Overview (Verses 47 - 49)

A Record to Include All Affairs
 
One day We shall cause the mountains to move and you will see the earth void and bare. We will gather them all together, leaving out not a single one of them. They will be lined up before your Lord, [and He will say]: ‘Now you have come to Us as We created you in the first instance, although you claimed that We would never appoint for you a time [for your resurrection]!’ The record [of everyone’s deeds] will be laid open; and you will see the guilty filled with dread at what it contains. They will say: ‘Woe to us! What a record is this! It leaves out nothing, small or great, but takes everything into account.’ They will find all that they ever wrought now facing them. Your Lord does not wrong anyone. (Verses 47-49) These verses portray an image in which nature forms an essential part. Horror is seen in its every detail as well as in people’s hearts. Here we see firm mountains disappearing. What then will happen to hearts? The whole earth will appear void and barren, without hills, mountains, slopes or valleys to block anyone’s view. The same applies to hearts and consciences: they will be unable to hide anything away. With all this open, level land which hides nothing, all people are brought forward: “We will gather them all together, leaving out not a single one of them.” (Verse 47)
 
Indeed not a single soul will be left out. They are all waiting for a great moment: “They will be lined up before your Lord.” (Verse 48) Every single one, those countless beings who walked on earth ever since the day when human life began and right to the end of this world are all gathered together. They are lined up in an open space where none can hide.
 
The mode employed thus far is one of description. Now however the sūrah takes up the address mode, which adds the feeling that what we see is taking place now before our eyes. We see events unfolding, and we hear what is said. We see those who deny that day experiencing their own humiliation. Shame covers their faces: “Now you have come to Us as We created you in the first instance, although you claimed that We would never appoint for you a time [for your resurrection]!” (Verse 48)
 
This change of expression gives the scene much vividness, bringing it forward to the present so that we see it enacted. To us, the Day of Judgement is no longer something in the distant future. We almost see the shame on people’s faces. We hear the majestic voice of the Almighty rebuking those people and reminding them of their position: “Now you have come to Us as We created you in the first instance.” (Verse 48) They shamelessly persisted in their denial of such a day and their meeting with God once their life on earth had ended: “You claimed that We would never appoint for you a time [for your resurrection].” (Verse 48)
 
Having brought the scene forward to give it an added sense of reality, the sūrah resumes its description of what takes place there: “The record [of everyone’s deeds] will be laid open; and you will see the guilty filled with dread at what it contains.” (Verse 49) It is the record of all their deeds placed before their eyes to read and review. They realize that it is a comprehensive and accurate record, and they fear the consequences. They are embarrassed by the fact that the record includes every single thing, no matter how small or trivial. In their frustration, they exclaim: “Woe to us! What a record is this! It leaves out nothing, small or great, but takes everything into account.” (Verse 49) This is the cry of one who is worried, fearing the worst after he has been caught red-handed, unable to evade the results or find any justification. This is because he recognizes the accuracy of the record which puts before his eyes all that he has done: “They will find all that they ever wrought now facing them.” (Verse 49) They also realize that whatever befalls them will only be fair, because “Your Lord does not wrong anyone.” (Verse 49)