Tafsir of Az-Zalzala 99:2

Surah Az-Zalzalah (99): Verse 2

وَأَخْرَجَتِ الْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا (And when the earth casts out its burdens)

Regarding the phrase: {And when the earth casts out its burdens}, there are two issues to discuss:

There are two main opinions regarding the meaning of al-Athqāl (burdens):

Opinion 1: It refers to physical weights/possessions.

1. It is the plural of thiql (weight). This is supported by the verse: {and carries your burdens} (referring to ships).
2. The earth casts out what is buried within its interior (its treasures/deposits) as burdens belonging to it.
3. Abu 'Ubaydah and Al-Akhfash stated: If the deceased is in the belly of the earth, he is a burden to it (thقل لها); if he is upon it, he is a burden upon it (thقل عليها).
4. It is also said that humans and jinn are called the two burdens (al-Thaqalayn) because the earth is burdened by them when they are inside it, and they burden it when they are upon it.

Regarding which earthquake this refers to:

• If it refers to the First Earthquake (the shaking before the Day of Judgment): The earth casts out its burdens, meaning its treasures (كنوز). The surface of the earth will be filled with gold, yet no one will pay attention to it. It is as if the gold cries out, "Did you not destroy your religion and your worldly life for my sake?" Or perhaps the benefit of their emergence is like what Allah Almighty said: {That Day, when they will be heated in the fire of Hell} (referring to the treasures being used for punishment).
• If it refers to the Second Earthquake (after the Resurrection): The burdens cast out are the dead (الموتى), brought forth alive, as if the mother gives birth to her child alive. Or, the earth spits them out dead, as they were buried, and then Allah resurrects them.

Opinion 2: It refers to its secrets (أسرارها).

• The earth casts out its secrets. On that Day, secrets will be revealed. This is supported by the subsequent verse: {That Day, it will narrate its news} (i.e., testifying for or against you).

Allah Almighty described the earth previously by saying: {Have We not made the earth a receptacle (كفاتا)} (meaning it retains and contains things).

Now, it is described as being in a state where it throws things out (rejects them). This state of rejection confirms the preceding verses describing the terror: {That Day, every nursing mother will forget what she was nursing} and {That Day, man will flee}.

وَقَالَ الْإِنْسَانُ مَا لَهَا (And man will say, "What is wrong with it?")