The quake of reckoning -Surat Al-Zilzal

The quake of reckoning
 
Surat Al-Zilzal (AlZalzala) 99th surah. Makkah surah. 
 





When the earth will be shaken, it's great shaking. (1)
And the earth will cast out its burden. (2)
And when man will say what is the matter with it. (3)
On that day it (the earth) will relay its tales. (4)
Because your lord will have inspired it to do this.
On that day people will emerge from their graves in different groups So that they may be shown their deeds. (5)
So whoever does an atoms weight of good will see it. (
and whoever does an atoms weight of evil will see it.
 
 
 
The focus on Makkan surah was tawheed and monotheism. Also
Most the Quraish didn't believe in life after death or the day of reckoning. So most of Makkan surah focus on day of reckoning and accountability of the hereafter.
 
The surah is every comprehensive. Just in a few verses it covers the final hour and accountability.
If man adheres to this surah then the man will has succeeded.
 
The most important point of this surah is the account accountability.
 
The Quran portrays a very vivid image of the final hour of judgement.
 
Verse one: the great shaking is referring to the final hour of judgement.
 
Verse 2: the earth throws out its burden. This means that both closer to the day of reckoning and on the day of reckoning the earth will open up and throw out all that it contains. So all it's resources and on the day of judgement it will throw out its burden of bodies. And humans will emerge from the graves.
 
Verse 3: and man will exclaim what the matter with it is.
 
Verse 4: on that day the earth will relay its tails
 
Verse 5: this is because your lord has inspired it. Allah has commanded it.
 
So far this surah is saying that the inner most secrets of the heart will be revealed.
 
Verse 6: on that day when the earth reveals it's secrets people will be in different groups and they will emerge. What types of groups:
- the people of the right
- the people of wretchedness on the left
- the elite of the people of the right.
 
No matter which group they will be in they will emerge to be shown their deeds.
 
Verse 7: whoever does an atoms weight of good will see it
 
Verse 8: whoever does an atoms weight of evil will see it.
 
The most important point of this surah is the accountability.
 
These set of verses give you the lessons of life and understanding of your relationship with Allah. If you do good deeds to the weight of an atom you will see it. If you do a evil deeds to the weight if an atom you will see it (see it's punishment & be accountable for it). No one will be able to deny it. This is a very comprehensible verse. It teaches a very important lesson such that every good deed you do big or small will be accounted. It has become customary to belief to practice apparent lessons of religion only. The five daily prayers is not the only mark of piety but virtue, righteousness and piety is found in the person who believe in Allah, the angels, the day of judgement and the prophets of Allah. Also the person who gives to his relatives, orphans, poor and needy and the beggars (optional charity) and the one who establishes Salaah and gives zakat. Piety, virtue and righteousness are those who fulfil their promises, keep patience in times of adversity, these are the people who have taqwah.
 
We think that only certain acts are key to piety and dismiss certain acts. This is our thinking of sins too. We should try to stay away from sins. All sins not just certain ones or major ones.
 
Do good whatever it may, wherever it maybe and however much it may be.
 
A single act of kindness may be your pass key to Jannah. There is a
reward in every living thing.
 
Do not consider any good deed trivial and insignificant even if it means greeting you brother with a smiling face.
 
The best of all people is one who provides the most benefit to them.
 
A good word and forgiveness ie seeking forgiveness are far better than giving charity then boosting of ones favour and using this as leverage to the other person. This will cause hurt and pain to the other person.
 
If you can't do any good then make sure you don't do anything bad to anyone. Preventing yourself from hurting anyone consciously is an act of sadaqah.
 
When you visit someone who is ill then say something good to them. This will make them feel better.
 
Meet someone pleasantly is an act if charity.
 
On Every joint of the body there is an outstanding charity everyday this is fulfilled by making Wudhu, walking to the mosque, a good word.
 
When someone who does a good deed they should do it for the sake of Allah and for his love. Allah will reward you for this.
 
When someone commits a sin, even though it may seem minor but it is viewed as a violation of Allah's command. Therefore never get into a debate whether a sin is minor or major. Because every sin is major when you realise who you are sinning against.
When you consider who the sin you are committing against then there can be no distinction between minor and major sin. This is why Allah may reward someone for the smallest of deeds so similarly Allah may punish someone for what we think is the smallest of sin.
 
Therefore No one should be content or confident and complacent when they commit a sin.
 
Allah is just. No matter whatever anyone has done, don't speak ill of them. As Allah will hold that person accountable for what they have done and hold you accountable of what you have done against that person. Allah is just.
 
Abuse whether it is verbal emotional or physical is a sin. Verbal abuse is insidious. All sins by hand or tongue or heart or mind is damaging.


Notes from a lecture of Suratul Zilzal by Sheikh Riyadh UlHaq

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