The surah that opens with this single world, al-Qāriʿah, meaning The Catastrophe, for that is the repeated sound that shall resound through all the earth as it is being pulverized in the cataclysm at the end of time, levelled utterly for the Resurrection Day and the ultimate Judgment of every human soul. It takes its name from “the catastrophe” (al-qāriʿah) mentioned in verse 1 . The surah gives some scenes from the Resurrection and Judgement.The surah is also known as: The Calamity, The Clatterer, The Crashing Blow, The Day of Noise and Clamour, The Disaster, The Great Calamity, The Great Pounding, The Smiter, The Stunning (Blow).
1
القارِعَةُ
al-qāriʿatu
The Catastrophe!
2
مَا القارِعَةُ
mā l-qāriʿatu
What is the Catastrophe?
3
وَما أَدراكَ مَا القارِعَةُ
wa-mā ʾadrāka mā l-qāriʿatu
What will show you what is the Catastrophe?
4
يَومَ يَكونُ النّاسُ كَالفَراشِ المَبثوثِ
yawma yakūnu n-nāsu ka-l-farāshi l-mabthūthi
The day mankind will belike scattered moths,
5
وَتَكونُ الجِبالُ كَالعِهنِ المَنفوشِ
wa-takūnu l-jibālu ka-l-ʿihni l-manfūshi
and the mountains will belike carded wool.
6
فَأَمّا مَن ثَقُلَت مَوازينُهُ
fa-ʾammā man thaqulat mawāzīnuhū
As for him whose deeds weigh heavy in the scales,
7
فَهُوَ في عيشَةٍ راضِيَةٍ
fa-huwa fī ʿīshatin rāḍiyatin
he will have a pleasing life.
8
وَأَمّا مَن خَفَّت مَوازينُهُ
wa-ʾammā man khaffat mawāzīnuhū
But as for him whose deeds weigh light in the scales,