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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

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A Gentle Commentary on the Book "Bi-taqat al-Ta'rif

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bi-Suwar al-Mushaf al-Sharif" (Introductory Cards to the Surahs of the Noble Mushaf),

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by Dr. Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz Ibn 'Umar Nasif,

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may Allah preserve him.

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Surah al-Qari'ah.

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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

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And may peace and blessings be upon the seal of the prophets and messengers,

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and upon his family and all his Companions.

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We continue our gentle commentary on the introductory cards,

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and we have arrived at Surah al-Qari'ah.

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I have three reflections upon it.

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The first reflection:

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Although the Surah speaks about the Day of Resurrection,

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as is the case in Surat al-Zalzalah and others,

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nevertheless,

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this Surah is uniquely distinguished

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by intense intimidation and fright.

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This is noticed—first and foremost—

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in the very name of the Surah, "al-Qari'ah" (The Striking Calamity),

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meaning that which strikes the hearts with its terrors.

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Thus, the intense intimidation is very apparent in the Surah;

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so reflect upon that.

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The second reflection

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is

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that the Surah,

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even though it is centered around intense intimidation,

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is not devoid

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of glad tidings and reassurance,

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perfectly harmonized with the context.

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He said: "Then as for him whose scales are heavy [with good deeds],

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he will be in a pleasant life."

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Notice:

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"he will be in a pleasant life."

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The context is one of severe intimidation,

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and the Striking Calamity knocks violently upon the hearts.

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Yet these people—

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they were not merely described

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(I mean those with heavy scales)

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as being pleased;

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rather, their very living is described as being pleasant and pleasing!

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This is even more indicative of

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their absolute security and tranquility.

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Thus, the description was exceptionally fitting.

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The third reflection

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pertains to these same two verses:

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“Then, as for him whose scales are heavy (with good works),” (101:6)

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"he will be in a pleasant life."

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And it is

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that

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this glad tiding

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that came in this Surah

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was also proportionate

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to the Surah in terms of quantity and length.

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"The Striking Calamity!

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What is the Striking Calamity?

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“Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Calamity is!” (101:3)

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These are three verses...

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“A day wherein mankind will be as thickly-scattered moths” (101:4)

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"And the mountains will be like fluffed wool."

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That completes five verses of intimidation.

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Then He said at the end of the Surah:

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“But as for him whose scales are light,” (101:8)

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"his mother [i.e., home] will be an abyss...

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“Ah, what will convey unto thee what she is! -” (101:10)

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A Fire, intensely hot."

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The total number of verses now

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is nine verses of intimidation,

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alongside two verses

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“Then, as for him whose scales are heavy (with good works),” (101:6)

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of "a pleasant life,"

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dedicated to glad tidings

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and reassurance.

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Since the Surah is founded primarily on intimidation,

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the proportion of intimidation within it was greater

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in quantity

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than

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that of reassurance.

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Notice also—

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and with this I conclude—

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that

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the Surah,

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despite being built around intimidation,

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hastened

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to

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mention those with heavy scales before mentioning

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those whose scales are light.

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And since the Surah's theme is intimidation,

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its placement was fitting right in the middle of the Surah,

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so that the Surah concludes

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with that which matches its opening.

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For its beginning is intimidation,

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and its conclusion is intimidation,

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because its overarching subject is intimidation.

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This resembles the rhetorical device of connecting the conclusion

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back to the beginning,

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and bringing the end of speech

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back to its opening.

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Its beginning strikes the hearts,

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and its ending strikes the hearts,

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yet there had to be a measure of reassurance

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for the believers.

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Thus, the Surah was completed in the most sublime form.

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I ask Allah

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to grant us understanding of His Book,

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to bestow upon us

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the ability to act upon it,

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and to make it a proof for us

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and not against us.

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And may Allah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad

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and upon his family and all his Companions.

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All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.