Tafseer of The Earthquake · Az-Zalzala · 99:1
When the earth is shaken with its [final] earthquake
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the statement of the Exalted: إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا (1) (When the earth is shaken with its quaking) (1).
The Exalted — His remembrance is mentioned — says: ( إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الأَرْضُ ) (When the earth is shaken) at the coming of the Hour ( زِلْزَالَهَا ) (with its quaking), that is to say: it is violently convulsed with a shaking. And "al-zilzāl" is a verbal noun (maṣdar) when the zāy is pronounced with a kasra, and when it is pronounced with a fatḥa it is a noun. And "al-zilzāl" is annexed to "the earth," while it is its attribute, just as one says: "I shall surely honor you with your honoring" (la-ukrimannaka karāmataka), in the meaning of: "I shall surely honor you with an honoring" (la-ukrimannaka karāmatan). And that is euphonious with "zilzālahā," because of its correspondence with the closing words of the verses that come after it.
Abū Kurayb related to us, saying: Ibn Yamān related to us, on the authority of Ashʿath, on the authority of Jaʿfar, on the authority of Saʿīd, who said: ( زُلْزِلَتِ الأَرْضُ ) (the earth was shaken) in the time of ʿAbd Allāh, whereupon ʿAbd Allāh said to it: "What is the matter with you? Indeed, were it to speak, then the Hour would come."
