Living Quran

Surah Az-Zalzalah (The Earthquake)

Az-Zalzalah means "The Earthquake," referring to the mighty convulsion of the earth described at the start of the surah.

Az-Zalzalah is the 99th surah of the Quran, traditionally classified as Medinan, and consists of eight ayahs. It vividly describes the Day of Resurrection, beginning with the earth shaking violently and casting out its burdens. On that day, people will emerge in scattered groups to be shown the record of their deeds. A central image is the earth recounting its news, bearing witness to everything done upon it by God's command. The surah conveys a powerful principle of accountability: whoever does even the smallest amount of good will see it, and whoever does even the smallest amount of evil will see it as well. Though brief, it distills the themes of resurrection, divine justice, and personal responsibility into a striking sequence, emphasizing that no deed is too small to matter before God.
Surah number
99
Revelation
Medinan
Ayahs
8
Arabic
الزلزلة

Read Surah Az-Zalzalah online — full Arabic text with the Pickthall English translation.

Main themes

  • The earthquake of the Last Day
  • Resurrection and the gathering of humankind
  • The earth bearing witness to deeds
  • Divine accountability for every action
  • The weight of even the smallest good or evil
  • Divine justice and personal responsibility

Why this surah matters

Az-Zalzalah is widely admired for capturing the reality of accountability in a few short verses, especially its closing statement that even an atom's weight of good or evil will be seen. This theme makes it one of the most frequently quoted surahs in reminders about ethics and personal responsibility. It is short and easily memorized, so it appears often in daily prayer. Some traditions attribute considerable spiritual reward to its recitation, and many Muslims hold it in high regard for its concentrated message on the Hereafter.

Frequently asked questions

What is Surah Az-Zalzalah about?

It describes the great earthquake of the Last Day, the resurrection, and the principle that every deed, however small, will be seen and accounted for.

Is Az-Zalzalah Meccan or Medinan?

It is traditionally classified as Medinan, though some scholars have held it to be Meccan. Both views appear in classical sources.

Why is this surah so well known?

Its closing verses about seeing even an atom's weight of good or evil are among the most cited in the Quran on the theme of accountability.

Read Surah Az-Zalzalah

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