Overview

(Verses 37 - 45)

The Last Day

The surah devotes its remaining part to images and scenes of the Last Day, starting with a universal upheaval, followed by images of reckoning, requital and reward. This commences with an image of the universe that fits with the opening of the surah: "When the sky is rent asunder and becomes rose-red like [burning] oil." (Verse 37) We are introduced to a picture of the sky turning rose-red or looking like a red rose and flowing like oil. The sum of the verses describing the universe on the Day of Judgement confirm the total destruction of all celestial bodies, after they break loose of the system which controls their operation and coordinates their orbits and movements. One of these verses is the one we are now discussing. Others may be cited, such as: "When the earth is violently shaken and the mountains crumble away and scatter abroad into fine dust." (56: 4 6) "When eyes are dazzled, and the moon eclipsed, and the sun and the moon are brought together." (75: 7-9) "When the sun is darkened, when the stars fall and disperse, when the mountains are made to move away, when the winds-, ten months pregnant, are left untended, when the wild beasts are brought together, when the seas are set alight." (81: 1-6) "When the sky is cleft asunder, when the stars are scattered, when the oceans are made to explode..." (82: 1-3) "When the sky is rent asunder, obeying her Lord in true submission; when the earth is stretched out and casts forth all that is within her and becomes empty, obeying her Lord in true submission!" (84: 1-5) All these verses, and many others, refer to this great event that will overcome the entire universe, the nature of which is known only to God.

"When the sky is rent asunder and becomes rose-red like [burning] oil." (Verse 37) The same question is again asked: "Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?" (Verse 38) No denial can then be either contemplated or uttered.

"On that day neither mankind nor jinn will be asked about their sins." (Verse 39) This applies to a particular situation on that day when all will be present. It is a day with different situations: in some people will be questioned and in some others no question will be put to them. In some, every soul will argue its own case, trying to put the blame on its associates, and in others no word of argument or dispute will be allowed. It is a long, extended day, with many positions and situations, each of which is awesome, and each is witnessed by multitudes of creatures. This verse speaks of a particular situation when no human or jinn will be asked about their sins. Everything is already well known, and the deeds of all are out in the open. Signs of misery appear as black on some faces, and signs of triumph appear white on others. Every face tells of what is going to happen. Can there by any denial on that day?
 
Hence, the question: "Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?" (Verse 40)

"The guilty ones will be known by their mark and shall be seized by their forelocks and their feet." (Verse 41) This is a scene that combines force with humiliation: forelocks and feet are tied together and the guilty are so cast into hell. Can there be any denial then? As this is going on, the surah addresses its audience, as if they are witnessing this continuing process of casting the guilty, with their forelocks and feet combined, into hell: "This is the hell which the guilty deny." (Verse 43) It is present here, as you are now seeing it. "They will go round between its flames and scalding water." (Verse 44) It is exceedingly hot; they have nowhere to go other than round and between the flames and scorching fluids. Look at them as they go round now: "Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?" (Verse 45)

This is all that is said about those enduring this most painful suffering. The surah then turns its attention to those enjoying honour and bliss.