Surah Az-Zalzalah 99:4
سُورَةُ الزَّلۡزَلَةِ · Medinan · Verse 4 of 8
يَوْمَئِذٍۢ تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا
Translation
on that Day, it will tell all
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
Surah Al-Zalzalah paints a vivid picture of the Day of Judgment, beginning with the Earth's violent tremor and the expulsion of its hidden contents. Amidst this upheaval, humanity cries out, "What is happening to it?" The answer comes immediately in verse 4: "يَوْمَئِذٍۢ تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا" (On that Day, it will report its news). This profound statement, delivered by Allah, highlights the Earth's dramatic role as a witness.
The Earth's Testimony
The phrase `تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا` (tuhaddithu akhbaraha), meaning "it will report its news," carries immense weight. The plain meaning, supported by the Ayah Context, tells us the Earth will inform about all the good and evil deeds done upon its surface. Scholars like al-Razi and al-Zamakhshari note that this "reporting" is not merely a metaphor. The mainstream understanding, confirmed by a Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him), is that Allah will grant the Earth the ability to literally speak and bear witness. It will recount specific acts, saying, "On such-and-such a day, such-and-such a person did this." This transforms the seemingly inert ground beneath us into an active participant in our accountability. Ibn Ashur points out that the verse does not explicitly state *whom* the Earth will report to (like "it will report to humans"). This omission emphasizes the sheer significance of the news itself, highlighting the gravity of its revelations.
The Power of "On That Day"
The term `يَوْمَئِذٍ` (yawma'idhin), translated as "on that Day," is strategically placed at the beginning of the verse. It powerfully links the Earth's reporting directly to the monumental events preceding it – the intense earthquake and the expulsion of its burdens. As scholars like al-Jalalayn and Ibn Ashur explain, `يَوْمَئِذٍ` acts as the answer to the preceding conditional clause ("When the Earth is shaken..."). It emphasizes that this day, and this day alone, is when such an extraordinary event will occur. It is a day unlike any other, a moment of ultimate revelation and truth.
For us, the profound implication of `تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا` is a powerful reminder of divine accountability. Every step we take, every deed we perform, whether in public or in secret, leaves an imprint. The Earth, our silent companion in this life, will become an eloquent witness on the Day of Judgment, testifying to what we did on its back. This realization fosters a deep sense of awareness and encourages us to live with integrity, knowing that nothing we do is truly hidden from Allah's knowledge or from the very ground we walk upon.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Az-Zalzalah 99:4 is discussed in 5 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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