Surah Az-Zalzalah

Its theme is the after-life and the presentation of the full record of the deeds. In the first three sentences it has been told briefly how the second life after death will take place and how confounding it will be for man. In the next two sentences it has been said that this very earth on which man has lived and performed all kinds of deeds thoughtlessly, and about which he never could fancy that this lifeless thing would at some time in the future bear witness to his deeds, will speak out on that Day by Allah’s command and will state in respect of each individual person what act he had committed at a particular time and place. Then, it has been said that men on that Day, rising from their graves, will come out in their varied groups from all corners of the earth, to be shown their deeds and works, and their presentation of the deeds will be so complete and detailed that not an atom’s weight of any good or evil act will be left unnoticed or hidden from his eyes.

Virtues of the Surah Narrated Anas bin Malik (ra), that the Messenger of Allah ﷺsaid, “Whoever recites Idha Zulzilat (Surah 99), it equals half of the Qur’an for him. Whoever recites, Qul Ya Ayyuhal-Kafirun, (Surah 109) it equals a fourth of the Qur’an for him. And whoever recites, Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad, (112) it equals a third of the Qur’an for him.” (Tirmidhi no. 2893) Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr (ra), “A man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺand said, “Teach me to read the Qur’an, Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” He said, “Read three Surahs which begin with Alif Lam Ra.” He said, “My age is advanced, my mind has become dull (i.e., memory has grown weak), and my tongue has grown heavy).” So, he said, “Then read three Surahs which begin with Ha Mim.” He repeated the same words. So, he said, “Read three Surahs which begin with the “Glorification of Allah”.” But he repeated the same excuse. The man then said, “Teach me a comprehensive Surah, Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” The Prophet ﷺtaught him Surah (99). “When the Earth is shaken with her earthquake”. When he finished it, the man said, “By Him Who sent you with truth, I shall never add anything to it.” Then man then went away. The Prophet ﷺsaid twice: “The man received salvation.”

(Sunan Abu Dawud no. 1399)