In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
The concise commentary on the book *Bitaqat al-Ta'rif*
*bi-Suwar al-Mushaf al-Sharif*,
by Dr. Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Umar Nasif,
may Allah preserve him.
Surah al-Zalzalah.
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds,
and peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets,
and upon all his family and Companions.
We continue with our concise commentary on *Bitaqat al-Ta'rif*,
and we have now reached Surah al-Zalzalah.
We have three points of reflection concerning it.
The first point pertains to what has been narrated regarding the virtues of this surah,
namely what has been established in the hadith that it is a comprehensive surah.
And since this is the case,
it ought to be studied specifically
and actualized in the lives of Muslims.
It is difficult for a person—just as it was difficult for that Companion—
and difficult for many people
to fully grasp all the meanings of the Qur'an
and study it in its entirety.
So what do you think about studying this comprehensive surah
in a way that truly impacts one's life?
Perhaps it can be explained
using modern educational methods
and impactful approaches,
especially for the younger generation.
Imagine a child raised upon the realization that: "Whoever does
an atom's weight of good will see it,
and whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it."
As for the second point of reflection,
it concerns the opening of the surah.
It begins with a conditional clause,
and generally, surahs that open with a condition—
and the conditional particle used here is *idha* (when)—
point to a time of immense significance.
And this time is exceedingly momentous:
the time of the final earthquake.
The particle *in* (if) was not used here;
rather, *idha* (when) was used,
so that we may realize that
the Earthquake is definitively bound to occur.
Thus, we must prepare for this appointed time,
which is among the most critical
appointments set for us.
Indeed, it is an appointment unlike any worldly appointment,
for human appointments may fail to be kept,
whereas this is Allah's promise, which is never broken.
As for the third point of reflection,
it relates to the theme of the surah.
As noted, reflecting on its title and verses
clearly shows that it addresses the Day of Resurrection
in terms of the intensity of its terrors and the witnessing of one's deeds.
The specific aspect highlighted here is deliberate;
for if you look at Surah al-Qari'ah that follows, for instance,
it also speaks of the Day of Resurrection, but from another perspective.
Here, this surah focuses on the sheer intensity of the terror
and the witnessing of deeds,
while al-Qari'ah—which is also from the short surahs of the Mufassal—
deals with the same subject, the Day of Resurrection, but in a different manner.
And I would like to conclude here
with the statement of Muhammad ibn Ka'b al-Qurazi,
may Allah have mercy on him, when he said:
"That I should recite during my night
until morning
*Idha Zulzilat*
and *al-Qari'ah*,
adding nothing else to them,
repeating them both
and pondering their meanings,
is more beloved to me than
hastily chanting through the entire Qur'an in a single night,"
or as he said, "scattering it haphazardly."
These are two magnificent surahs that truly deserve deep contemplation.
This is sufficient,
and Allah knows best. May Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad,
and upon his family and Companions, and grant them peace.