أَضْخَمِ الحَيَوَانَاتِ، وَأَكْثَرِهَا قُوَّةً، وَأَكْبَرِهَا احْتِمَالاً، تَحْتَمِلُ العَطَشَ وَالجُوعَ، وَتَكْتَفِي بِاليَسِيرِ مِنَ المَرْعَى وَالمَاءِ فَمَنْ خَلَقَهَا، وَخَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالجِبَالَ وَالأَرْضَ.. لقَادِرٌ عَلَى إِعَادَةِ خَلْقِهِمْ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِمْ، وَبَعْثِهِمْ مِنْ قُبُورِهِمْ.

أَفَلاَ يَنْظُرُونَ – أَفَلاَ يَتَأَمَّلُونَ فَيُدْرِكُونَ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 17
17. Do the unbelievers deny Almighty Allah’s power to resurrect the creatures after death? Let them contemplate the camels whose creation indicates the grandeur and might of the Creator. Camels are among the largest and strongest animals; they are also the most enduring for they endure thirst and hunger and are content with the little water and pasture available. Thus, He who created them and created the heavens and the earth is able to recreate them after their death, and raise them from their graves.
{ وَإِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيْفَ رُفِعَتْ }
(18) – وَيُتَابعُ اللهُ تَعَالَى لَفْتَ أَنْظَارِ هَؤُلاَءِ المُشْرِكِينَ إِلَى عَظَمَتِهِ، وَعَظَمَةِ مَا خَلَقَ، فَلَفَتَ نََظَرَهُمْ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَارْتِفَاعِهَا وَمَا فِيهَا مِنْ نُجُومِ وَكَوَاكِبَ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 18
18. Allah Almighty continues to draw the attention of the unbelievers to His might; He tells them to look at the sky and its loftiness and at all the stars and planets it contains.
{ وَإِلَىٰ ٱلْجِبَالِ كَيْفَ نُصِبَتْ }
(19) – ثُمَّ لَفَتَ نَظَرَهُمْ إِلَى الجِبَالِ وَعُلُوِّهَا الكَبِيرِ، وَانْتِصَابِهَا وَرُسُوخِهَا فِي الأَرْضِ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 19
19. Then He draws their attention to the mountains and their great height and how they stand upright, firmly fixed in the earth.
{ وَإِلَى ٱلأَرْضِ كَيْفَ سُطِحَتْ }
(20) – ثُمَّ لَفَتَ نَظَرَهُمْ إِلَى الأَرْضِ كَيْفَ مُهِّدَتْ وَبُسِطَتْ (سُطِحَتْ)، لِيَنْتَفِعَ بِهَا الخَلْقُ. فَالمُشْرِكُونَ يَرَوْنَ كُلَّ هَذَا الخَلْقِ العَظِيمِ أَمَامَ أَعْيُنِهِمْ، وَيَرَوْنَ بَدِيعَ صُنْعِهِ وَيُدْرِكُونَ عَظَمَتَهُ، وَإِبْدَاعَ خَلْقِهِ، فَكَيْفَ لاَ يَتَدَبَّرُونَ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي قُدْرَةِ الخَالِقَ وَعَظَمَتِهِ؟ وَكَيْفَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ، وَلاَ يَخْشَوْنَ بَطْشَهُ وَعِقَابَهُ؟.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 20
20. He also draws their attention to the earth and how it is spread out so that the creatures can benefit from it. The polytheists see all these marvellous creations before their eyes and see Allah’s wonderful inventions and conceive His grandeur. How can they not contemplate the power and greatness of the Creator? How do they not believe in Him and fear His punishment?
{ فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌ }
(21) – ثُمَّ يَأْمُرُ اللهُ تَعَالَى رَسُولَهُ الكَرِيمَ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِـأَنْ يُذَكِّرَ النَّاسَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ، وَبِأَنْ يَعِظَهُمْ بِحُجَجِهِ وَبَرَاهِينِهِ، وَيُبلِّغَهُمْ رِسَالَتَهُ، وَيَقُولَ لَهُمْ إِنَّهُ إِنَّمَا بُعِثَ رَسُولاً مُبَلِّغَاً وَمُذَكِّراً.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 21
21. Allah Almighty then commands His noble Prophet to remind the people of their Lord’s signs, to teach them through arguments and proofs, and convey Allah’s message to them and tell them that he is but a messenger sent to them to transmit the message of Allah.
{ لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ }
{ بِمُصَيْطِرٍ }

(22) – وَيَقُولُ لَهُ إِنَّهُ لَمْ يُرْسِلْهُ لِيَكُونَ مُتَسَلِّطاً مُسَيْطِراً عَلَيْهِمْ، وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يُسْأَلُ عَنْهُمْ، فَعَلَيهِ أَنْ يَقُومَ بِوَعْظِهِمْ وَبِإِبْلاَغِهِمْ رِسَالَةَ رَبِّهِمْ، وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَحْمِلَهُمْ عَلَى الإِيْمَانِ، وَحِسَابُهُمْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى اللهِ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 22
22. He tells him that He did not send him to dominate and control them. Nor will he be asked to account for them. He should only advise them and convey his Lord’s message to them, not force them to faith. It is up to Allah to judge them after that.
{ إِلاَّ مَن تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ }
(23) – فَمَنْ تَوَلَّى مِنْهُمْ وَكَفَرَ وَأَعْرَضَ عَنِ الذِّكْرَى، وَأَصَرَّ عَلَى الكُفْرِ وَالجُحُودِ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 23
23. he who turns away and obstinately disobeys and disbelieves,
{ فَيُعَذِّبُهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلأَكْبَرَ }
(24) – فَإِنَّ اللهَ سَيُعَذِّبُهُ فِي يَوْمِ القِيَامَةِ العَذَابَ الأَكْبَرَ، الذِي لاَ عَذَابَ فَوْقَهُ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 24
24. Allah will punish him most severely on the Day of Resurrection.
{ إِنَّ إِلَيْنَآ إِيَابَهُمْ }
(25) – وَإِنَّهُمْ رَاجِعُونَ إِلَى اللهِ رَبِّهِمِ، يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ، وَإِلَيهِ يَؤُوبُونَ حِينَمَا يُبْعَثُونَ.

إِيَابَهُمْ – رُجُوعَهُمْ إِلَى الحَيَاةِ بَعْدَ المَوْتِ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 25
25. They will return to Allah, their Lord on Judgement Day when they are resurrected.
{ ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا حِسَابَهُمْ }
(26) – وَهُوَ تَعَالَى يَتَوَلَّى حِسَابَهُمْ – وَيَجْزِيهِمْ بِأَعْمَالِهِمْ.
Surah Al-Ghashiyah: Verse 26
26. He Almighty will call them to give account and recompense them for their deeds.
Source: This series of Tafsir books has been made available online by the family of Dr. Assaad Homad (may Allah have mercy on him). These volumes were entirely digitized to provide an accessible and easy format for todays digital age. Please keep Dr. Assaad and his family in your sincere prayers.
تم إتاحة هذه السلسلة من كتب التفسير عبر الإنترنت من قبل عائلة الدكتور أسعد حومد (رحمه الله). لقد قمنا برقمنة هذه المجلدات بالكامل لتوفير تنسيق يسهل الوصول إليه واستخدامه في عصرنا الرقمي الحالي. نرجو منكم ألا تنسوا الدكتور أسعد وعائلته من صالح دعائكم.