Surah Al-Ghashiyah Ayat 1 (88:1 Quran) With Tafsir

Ala-Maududi

(88:1) Has the news of the overwhelming event reached you?^[1]

1. The overwhelming: the Resurrection which will overshadow the whole world. One should know that here the Hereafter as a whole is being depicted, which comprehends all the stages from the upsetting of the present system to the resurrection of all human beings and the dispensation of rewards and punishments from the divine court.

Ibn-Kathir

1. Has there come to you the narration of Al-Ghashiyah (the overwhelming) 2. Some faces that Day will be Khashi`ah. 3. Laboring, weary. 4. They will enter into Fire, Hamiyah. 5. They will be given to drink from a boiling (Aniyah) spring, 6. No food will there be for them but from Dari`, 7. Which will neither nourish nor avail against hunger.

This was said by Ibn `Abbas, Qatadah and Ibn Zayd. It has been called this because it will overwhelm the people and overcome them. Allah then says,

(Some faces that Day will be Khashi`ah.) meaning, humiliated. This was said by Qatadah. Ibn `Abbas said, “They will be humble but this action will be of no benefit to them.” Then Allah says,

(Laboring, weary.) meaning, they did many deeds and became weary in their performance, yet they will be cast into a blazing Fire on the Day of Judgement. Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Burqani narrated from Abu `Imran Al-Jawni that he said, ” `Umar bin Al-Khattab passed by the monastery of a monk and he said: `O monk!’ Then the monk came out, and `Umar looked at him and began to weep. Then it was said to him: `O Commander of the faithful! Why are you weeping’ He replied: `I remembered the statement of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, in His Book,

(Laboring, weary. They will enter into Fire, Hamiyah.) So that is what has made me cry. ”’ Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said,

(Laboring, weary.) “The Christians.” It is narrated that `Ikrimah and As-Suddi both said, “Laboring in the worldly life with disobedience, and weariness in the Fire from torment and perdition.” Ibn `Abbas, Al-Hasan, and Qatadah all said,

(They will enter into Fire, Hamiyah) meaning, hot with intense heat.

(They will be given to drink from a boiling (Aniyah) spring.) meaning, its heat has reached its maximum limit and boiling point. This was said by Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Al-Hasan and As-Suddi. Concerning Allah’s statement,

(No food will there be for them but from Dari`,) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, “A tree from the Hellfire.” Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Abu Al-Jawza’ and Qatadah, all said, “It is Ash-Shibriq (a type of plant).” Qatadah said, “The Quraysh called it Ash-Shabraq in the spring and Ad-Dari` in the summer.” `Ikrimah said, “It is a thorny tree which reaches down to the ground.” Al-Bukhari related that Mujahid said, “Ad-Dari` is a plant that is called Ash-Shibriq. The people of the Hijaz call it Ad-Dari` when it dries, and it is poisonous.” Ma`mar narrated that Qatadah said,

(No food will there be for them but from Dari`,) “This is Ash-Shibriq. When it dries it is called Ad-Dari`.” Sa`id narrated from Qatadah that he said,

(No food will there be for them but Dari`,) “This is of the worst, most disgusting and loathsome of foods.” Concerning Allah’s statement,

(Which will neither nourish nor avail against hunger.) This means that the intent in eating it will not be achieved, and nothing harmful will be repelled by it.