Summary of Surah Al-Qiyamah
The Surah Qiyamah is a Meccan surah consisting of forty verses and two sections. As the name suggests, the theme of this surah is the discussion of life after death, which is one of the essential pillars of faith. It mentions the trials, tribulations, and punishments of the Day of Judgment and depicts the state of a person at the time of death. In the beginning of this surah, Allah swears by the Day of Resurrection, emphasizing the importance of this event. It highlights the concept of self-reproach, which motivates individuals towards righteousness. It is noteworthy that Allah specifically mentions here His power to perfect every individual, symbolized by the uniqueness of fingerprints that no two individuals share. This is why fingerprints are trusted worldwide for identifying personalities. Furthermore, the surah discusses the horrors and signs of the Day of Judgment when the earth will quake, the sun and the moon will be eclipsed, and people will be in a state of confusion, seeking refuge. In the subsequent verses, it is elucidated that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) took great care in memorizing the Quran, and during the recitation by Gabriel, he made intense efforts to ensure nothing was missed. Allah reassured him that he need not burden himself, as He has taken the responsibility of preserving the Quran intact. In the Hereafter, people will be divided into two groups: the fortunate ones whose faces will shine with delight and who will be honored by the presence of their Lord, and the wretched ones whose faces will be gloomy, knowing they will be thrown into Hell. The surah also depicts the state of a person at the time of death and the challenges they face. It concludes by affirming that Allah did not create humans in vain; there must be a reckoning and a reward. This serves as a profound evidence for the resurrection and accountability, as Allah who created humans once is certainly capable of recreating them. For Allah, the beginning and the repetition are equal. However, from a human perspective, it is easier to create something anew than it is to create it initially.
