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-Qari'ah (The Striking Calamity).
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The Striking Calamity.
What is the Striking Calamity?
“Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Calamity is!” (101:3)
The Day when people will be.
Like moths dispersed.
“And the mountains will become as carded wool.” (101:5)
The Striking Calamity.
Meaning the Hour whose terror strikes the hearts of people.
And the magnitude of the affliction that descends upon them at that time.
That is a morning after which there is no night.
What is the Striking Calamity?
What is this Hour?
Whose terror strikes all of creation.
Meaning, how great, how terrible, and how horrifying it is.
And what could make you know, O Muhammad, what the Striking Calamity is?
The Striking Calamity is the Day when people will be like moths.
Which are those that cast themselves into fire and lamps.
They are neither mosquitoes nor flies.
And by "dispersed," it means scattered.
And the mountains will be like carded wool.
“Then, as for him whose scales are heavy (with good works),” (101:6)
He shall be in a pleasant life.
“But as for him whose scales are light,” (101:8)
His refuge will be the Abyss (Hawiyah).
“Ah, what will convey unto thee what she is! -” (101:10)
A scorching Fire.
As for him whose scales of good deeds are heavy.
He shall be in a life he is pleased with in Paradise.
And as for him whose scale of good deeds is light.
His refuge and dwelling place will be the Abyss.
Into which he will fall headlong into Hell.
The Fire is described as a "mother" (ummah).
Because it has become his refuge, just as a mother shelters her child.
Since he has no other refuge, it is made for him.
In the position of a mother.
And what could make you know, O Muhammad, what the Abyss is?
Then He explained what it is, saying:
A fire that has been intensely heated by fuel.