Surah Al-Ghashiyah

Introduction

It is Meccan without dispute, and the number of its verses is twenty-six, likewise. The Prophet, may Allah exalt him and grant him peace, used to recite it on Fridays along with its companion [Surah Al-A'la], as reported by Muslim, Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah on the authority of An-Nu'man ibn Bashir. Since the Glorified One indicated, in the preceding [Surah], the believer, the disbeliever, Paradise, and Hell in summary, He elaborated on the discussion here, saying—and He is the Mightiest of those who speak:

Surah Al-Ghashiyah: (1) Has there come to you the narration...

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

"Has there come to you the narration of the Overwhelming [Event]?" It is said that "Hal" (Has) bears the meaning of "Qad" (Indeed), and this is the apparent view of Qutrub, as he said: Its meaning is "Indeed, the narration of the Overwhelming has come to you, O Muhammad." However, the preferred view is that it is for interrogation, and it is an interrogation intended to incite wonder at what is contained within it, to arouse a desire to listen to it, and to signal that it is among the extraordinary narrations that deserve to be transmitted by narrators and for which the attentive should compete in receiving.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from 'Amr ibn Maymun that he said: The Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention and grant him peace) passed by a woman who was reciting, "Has there come to you the narration of the Overwhelming?" So he (peace and blessings be upon him) stood listening and saying, "Yes, it has indeed come to me."

"Al-Ghashiyah" (The Overwhelming) is the Resurrection, as stated by Sufyan and the majority. It was given this name because it overwhelms (taghsha) people with its hardships and encompasses them with its terrors. Muhammad ibn Ka’b and Ibn Jubayr said: It is the Fire, based on the words of the Exalted, "And the Fire will cover (taghsha) their faces," and His words, "And from above them are coverings (ghawash)." This is not the case, however, for what will be seen of its narration is not exclusive to the Fire and its people, but rather speaks of the conditions of the people of Paradise as well.