Al-Haqqa (ٱلْحَاقَّة)

 

Surah Al-Haqqa is the 69th Surah of the Quran and belongs to the 29th Juz. Al-Haqqa means ‘The Inevitable Hour’ or ‘The Inevitable Truth’ or ‘The Reality.’ The surah starts with the verse, “Alhaqqatu,” which means the sure reality! It refers to the Day of Judgment, the Qayamah. The surah was revealed to the prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in response to the mockery and ridicule by the people of the Quraysh. They laughed at the idea of retribution, i.e., that they would be held accountable for their actions after death. Allah told them that the Day of Judgment is a sure reality that will occur. 

As the content of the surah implies, this is a Meccan surah that was revealed in the early years of Islam, consisting of 52 Verses divided into 2 Rukus. Surahs, which were revealed before hijrah, mostly consist of topics related to Prophethood, examples of the previous Prophets, the life hereafter, the Day of Judgement, warnings for the mushriks, and rewards for the believers. Apart from the inevitability of the Day of Resurrection, the surah describes the destruction of previous nations who denied the Prophets, the destruction of the people of Thamud and Aad, and the rewards for believers and punishments for the mushriks.

٦٩ - ٱلْحَاقَّة

69 - Al-Haqqa

اَلْحَاۗقَّۃُ۝۱ۙ
Alhaqqatu

English

Ahmed Ali

THE CONCRETE REALITY.

1

مَا الْحَاۗقَّۃُ۝۲ۚ
Ma alhaqqatu

English

Ahmed Ali

What is the concrete reality?

2

وَمَاۗ اَدْرٰىكَ مَا الْحَاۗقَّۃُ۝۳ۭ
Wama adraka ma alhaqqatu

English

Ahmed Ali

What do you comprehend by the concrete reality?

3

كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُوْدُ وَعَادٌۢ بِالْقَارِعَۃِ۝۴
Kaththabat thamoodu waAAadun bialqariAAati

English

Ahmed Ali

The Thamud and 'Ad denied the consequential calamity.

4

فَاَمَّا ثَمُوْدُ فَاُہْلِكُوْا بِالطَّاغِيَۃِ۝۵
Faamma thamoodu faohlikoo bialttaghiyati

English

Ahmed Ali

So destroyed were the Thamud by a storm of thunder and lightning;

5

وَاَمَّا عَادٌ فَاُہْلِكُوْا بِرِيْحٍ صَرْصَرٍ عَاتِيَۃٍ۝۶ۙ
Waamma AAadun faohlikoo bireehin sarsarin AAatiyatin

English

Ahmed Ali

And the 'Ad were destroyed by the furious cold blast of roaring wind

6

سَخَّرَہَا عَلَيْہِمْ سَبْعَ لَيَالٍ وَّثَمٰنِيَۃَ اَيَّامٍ۝۰ۙ حُسُوْمًا فَتَرَى الْقَوْمَ فِيْہَا صَرْعٰى۝۰ۙ كَاَنَّہُمْ اَعْجَازُ نَخْلٍ خَاوِيَۃٍ۝۷ۚ
Sakhkharaha AAalayhim sabAAa layalin wathamaniyata ayyamin husooman fatara alqawma feeha sarAAa kaannahum aAAjazu nakhlin khawiyatun

English

Ahmed Ali

Which He sent to assail them for seven nights and eight days running. You should have seen the people prostrate like the decayed trunks of date-palm trees.

7

فَہَلْ تَرٰى لَہُمْ مِّنْۢ بَاقِيَۃٍ۝۸
Fahal tara lahum min baqiyatin

English

Ahmed Ali

Do you see any trace of them?

8

وَجَاۗءَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَمَنْ قَبْلَہٗ وَالْمُؤْتَفِكٰتُ بِالْخَاطِئَۃِ۝۹ۚ
Wajaa firAAawnu waman qablahu waalmutafikatu bialkhatiati

English

Ahmed Ali

Then came the Pharaoh, and those before him whose habitations were overthrown while they were committing crimes.

9

فَعَصَوْا رَسُوْلَ رَبِّہِمْ فَاَخَذَہُمْ اَخْذَۃً رَّابِيَۃً۝۱۰
FaAAasaw rasoola rabbihim faakhathahum akhthatan rabiyatan

English

Ahmed Ali

When they disobeyed the apostle of their Lord He seized them with an overwhelming punishment.

10

 

Theme and Subject Matter of Al-Haqqa (الْحَاقَّة)

Al-Haqqa means ‘The Reality or ‘the Inevitable’ and focuses on the reality of The Day of Judgement, an event that no one can escape. The surah also recalls the destruction of pat nations like Thamud, Aad, and Noah’s people, who were punished by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ for rejecting His message and mocking the Prophets. It briefly mentions Pharoah and his followers as a reminder to non-believers of the consequences faced by these arrogant people who were disobedient to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ and their existence was completely wiped out. 

Surah Al-Haqqa describes how everything will disappear on the Day of Judgement, and everyone will be held accountable for their deeds. Those who believed in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ and lived righteously will receive their records in their right hand, and those who did wrong to themselves and disbelieve in Allah will have it in their left hand. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ says in the Quran;

“But whosoever gets his ledger in his left hand will say: “Would that I was never given my ledger, and not known my account!” (Quran 69:25) (Quran 69:26)

The surah describes the power of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎, its sovereignty, and His power to hold everyone accountable on the Day of Judgement. Allah also emphasizes about Quran being the words sent down by Allah on His Messenger, Muhammad (ﷺ), and Allah declares a warning for those who mock him and doubt him. 

Surah Al-Haqqa  (الْحَاقَّة) brings news of rewards for the followers of Islam. Those who remain steadfast in the way of Allah despite hardships will receive great rewards from their lord in this world and the hereafter. Allah explains that on the day of Qayamah, those whose records will be handed to them in their right hands will proceed to Jannah (heaven), and those who will be given records in their left hand will proceed to hell. Allah paints a vivid picture of the day, stating that those who have not followed the right path in life will be dragged to hell, where they will be subjected to torment as punishment for their sins. 

The surah also confirms that the Quran, the book of Allah, and the message of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) as the absolute truth. It affirms that this book is the word of Allah Azzwajal, the Creator of the universe. This message is not man-made, and nor is Muhammad (ﷺ) spreading his own words. Islam is the one true religion, and Quran is the book of Allah from Allah. 

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Al-Haqqa (الْحَاقَّة)

Surah Al-Haqqa serves as a reminder of the reality of the Day of Judgement. Reciting Surah Al-Haqqa can help strengthen faith, and understanding its message will help us become better Muslims with each passing day by focusing on doing good deeds. Allah says in the Quran:

“He who is given his ledger in his right hand will say: “Here, read my ledger. I was certain I’ll be given my account.” (Quran 69:19, Quran 69:20)

“So he shall have an agreeable life. In high empyrean, with fruits hanging low within reach.” (Quran 69:21, Quran 69:22, Quran 69:23)

The surah encourages the believers to seek forgiveness, live a righteous life, and follow the teachings of Allah and His Prophets. It also highlights the qualities of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎, urging the believers who fear Him to submit to His will. As Muslims, we all know that reciting the Quran will intercede for those who recite it and act upon the teachings of the Quran. Narrated by Ibn Mas’ud (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ);

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah, he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a ten-fold reward. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Mim is one letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter, and Mim is a letter.” (Riyad as-Salihin 999, Book 9, Hadith 9)