بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

إِذا زُلزِلَتِ الأَرضُ زِلزالَها

When the earth is rocked with a terrible quake.

EXEGESIS

Zulzilat (rocked) is a third-person, feminine, singular verb, derived from the word zalzala,^{‎[1]Azharī, Tahdhīb al-Lughah, 13/116.} a double-lettered quadrilateral verb, which means to jolt or shake something.^{‎[2]Lisan, 11/30; Bahrayn, 5/388.} In the context of the verse, zulzilat signifies the heralding of the Day of Judgement, which is initiated with a violent shake. The word zilzāla-hā (its shaking) indicates a type of shaking not experienced before, a calamity that will happen only once in the entire life of the earth.

The chapter is in the past narrative, signifying that the upheaval which will bring all existence to an end will transpire with unequivocal certainty.

EXPOSITION

Throughout history, mankind has endured many frightening crises and natural disasters which have destroyed civilisations and caused great loss of life and property. Earthquakes have devastated great cities in the shortest amount of time, rendering everything in their path into rubble. Although they are limited to specific locations, earthquakes create a feeling of helplessness and fear, and so a question left for the imagination is: if such are the effects of common earthquakes, then what of the final earthquake that will destroy all life? The chapter then describes the events leading to the Day of Resurrection and what will follow.

The Holy Prophet was asked concerning the appointed time for the end of the world, upon which this chapter was revealed.^{‎[3]Tabarani, 6/539.} Its opening verse begins with the narrative of the earthquake which subtly suggests that the final hour is not specified by any appointment of time. Furthermore, as seen in 56:4 and 22:1, an association is made between the Day of Judgement and this earthquake, reassuring the reader that the Day of Judgement will proceed with an unprecedented convulsion. As the pronoun hā in zilzāla-hā refers to the word earth (arḍ), it signifies that the earth in its entirety will shake,^{‎[4]Andulusi, 5/510; Shawkani, 5/583; Zamakhshari, 4/783.} as opposed to common earthquakes which are usually confined to certain areas and localities. It indicates a shaking that has never been previously observed and nor shall such be experienced again.

INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS

1. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.^{‎[5]Isaiah 2:19.}
2. The earth is broken asunder, The earth is split through, The earth is shaken violently.^{‎[6]Isaiah 24:19.}
3. Mountains quake because of Him And the hills dissolve; Indeed the earth is upheaved by His presence, The world and all the inhabitants in it.^{‎[7]Nahum 1:5.}
4. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.^{‎[8]Joel 2:10.}
5. And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.^{‎[9]Revelation 16:18.}

[1] Azharī, Tahdhīb al-Lughah, 13/116.
[2] Lisan, 11/30; Bahrayn, 5/388.
[3] Tabarani, 6/539.
[4] Andulusi, 5/510; Shawkani, 5/583; Zamakhshari, 4/783.
[5] Isaiah 2:19.
[6] Isaiah 24:19.
[7] Nahum 1:5.
[8] Joel 2:10.
[9] Revelation 16:18.