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Wednesday 1 August 2012

Learning the Surah of Al-Quran: Surah az-Zalzalah/ az-Zilzal (99: The Earthquake)

This surah is named after the great earthquakes of the Day of Resurrection, which will shake the earth over and over again. All the soulds who ever lived will be brought to life again in their bodies, and the earth will open to reveal all archeological artifacts and evidences of man's life on earth. People will at first be in shock, confused to find themselves awakened, and will wonder " What is happening? What is wrong with the earth? What am I doing here?" but the believers will soon realize that they have been called to their final Judgement.

It is interesting to learn here that the earth itself will come forth as a witness to testify about the evil that peope did upon her soil-not only to the earth itself, but also the sins they committed against God and each other while on the earth. In other parts of the Quran, we learn that a man's own tongue, hands and feet, eyes and ears, and even his skin will speak out about the deeds he committed with them.

All of this seemed very strange to people of earlier times, but it becomes easier to imagine with every new 'modern miracle' of science and technology: we know that RNA and DNA store detailed information for every individual, tiny computer chips perform amazingly complicated functions, radio and tv waves travel huge distances unseen, and so forth. Many Westerners think that science and religious beliefs cannot go together, but Muslims have always believed differently. 

The Quran is a very scientifically sound book, and the discoveries of science can often serve to strengthen the faith of the believers (see Surah 96:Surah al-Alaq).

The surah ends by explaining that every tiniest action will be remembered, and will be rewarded or punishes accordingly. However, Allah in His Kindness will reward a believer at least ten times for each single act of goodness he or she has done. 

The Prophet saw explained in several hadith that a believer will be cleansed of his sins through suffering sickness and hardship during his lifetime, and Allah will overlook his minor sins on Judgement Day if he has kept himself away from major sins. According to the Prophet saw, in a famour hadith-qudsi, Allah swt says :"My Mercy is greater than My anger".

Surah Madani(8 verses)

TRANSLATION:
Surah al-Qariah (101: The Terrible Disaster/ The Striking Event) 

In the name of Allah, the Kindest and Most Merciful One..

1. When the earth is shaken with a great earthquake
2.  and the earth lets out her burdens,
3. and man says:' What is wrong with her?'
4. On that day she will tell her story,
5. because your Lord has inspired her.
6. On that day (all) mankind will come out in scattered groups to be shown their deeds, 
7. And whoever has done an atom's weight of good will see it then,
8. and whoever has done an atom's weight of bad will it then.

References:
ii)http://www.quranexplorer.com/quran/ , go to Surah az-Zalzalah/ az-Zilzal 
iv) The Meanings of the Noble Quran with explanatory notes(pg 1189) by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani (Maktaba Ma'ariful Quran - Quranic Studies Publishers, Karachi, Pakistan)

 Video recitation by Mishary Rashed al Efasy at --> http://www.youtube.com/watchv=HLLBwZLsyKov=OqQJhMv8HWI

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