In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.
Abridged by Dr. 'Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammari.
Surah al-Ghashiyah.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
“Hath there come unto thee tidings of the Overwhelming?” (88:1)
Some faces on that Day will be humbled.
Laboring and weary.
They will enter a scorching fire.
“Drinking from a boiling spring,” (88:5)
They will have no food except from a thorny plant.
“Which doth not nourish nor release from hunger.” (88:7)
Has the hadith of the Overwhelming Event reached you, O Muhammad?
Meaning its story and its news.
The "Overwhelming Event" (al-Ghashiyah) is the Day of Resurrection.
It overwhelms the people with its terrors.
Others have said:
It is the Fire that overwhelms the faces of the disbelievers.
The faces of the people of disbelief on that Day will be humiliated.
Laboring in the Fire, weary therein.
These faces will be brought to a scorching fire.
Which has been heated and whose heat has intensified.
And the inhabitants of these faces will be given to drink.
From a boiling spring whose heat has reached its peak.
It has reached its limit in intensity of heat.
These people, who are the owners of the faces.
That are humbled, laboring, and weary on the Day of Resurrection.
Will have no food except what they are fed from a plant.
Called al-Shariq, which is a poisonous plant.
This thorny plant does not nourish on the Day of Resurrection.
Those among the people of the Fire who eat it.
Nor does it satisfy their hunger.
Some faces on that Day will be blissful.
Pleased with their effort.
In a lofty garden.
“Where they hear no idle speech,” (88:11)
In it is a flowing spring.
In it are thrones raised high.
And cups placed ready.
And cushions lined up.
And carpets spread out.
Some faces on the Day of Resurrection will be blissful.
Because Allah has bestowed bliss upon their owners in His gardens.
They are the people of faith in Allah.
Because of the work they performed in the world.
Pleased with the obedience of their Lord.
In a high garden.
These faces will not hear in the lofty garden.
Any vain or false speech.
And in the lofty garden is a flowing spring, not in a channel.
And thrones raised high.
So that the believer, when he sits upon them, may see.
Everything his Lord has granted him of bliss and dominion therein.
And his sight encompasses all of that.
And cups, which is the plural of "cup."
These are the pitchers that have no handles.
Placed on the edge of the flowing spring.
Whenever he desires to drink.
He finds them filled with drink.
And cushions and pillows lined up.
Because some are beside others.
And many carpets spread out and laid down.
“Will they not regard the camels, how they are created?” (88:17)
“And the heaven, how it is raised?” (88:18)
“And the hills, how they are set up?” (88:19)
“And the earth, how it is spread?” (88:20)
The Almighty says, addressing those who deny His power.
Over what He has described in this Surah.
Of the punishment and retribution He has prepared for the people of His enmity.
And the bliss and honor He has prepared for the people of His friendship.
Do these deniers not look?
At the power of Allah over these matters.
At the camels, how He created them, subjected them to them, and made them submissive.
And made them carry their loads while kneeling.
Then they rise with it.
And He who created that is not incapable.
Of creating what He has described of these matters in Paradise and the Fire.
And His saying:
“And the heaven, how it is raised?” (88:18)
Do they not also look at the sky above them?
How He raised it, He who informed you.
That He has prepared for His allies what He described.
And for His enemies what He mentioned.
So that they may know that His power is the power.
That is not hindered by anything He wills to do.
And at the mountains, how they were set up, standing firm so they do not fall and spread out on the earth.
But He made them, by His power, standing firm and solid.
They do not leave their place.
Nor do they move from their position.
And at the earth, how it was spread out.
“Remind them, for thou art but a remembrancer,” (88:21)
You are not a controller over them.
“But whoso is averse and disbelieveth,” (88:23)
“Allah will punish him with direst punishment.” (88:24)
Indeed, to Us is their return.
“And Ours their reckoning.” (88:26)
So remind, O Muhammad, My servants with My signs.
Admonish them with My proofs.
And convey My message to them.
You were only sent to them as a reminder.
To remind them of My favor upon them.
To make them aware of what is required of them and to admonish them.
You are not a tyrant over them.
Nor are you a compeller to force them to what you want.
All of them are to Me, and I will judge them.
And His saying: "Except for one who turns away and disbelieves."
This can be interpreted in two ways.
One of them:
So remind your people, O Muhammad.
Except for those among them who turn away from you.
And turn away from the signs of Allah and disbelieve.
And the second way:
You are not a controller over them.
“But whoso is averse and disbelieveth,” (88:23)
Allah will punish him.
And His saying:
“Allah will punish him with direst punishment.” (88:24)
Meaning, Allah will punish him with the greatest punishment.
For his disbelief in Him in the world.
And the punishment of Hell in the Hereafter.
Indeed, to Us is the return of those who disbelieve and their final destination.
Then, indeed, upon Allah is their reckoning.
And He will recompense him for what preceded from him of disobedience to his Lord.