القارعة
Surah Al-Qariah (القارعة) - Transliteration, Translation and Audio
Chapter 101 of the Quran, 11 verses, "The Calamity"
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Surah Al-Qariah Transliteration and English Translation
- 1
ٱلْقَارِعَةُ
Al qaari'ah
The Striking Calamity -
- 2
مَا ٱلْقَارِعَةُ
Mal qaariah
What is the Striking Calamity?
- 3
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْقَارِعَةُ
Wa maa adraaka mal qaari'ah
And what can make you know what is the Striking Calamity?
- 4
يَوْمَ يَكُونُ ٱلنَّاسُ كَٱلْفَرَاشِ ٱلْمَبْثُوثِ
Yauma ya koonun naasu kal farashil mabthooth
It is the Day when people will be like moths, dispersed,
- 5
وَتَكُونُ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَٱلْعِهْنِ ٱلْمَنفُوشِ
Wa ta koonul jibalu kal 'ihnil manfoosh
And the mountains will be like wool, fluffed up.
- 6
فَأَمَّا مَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ
Fa-amma man thaqulat mawa zeenuh
Then as for one whose scales are heavy [with good deeds],
- 7
فَهُوَ فِى عِيشَةٍۢ رَّاضِيَةٍۢ
Fahuwa fee 'ishatir raadiyah
He will be in a pleasant life.
- 8
وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ
Wa amma man khaffat mawa zeenuh
But as for one whose scales are light,
- 9
فَأُمُّهُۥ هَاوِيَةٌۭ
Fa-ummuhu haawiyah
His refuge will be an abyss.
- 10
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا هِيَهْ
Wa maa adraaka maa hiyah
And what can make you know what that is?
- 11
نَارٌ حَامِيَةٌۢ
Naarun hamiyah
It is a Fire, intensely hot.
About Surah Al-Qariah
Surah Al-Qariah (Arabic: القارعة), meaning "The Calamity", is the 101st chapter of the Quran and has 11 verses. It was revealed in Makkah in the early years of the mission of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The surah is about the Striking Calamity, the Day of Judgment that will shake all creation, and the weighing of deeds that decides every person's end.
The surah opens by repeating its own name like a knock at the door: the Striking Calamity, what is the Striking Calamity, and what will make you know what the Striking Calamity is? It answers with two images: on that Day people will be like scattered moths, and the mountains like tufts of carded wool. Then come the scales. The one whose scales are heavy with good deeds will be in a pleasing life, and the one whose scales are light will have the abyss as his refuge. The surah asks once more what will make you know what that is, and answers in its final verse: a blazing Fire.
Main Themes of Surah Al-Qariah
- The Striking Calamity as a name for the Last Day
- People like scattered moths, mountains like carded wool
- The weighing of deeds on the scales
- Heavy scales lead to a pleasing life, light scales to the abyss
Listen to Surah Al-Qariah with Audio-Synced Transliteration
Play Surah Al-Qariah and follow the Arabic text and Latin transliteration as each verse is recited. You can adjust the speed or loop a verse range for practice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Surah Al-Qariah
- What is al-Qariah?
- Al-Qariah comes from a root meaning to strike or knock, and it is one of the names of the Day of Judgment. It is called the Striking Calamity because its terror will strike the hearts of all creation.
- Why are people compared to moths in Surah Al-Qariah?
- Verse 4 describes people on that Day as scattered moths, rushing in every direction in confusion, weak and numerous. The image shows how helpless and bewildered humanity will be when the Hour arrives.
- What does Surah Al-Qariah say about the scales of deeds?
- Verses 6 to 9 describe the weighing of deeds: those whose scales are heavy will live a pleasing life, while those whose scales are light will have the abyss as their refuge. It is a reminder to fill one's record with good deeds while there is still time.