Surah al-Haqqah: The Ultimate Reality
اَلْحَـآقَّةُ ۙ مَا الْحَـآقَّةُ ۚ وَمَاۤ اَدۡرٰٮكَ مَا الْحَـآقَّةُ
“The Inevitable Hour! What is the Inevitable Hour? And what will make you realise what the Inevitable Hour is?” (69:1-3)
- This opening poses a powerful question about a momentous event. The Qur’ān does not answer it straight away, leaving the reciter in deep reflection, feeling the seriousness of that Day and the need to prepare for it.
- Al-Ḥāqqah is the Day of absolute truth, when every soul will face the full reality of its deeds; nothing added and nothing taken away.
Reflect: Always think of the Day of Judgement. What are you doing to prepare for it?
The End of the World
فَإِذَا نُفِخَ فِى الصُّوْرِ نَفْخَةٌ وَّاحِدَةٌ . وَحُمِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ وَالْجِبَالُ فَدُكَّتَا دَكَّةً وَّاحِدَةً . فَيَوْمَئِذٍ وَّقَعَتِ الْوَاقِعَةُ
“When the Trumpet will be blown with one blast, and the earth and mountains will be lifted up and crushed with one blow, on that Day the Inevitable Event will have come to pass.” (69:13-5)
When Isrāfīl (ʿalayhis-salām) blows the trumpet once, the entire world will be shaken. Ibn ʿAbbās (raḍiya Allahu ʿanuhmā) said that this is the first blast that brings about the destruction of the earth. The mountains are lifted from their places, striking one another until they crumble into vast heaps of rubble.
Reflect: Consider the arrogant ones on the earth. A single blast will be enough to destroy them along with all other creatures. The scenes of the Day of Judgment are terrifying and overwhelming. No authority will prevail except that of Allah, and no one can act apart from His will. Whoever seeks safety on that Day will find refuge only with Him.
The Day of Complete Exposure
يَوْمَئِذٍ تُعْرَضُوْنَ لَا تَخْفَىٰ مِنْكُمْ خَافِيَةٌ
“On that Day, You will be presented (before Him for judgement), and none of your secrets will stay hidden. (69:18)
- On this formidable Day, every soul will stand before the King of Kings for reckoning. Every deed, thought, and intention — hidden or apparent — will be fully exposed.
- It is a reality more overwhelming than the shaking of the earth and mountains or the tearing apart of the sky. Humanity will stand exposed in body, soul, emotions, and deeds before the vast gathering of creation.
“Remember a day when even the hidden secrets of your heart will be made public.” – Abū al-Dardā’
Act: What secret sins do you need to repent from?
The Joy of the Successful on the Day of Judgement
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوْتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِيْنِهِ فَيَقُوْلُ هَآؤُمُ اقْرَءُوْا كِتَابِيَهْ. إِنِّيْ ظَنَنْتُ أَنِّيْ مُلَاقٍ حِسَابِيَهْ
“As for those given their records in their right hand, they will cry (happily), ‘Here (everyone)! Read my record! I surely knew I would face my reckoning.’” (69:20)
- Allah describes the state of the fortunate on that Day. When their record is placed in the right hand, they are overwhelmed with delight and gratitude.
- Success brings deep joy and exhilaration. They happily cry out, “Here! Read my record!”: a proclamation of triumph, a call to share the delight of what has been earned. Just as a diligent student proudly displays their certificate, so too will the believer rejoice when granted their record of deeds.
“I surely knew I would face my reckoning”: This person never lost sight of the Next Life. Remembering the Hereafter is one of the most important means of salvation, as it nurtures constant awareness of Allah and strengthens the hope of earning His pleasure.
The Punishment of the Selfish Disbeliever
Allah will command the angels:
خُذُوْهُ فَغُلُّوْهُ. ثُمَّ الْجَحِيْمَ صَلُّوْهُ. ثُمَّ فِيْ سِلْسِلَةٍ ذَرْعُهَا سَبْعُوْنَ ذِرَاعًا فَاسْلُكُوْهُ. إِنَّهُ كَانَ لَا يُؤْمِنُ بِاللّٰهِ الْعَظِيْمِ وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِيْنِ
“Seize and shackle him, and then let him burn in the blazing Fire. Then tie him up with chains seventy arms long. For he never believed in Allah, the Greatest, nor encouraged the feeding of the poor.” (69:30-4)
- He is then thrown into the blazing fire of Hell to experience its intense heat. Next, he is fastened in a heavy iron chain, seventy cubits long. Ibn ʿAbbās explains that the chain passes through his back and out of his throat, binding his head and feet, forming interlinked loops that prevent any movement.
Allah then explains the reason for this severe punishment: he did not believe in Allah’s greatness and did not encourage feeding the needy. This demonstrates the seriousness of depriving the needy. Neglecting to advise or act for the welfare of the poor, combined with disbelief, will result in this terrible punishment.
The Fate of the Evil
Allah describes the condition of the wrongdoer in the Hereafter:
فَلَيْسَ لَهُ الْيَوْمَ هَاهُنَا حَمِيْمٌ . وَلَا طَعَامٌ إِلَّا مِنْ غِسْلِيْنٍ
“So this Day they will have no close friend here, nor any food except (oozing) pus.” (69:35-6)
- Every friendship that existed in this world will turn to enmity on the Day of Judgement, except for the bonds established for the sake of Allah, which remain pure and blessed.
- ‘Ghislīn’ refers to the oozing pus of the people of Hell. The sustenance of the wrongdoers is the festering pus of the sinful, which flows from their wounds.
Those who withheld food from the needy in this world (see ayah 34) are denied nourishment in the Hereafter. Allah makes them taste the bitter torment of ‘ghislīn’, a fitting recompense for their actions.
The Qur’an: A Reminder for the God-Conscious
وَإِنَّهُ لَتَذْكِرَةٌ لِّلْمُتَّقِيْنَ
“Indeed, this (Quran) is a reminder to those mindful of Allah.” (69:48)
- Just as the true value of a precious gem is recognised only by a knowledgeable expert, so the treasures and pearls of the Qur’ān are truly appreciated only by the muttaqīn: those who are conscious of their Lord. They are the ones who understand its worth and are ready to take its guidance to heart.
- The more awe and obedience you have for Allah, the greater your ability to benefit from the reminders of the Qurān.
Reflect: The Qur’ān is not merely words on a page; it is a source of guidance, healing, and illumination for the hearts ready to receive it.
Surah al-Qalam Reflections
