Adapted from Tafsir Ibn Ashur

Themes and purpose:

This Makkan surah is primarily dedicated to proving the certainty of the Resurrection and Judgment. It achieves this by contrasting the terror and toil of the wicked in Hell with the eternal bliss of the righteous. It commands the Prophet (ﷺ) to warn the people and use the wonders of creation as proofs of Allah’s sole divinity and power to recreate.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Makkan by consensus.

Context: The surah was revealed early in the Prophet's mission to counter the polytheists' denial of life after death and their mockery of the warnings.

Chronology: It has been counted as the 67th surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Dhāriyāt and before al-Kahf.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah is known as "Sūrat al-Ghāshiyah" (The Overwhelming), in addition to "Sūrat Hal atāka" (Has There Come to You) for its opening words, or even "Sūrat Hal atāka ḥadīth al-ghāshiyah".

Virtue: The Prophet (ﷺ) customarily recited this surah (along with al-Aʿlā) in the Friday and ‘Eid prayers.

Ayah Count: 26 ayahs by consensus.

Surah Overview:

• The terror of the Day of Judgment and the immediate consequences for all humankind. [1-7]
• Describing the two contrasting states: the toiling, disgraced faces of the wicked in Hell and the joyful, serene faces of the righteous in Paradise. [2-16]
• Challenging the polytheists to look at the signs of creation (camels, sky, mountains, earth) as irrefutable proof of Allah’s power to create and recreate. [17-20]
• Consoling the Prophet (ﷺ) and commanding him to continue with the reminder, as his duty is only to warn. [21-22]
• Warning the deniers that they will ultimately return to Allah, who will mete out the full measure of their punishment. [23-26]