Al-Qaari"a - The Calamity
Arabic Name: الْقَارِعَة
Urdu Name: کھڑکھڑاہٹ
Type: Makki
Serial Number: 101
Revelation Order: 30
Total Verses: 11
Parah: 30
Rukus: 1
Sajda: None
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Quick Facts about this Verse
Surah
Al-Qaari"a
Revealed
Makki
Position
Juz 30
Explore this Verse
Verse Meaning
According to the classical exegete Ibn Kathir, verse 101:5 of Surah Al-Qari'ah vividly portrays the cosmic upheaval on the Day of Judgment, where mountains are transformed into 'carded wool' (`al-'ihn al-manfush`). Imam Al-Tabari and Al-Qurtubi concur, explaining that `al-'ihn` specifically refers to colored wool, suggesting the varied minerals and colors of the mountains will disintegrate into a fragile, fluffy mass. The term `al-manfush`, as scholars like Mujahid and Qatada note, describes the process of fluffing or carding wool, emphasizing their complete loss of solidity and form. This powerful simile contrasts the mountains' earthly symbol of permanence and stability with their ultimate state of fragility and dispersion before the power of Allah, becoming weightless and scattered. This transformation, as Imam As-Sa'di clarifies, is a precursor to their complete dissolution into scattered dust, signaling the end of the physical world and the commencement of the final reckoning.
Questions for Reflection
Personal Reflection on Stability
As Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari describe the mountains—symbols of permanence—dissolving into wool, reflect on what you consider 'stable' or 'permanent' in your own life (career, wealth, relationships, status). How does this verse challenge that perception and invite you to find true stability in Allah alone?
Cosmic Contemplation of Power
Imam As-Sa'di connects this verse to the mountains flying like clouds, emphasizing a process of disintegration. Contemplate the immense power required to not just destroy but utterly unmake the mountains. How does this recalibrate your understanding of worldly power versus the absolute power of the Creator?
Textual and Linguistic Pondering
The verse uses the specific term `al-'ihn` (colored wool), not just 'wool'. As Al-Qurtubi and Al-Tabari note, this highlights their different colors. Why is it significant that even the beauty and diversity of the mountains will be lost? What does this teach about the value of worldly beauty compared to the eternal?
Practical Applications
Cultivate humility by reflecting on the impermanence of the mountains, the ultimate symbol of earthly might.
Practice this contemplation when feeling overwhelmed by worldly ambitions, during moments of pride, or when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Strengthen trust in Allah's ultimate authority by visualizing the dissolution of the world's most stable structures.
Useful during times of personal or global instability, financial uncertainty, or when planning for a future that is ultimately in Allah's hands.
Hidden Gem
The synthesis of tafsirs reveals a hidden layer: this verse isn't just about destruction, but about a 'return to a primary state.' Mountains are composed of minerals and elements, which, when unmade, resemble the chaotic, unformed fibers of raw wool before it is spun into something useful. This insight, drawn from combining the linguistic analysis of Al-Tabari with the finality described by Ibn Kathir, allows for contemplation on how all creation, no matter how majestic, will be returned to its elemental state before its Creator.
Common Questions
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