Surah Az-Zalzalah (099)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

1. When the earth is shaken with its (final) earthquake.

2. And when the earth throws out its burdens.

3. And man will say: "What is the matter with it?''

4. That Day it will declare its information (about all what happened over it of good or of evil).

5. Because your Lord will inspire it.

6. That Day mankind will proceed in scattered groups that they may be shown their deeds.

7. So, whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom shall see it.

8. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it.




It is called Az-Zalzalah or Az-Zilzal (The Earthquake) because it begins by informing us about the fierce earthquake that will take place just prior to the Day of Judgement.




A description of the Day of Judgement and the recompense for good and evil.




Allah Almighty described in the previous Surah Al-Baiyyinah-the warning to the disbeliever and the promise for the believer, the fire of Hell for the former and the Paradise for the latter. Here Allah Almighty clarifies the time for giving those rewards and mentions what will happen just prior to that time, that there will be an earthquake and the earth will throw out is burdens. And Allah Almighty informs us that we will be rewarded for a deed even if it is the size of the smallest thing.




At-Tirmithi recorded a Hadith – and he said it was Hasan from Anas bin Malik (Radhi Allahu Anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) said that this Surah is equivalent to one-fourth of the Qur'an.




Since the disbelievers would frequently ask about the time of the Hour and the Day of Reckoning, Allah Almighty here mentions not the exact time, but some of the signs of its coming, letting them know that the knowledge of when that time will arrive is with Allah Almighty alone. Therefore there is no way for us to specify when that time will come.

Ibn Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said:

The shaking of the bottom of the earth. Allah Almighty informs us about the Day of Judgement, and that the earth will shake and give a violent jolt, causing all the buildings and structures to fall; the mountains will be crushed and the hills will be leveled; the earth will become like a level floor with no crookedness in it.

meaning the earth will throw out its treasures and the dead.

(When he sees the enormous matters that are happening) Man will say: "What is happening to it?"



The earth will bear witness to what mankind perpetrated over it, both the good and bad of it. The earth is one of the many witnesses that will give testimony regarding the deeds of Allah's creatures. Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) related that the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) recited:




And He (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) said;

The Companions said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

Because your Lord has inspired it

Ibn Abbas (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said, "Its Lord will say, 'Speak,' and it will speak." Mujahid (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said. "It means that He orders it to speak of those deeds that were performed over it, and it will not disobey His Order."


It is about the Resurrection. Ashtaat means divided groups, some miserable and some happy, some ordered to go to Paradise and other ordered to go to the Fire.


So that Allah Almighty may show them their good and bad deeds, and the rewards they receive for them.


Tharrah means the weight of the smallest ant. So when one sees a good deed equal to that weight in his book (of deeds), he will be pleased by it. The principle is the same for both the righteous and the wicked persons, for each bad deed performed one has one sin held against him, and for each good deed performed, one has ten good deeds written for him. And on the day of Judgement, Allah Almighty further multiplies the good deeds of the believers. Here it is important to understand that since the smallest of deeds is judged, any deed that is greater than that will also be judged. Allah Almighty say:



Allah Almighty encourages us to do good deeds – even if they are small- and warns us against performing evil deeds – even if they are small, which is why the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) used to say:




He (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) also said:



Muslim and At-Tirmidhi recorded from Abu Hurairah, (Radhi Allahu Anhu) that Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

When Allah wills for the end of this world to occur and the time of the Hour to begin, He will order the earth to shake, and it will quake with unprecedented violence. It will throw up its burdens and those things buried inside; when man sees this epic occurrence, he will say "What is the matter with it?" Meaning, what is happening to the earth, for neither has its like occurred nor is its cause known.

At that time, the earth will speak its information to you, and it will articulate with the language of events not with the language of speech, as was said by the great scholar, At-Tabari in his Tafsir. For these are events occurring in the earth without a precedence or apparent reason, but by Allah's inspiration to it. Even though some things occur in the universe by an obvious cause and others by a hidden cause, all that takes place in the universe happens by Allah's Will and Command.

People will come out of their graves in scattered groups, and each person will be shown his deeds. Whoever does a good deed equal to the weight of the smallest ant, he will be rewarded for it; whoever does an evil deed equal to the weight of the smallest ant, he will be recompensed according to the deed. Allah Almighty say:


In this Surah, we are equally encouraged to do good deeds and warned against perpetrating evil ones.



1. The Belief in the Resurrection and recompense are acknowledged.

2. We are informed of an epic transformation, the transformation of the earth and the heavens into another earth and other heavens.

3. Inanimate objects speaking is from Allah's signs that indicates His perfect Ability, Knowledge, and Wisdom; moreover, it indicates His divine and complete power, which necessitates from us that we worship Him Alone, without associating partners with Him.

4. It supports the authentic Hadith:



5. The disbeliever reaps the rewards of his good deeds in this world, but not in the Hereafter.

6. The believer is recompensed for evil in this world, and his good deeds are saved to help him in the Hereafter.