Sūrah Al-Zilzāl (Warnings and Counsel)

When the earth is shaken violently with its destined tremor.^{^[1]}

Zalzalah refers to forceful jolts which occur multiple times over (commonly referred to as earthquakes).^{^[2]} These take place consistently across Earth to varying degrees, and measurements are made of their severity.

The Day of Judgement’s zalzalah

The earthquakes we research and measure today have many reasons for their occurrences, one of which was mentioned by the Reviver of Islam, the Imam of Ahl al-Sunnah, Imam Aḥmad Razā Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه. He writes, “When the order is given for an earthquake to occur, a mountain with its roots in the Earth shakes and causes this to happen.”^{^[3]}

When the roots of mountains shake, this causes destruction and brings panic to everybody. Science can only measure the earthquake, but not stop it. Earthquakes flatten huge buildings and leave the strongest of people quivering in fear.

Then, just think of the earthquake that will happen when the roots of mountains will not shake, but the mountains themselves will be shattered to particles and fly in the wind like pieces of cotton. At that time, the stars will fall like rain, the sun and moon will lose their light, and large stars will collide with one another. Can anybody even begin to imagine how severe that intense earthquake will be? No scientific instrument can be used to measure it.

Explaining with an example

The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم once gave an example when

[1] Al-Quran, part 30, al-Zilzāl, verse 1; translation from Kanz al-ʿIrfān

[2] Mufridāt Imām Rāghib, vol. 231

[3] Fatāwā Riḍawiyyah, vol. 27, p. 93

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