هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ الْغَاشِيَةِ
Did you receive the account of the Enveloper?
Commentary on Quran 88:1
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:1] Ghashiyah means that which overshadows or overwhelms-a terrible thing or event which makes people lose their senses. The day of judgement is indicated as an event when all that which we have seen and experienced in the life of this world will be lost and the only reality before us will be the process of reckoning.
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَاشِعَةٌ
Some faces on that day will be humbled,
Commentary on Quran 88:2
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:2] Verses 2 to 7 describe the conditions in which the disbelievers, the transgressors and those who opposed the true servants of Allah in this world will live for ever. Dhari is understood to be a bitter and thorny plant, loathsome in smell and appearance. Verses 8 to 16 describe the state of bliss in which the righteous will live for ever. Aqa Mahdi Puya says: The enjoyments referred to in these verses are the figurative presentation of the heavenly bliss which the souls of the righteous will live through.
عَامِلَةٌ نَّاصِبَةٌ
wrought-up and weary:
Commentary on Quran 88:3
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:3] (see commentary for verse 2)
تَصْلَى نَارًا حَامِيَةً
they will enter a scorching fire
Commentary on Quran 88:4
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:4] (see commentary for verse 2)
تُسْقَى مِنْ عَيْنٍ آنِيَةٍ
and made to drink from a boiling spring.
Commentary on Quran 88:5
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:5] (see commentary for verse 2)
لَّيْسَ لَهُمْ طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِن ضَرِيعٍ
They will have no food except cactus,
Commentary on Quran 88:6
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:6] (see commentary for verse 2)
لَّا يُسْمِنُ وَلَا يُغْنِي مِن جُوعٍ
neither nourishing, nor of avail against hunger.
Commentary on Quran 88:7
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:7] (see commentary for verse 2)
وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاعِمَةٌ
Some faces on that day will be joyous,
Commentary on Quran 88:8
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:8] (see commentary for verse 2)
لِّسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌ
pleased with their endeavour,
Commentary on Quran 88:9
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:9] (see commentary for verse 2)
فِي جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍ
in a lofty garden,
Commentary on Quran 88:10
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:10] (see commentary for verse 2)
لَّا تَسْمَعُ فِيهَا لَاغِيَةً
where they will not hear any vain talk.
Commentary on Quran 88:11
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:11] (see commentary for verse 2)
فِيهَا عَيْنٌ جَارِيَةٌ
In it is a flowing spring
Commentary on Quran 88:12
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:12] (see commentary for verse 2)
فِيهَا سُرُرٌ مَّرْفُوعَةٌ
and raised couches,
Commentary on Quran 88:13
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:13] (see commentary for verse 2)
وَأَكْوَابٌ مَّوْضُوعَةٌ
with goblets set,
Commentary on Quran 88:14
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:14] (see commentary for verse 2)
وَنَمَارِقُ مَصْفُوفَةٌ
and cushions laid out in an array,
Commentary on Quran 88:15
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:15] (see commentary for verse 2)
وَزَرَابِيُّ مَبْثُوثَةٌ
and carpets spread out.
Commentary on Quran 88:16
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:16] (see commentary for verse 2)
أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى الْإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ
Do they not observe the camel, [to see] how it has been created?
Commentary on Quran 88:17
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:17] As evidence of Allah's mercy to mankind a few signs have been referred to, which are full of meaning, design and goodness to man. To prove the purposefulness of creation man's attention has been drawn to the book of nature. The camel, a domesticated animal, serves the dwellers of the desert in many ways. The blue sky high above us is a source of many bounties mankind receive for sustenance. The mountains not only stabilize the earth but also store water, moderate climate, provide stone for many purposes; and there are other services they render which are known to the students of physical geography. The earth is a globe, yet it seems to be spread out before us in plains, valleys, hills and deserts. Seeing these things man must find out the divine plan and purpose of his life in this world.
وَإِلَى السَّمَاءِ كَيْفَ رُفِعَتْ
and the sky, how it has been raised?
Commentary on Quran 88:18
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:18] (see commentary for verse 17)
وَإِلَى الْجِبَالِ كَيْفَ نُصِبَتْ
and the mountains, how they have been set?
Commentary on Quran 88:19
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:19] (see commentary for verse 17)
وَإِلَى الْأَرْضِ كَيْفَ سُطِحَتْ
and the earth, how it has been surfaced?
Commentary on Quran 88:20
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:20] (see commentary for verse 17)
فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌ
So admonish—for you are only an admonisher,
Commentary on Quran 88:21
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:21] The prophet of Allah is sent to teach, preach and guide the people, but not to force people to adopt the right path. Musaytir has been used here in the sense of an enforcer or compeller who forces or coerces in order to make any one carry out commands against one's will under duress. As has been said in Baqarah: 256, there is no compulsion in religion, so the prophet of Allah is not a compeller in this sense, otherwise as the vicegerent of Allah he has the authority to execute His divine legislative will. It is Allah who will punish the transgressors. Aqa Mahdi Puya says: The authority of Allah is absolute, yet all the functionaries carrying out His authority on His behalf, such as the prophets, the Imams as their successors, the angels and the spirits, are authorised by Him to execute His will.
لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ
and not a taskmaster over them—
Commentary on Quran 88:22
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:22] (see commentary for verse 21)
إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّى وَكَفَرَ
except him who turns back and disbelieves.
Commentary on Quran 88:23
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:23] (see commentary for verse 21)
فَيُعَذِّبُهُ اللَّهُ الْعَذَابَ الْأَكْبَرَ
Him Allah will punish with the greatest punishment.
Commentary on Quran 88:24
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:24] (see commentary for verse 21)
إِنَّ إِلَيْنَا إِيَابَهُمْ
Indeed to Us will be their return.
Commentary on Quran 88:25
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:25] (see commentary for verse 21)
ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا حِسَابَهُم
Then, indeed, their reckoning will lie with Us.
Commentary on Quran 88:26
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 88:26] (see commentary for verse 21)
