إِذا رُجَّتِ الأَرضُ رَجًّا
When the earth is shaken violently.
EXEGESIS
Rajja: shake, shudder, agitate. The extra mention of rajja at the end of the verse stresses and emphasises the sense of shock and shaking as a vehement and violent one. The same is true about bassa at the end of the next verse.
EXPOSITION
This group of verses add to the previous verses by picturing the scene of the resurrection, and how the earth and the mountains are severely smashed and crumbled. The day when the earth and the mountains will quake, and the mountains will be like dunes of shifting sand (73:14); When the trumpet is blown with a single blast, and the earth and the mountains are lifted and levelled with a single levelling, then, on that day, will the imminent [hour] befall (69:13-15).
The earth is a resting place and cradle for mankind (78:6, 2:22, 40:64) and the mountains are pegs and stakes that secure the earth (78:7, 16:15, 21:31, 31:10). Yet, this cradle shall start shaking violently, and the stabilisers will themselves be destabilised. There will be no source of security or refuge on that day except with God.
INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS
- Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
[1] Raghib; Tahqiq, under r-j-j.
[2] Murtaza Alidina, series of lectures on the exegesis of Sūrat al-Wāqiʿah, available at <http://www.dartabligh.org >.
[3] Isaiah 13:13.