Surah 88: Al-Ghashiyah
The Holy Qur’an with English Translation and Commentary (Five Volume Commentary)
[a]In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
[a] See 1:1.
Has there come to thee the news of the Overwhelming Calamity[b]?[4692]
[b] 12:108.
[4692] Important Words:
الغاشیه (Overwhelming Calamity) is derived from غشی. They say غشیه i.e. it covered or overwhelmed him. غشی اللیل means, the night was dark. غاشیة means, an overwhelming calamity; a terrific misery (Lane).
Commentary:
The reference in the verse may be to the Judgement Day or to a terrific calamity that overtakes a people in this life, on account of their misdeeds. The severe famine that held Mecca in its grip for about seven years in the time of the Holy Prophet has also been referred to in the Holy Qur’an as غاشیة (44:11-12). It was indeed a terrific calamity for the Meccans.
Some faces on that day will be downcast[c];[4693]
[c] 68:44; 75:25; 80:41-42.
[4693] Commentary:
وجوه meaning 'chiefs' or 'leaders' of men; the verse signifies that on the Day of Reckoning the great leaders of disbelief will be debased and humiliation will be writ large on their faces.
Toiling, weary.[4694]
[4694] Commentary:
The verse means to say that all the endeavours of the leaders of disbelief against Islam will be wasted as they will fail to arrest or retard its progress.
They shall enter a blazing Fire;[d]
[d] 87:13; 101:12.
And will be made to drink from a boiling spring;[e]
[e] 47:16; 55:45.
They will have no food save that of dry, bitter and thorny herbage,[4695]
[4695] Important Words:
ضریع (dry, bitter and thorny herbage) is derived from ضرع i.e. he (kid) took with his mouth the udder. This seems to be regarded by some as the primary signification of the word. All the three forms, viz. dara‘a & dari‘a & daru‘a mean, he was or became weak. ضریع means, a bad sort of pasture by which cattle do not become fat or fresh and which renders their condition bad; a certain dry, bitter, thorny plant (Lane).
Which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger.[4696]
[4696] Commentary:
Vv. 3-8 signify that the enemies of Islam will try hard to check its progress. But all their efforts will prove abortive. Before their very eyes the tender plant of Islam will grow into a mighty tree and their own power and glory will depart. Their sons and grandsons will enter the fold of Islam, and they will be consumed with rage and will burn in the fire of envy at seeing it spread fast; utter humiliation and ignominy will be their lot; they will be given hot water to drink and to eat which, instead of giving them nourishment or slaking their thirst and satisfying their hunger, will add to their weakness and hasten the withering away of their bodies—they will be utterly deprived of peace of mind, and calamities will overwhelm them in varying forms.
And some faces on that day will be joyful,[a]
[a] 75:23.
Well pleased with their past striving,[4697]
[4697] Commentary:
The righteous believers will be well pleased with the marvellous results of the sacrifices they had made for the cause of Islam.
In a lofty Garden,[b]
[b] 69:23.
Wherein thou wilt hear no vain talk;[c]
[c] 56:26; 78:36.