Chapter 106

ENTITLED, THE EARTHQUAKE; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

WHEN the earth shall be shaken by an earthquake;b and the earth shall cast forth her burdens;c and a man shall say, What aileth her? On that day the earth shall declare her tidings, for that thy LORD will inspire her.d On that day men shall go forward in distinct classes, that they may behold their works. And whoever shall have wrought good of the weight of an ant,e shall behold the same. And whoever shall have wrought evil of the weight of an ant, shall behold the same.

z But when the promised apostle was sent, and the truth became manifest to them, they withstood the clearest conviction, differing from one another in their opinions; some believing and acknowledging Mohammed to be the prophet foretold in the scriptures, and others denying it.1 a But these divine precepts in the law and the gospel have they corrupted, changed, and violated.2 b This earthquake will happen at the first, or, as others say, at the second blast of the trumpet.3 c viz., The treasures and dead bodies within it.4 d i.e., Will inform all creatures of the occasion of her trembling, and casting forth her treasures and her dead, by the circumstances which shall immediately attend them. Some say the earth will, at the last day, be miraculously enabled to speak, and will give evidence of the actions of her inhabitants.5 e See chapter 4, p. 58, note y.

1 Idem. 2 Idem. 3 Al Zamakh., al Beidâwi. See the Prelim. Disc. Sect. IV. p. 65 4 See cap. 84, p. 441. 5 Al Beidâwi. See the Prelim. Disc. Sect. IV.