Living Quran

Surah Al-Qari'ah (The Calamity)

Al-Qari'ah means "The Calamity" or "The Striking Hour," a name for the Day of Judgment as an event that strikes hearts with terror.

Al-Qari'ah is the 101st surah of the Quran, traditionally classified as Meccan, and consists of eleven ayahs. It takes its name from one of the Quran's titles for the Day of Resurrection, presented as a striking, overwhelming event. The surah opens by naming this calamity and heightening its gravity through questioning phrasing. It then depicts scenes of that day: people will be like scattered moths, and the mountains will be like carded wool, dispersed and undone. The surah introduces the image of the scales in which deeds are weighed, contrasting two outcomes -- the one whose good deeds weigh heavy will enter a life of pleasure, while the one whose scales are light faces a grievous end, described through an image the surah underscores as a blazing fire. The chapter is a compact and vivid meditation on judgment and the weighing of deeds.
Surah number
101
Revelation
Meccan
Ayahs
11
Arabic
القارعة

Read Surah Al-Qari'ah online — full Arabic text with the Pickthall English translation.

Main themes

  • The striking calamity of the Last Day
  • Cosmic upheaval and scattered mountains
  • Humanity likened to scattered moths
  • The weighing of deeds in the balance
  • Reward for those whose good deeds are heavy
  • Consequence for those whose deeds are light

Why this surah matters

Al-Qari'ah is well known for its imagery of the balance in which human deeds are weighed, a central motif in the Quran's teaching on divine justice. Its depiction of people as scattered moths and mountains as carded wool is often cited for its vividness. The surah is short and readily memorized, making it a common choice in daily prayers and early study. Many Muslims find in it a concise and sobering reminder of accountability, and it frequently features in reflections on preparing for the Hereafter.

Frequently asked questions

What does Al-Qari'ah mean?

It means "The Calamity" or "The Striking Hour," one of the Quran's names for the Day of Judgment as an event that strikes with awe and terror.

What is the image of the balance in this surah?

The surah describes deeds being weighed in scales, with those whose good deeds are heavy attaining a pleasant life and those whose are light facing a grievous outcome.

Is Surah Al-Qari'ah Meccan or Medinan?

It is traditionally classified as Meccan, consistent with its focus on resurrection and judgment.

Read Surah Al-Qari'ah

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