Hii ni sura ya ajabu, ile inayotia hofu mioyoni mwetu na kutuamsha. Tangu mwanzo hadi mwisho inalenga jambo zito sana, ikionyesha picha moja ya kustaajabisha baada ya nyingine. Baadhi ya picha hizo zinatisha, baadhi ni za kifalme na nyingine zinaonyesha mateso, lakini zote zina sifa ya mienendo mikali. Kwa ujumla, sura hii inaimarisha hisia kwamba imani na dini ni mambo mazito sana, hazikubali mzaha. Uzito wa maswali haya uko hapa katika maisha haya na pia katika maisha ya Akhera. Zaidi ya hayo, si mzito kwa kiwango kidogo zaidi katika kipimo cha Mwenyezi Mungu (SWT). Hakika ni mzito kiasi kwamba hauruhusu usumbufu wowote. Kwa maana, kugeuka mbali na imani na dini ni kujipatia ghadhabu ya Mwenyezi Mungu (SWT) na yote yanayoambatana nayo, hata kama anayegeuka mbali huyo ni Mjumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu ﷺ. Jambo hili ni kubwa kuliko Mjumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu ﷺ, bali kuliko wanadamu wote, kwa sababu ni suala la ukweli kamili, lililowekwa na Mola Mlezi wa viumbe vyote.

This is an awesome surah, one that strikes terror in our hearts, shaking us up. From start to finish it focuses on something that is very serious, showing one awesome image after another. Some of these are frightening, some are majestic and others depict suffering, yet they are all characterized by strong movements. As a whole, the surah enhances the feeling that faith and religion are very serious; they admit no frivolity. The profundity of such questions is serious here in this life as also in the life to come. Furthermore, it is no less serious in Gods own measure. Indeed, it is so serious that it permits no distraction. For, to turn away from faith and religion is to incur Gods displeasure and all that is attendant with that, even though the one who turns away may happen to be Gods Messenger. It is larger than Gods Messenger, indeed all mankind, because it is the question of the truth absolute, laid down by the Lord of all the worlds.

Hisia hii inaimarishwa zaidi na jina lenyewe lililopewa katika sura hii kwa Siku ya Hukumu, ambalo ndilo linaloipa sura jina lake, al-Haqqah. Sauti ya neno lenyewe huleta hisia ya uamuzi, uzito na msingi thabiti. Inafanana na kitu kizito kinachoinuliwa kutoka umbali mkubwa kabla ya kuwekwa kwa uthabiti mahali pake.

This impression is heightened by the very name given in this surah to the Day of Judgement and which gives it its title, al-Haqqah. The very sound of the word imparts a feeling of decisiveness, seriousness and a grounding stability. It sounds like a heavy object being lifted some considerable distance before being placed firmly into position.

Sauti ya "A" yenye pumzi kali inaonekana kuinuliwa na sauti ndefu iliyo kabla yake, kisha inawekwa kwa uthabiti kwenye "^" iliyoandikwa mara mbili, na mwishowe inatulizwa kwa sauti ya mwisho ya "h*".

The strongly aspirated ‘A’sound appears to be lifted by the elongated before it is firmly placed at the doubled ‘^’and then finally stabilized with the final 'h* sound.

Tunaona uzito mkubwa katika hatima za wale waliokanusha ukweli wa imani na Siku ya Hukumu. Jamii baada ya jamii iliteseka kwa adhabu kali sana hata kila moja iliangamizwa kabisa: “Watu wa Thamudi na Ad waliikanusha ile Inayogonga. Thamudi waliangamizwa kwa tukio kubwa lililowazidi, na Ad waliangamizwa kwa upepo mkali unaovuma kwa ukali, ambao Yeye aliuachilia juu yao kwa usiku saba na siku nane mfululizo. Ungeweza kuwaona watu wao wamelala wamekufa, kama mashina ya mitende iliyong'olewa na mashimo ndani yake. Je, unaweza kuona athari yoyote yao sasa? Pia Firauni, na wale waliomtangulia, na miji iliyopinduliwa, wote walifanya dhambi, wakamwasi mjumbe wa Mola wao; kwa hiyo Yeye akawakamata kwa mkono unaozidi kubana. Maji yalipoinuka sana, Sisi tulikubeba katika Jahazi lililoelea, tukalifanya jambo hilo kuwa ukumbusho wa kudumu kwenu, ili masikio yenye kusikiliza yapate kuzingatia.” (Aya 4-12) Kwa hiyo, wote waliogeuka mbali na imani waliteseka kwa adhabu kubwa na za ghafla, kama zilivyostahili mtazamo wao kuelekea hitaji hili la uamuzi na uzito. Ni muhimu kutambua kwamba suala hili la imani na dini halikubali mtazamo wa mzaha wala halivumilii usumbufu wowote.

We see such great seriousness in the fates of those who denied the truth of faith and the Day of Judgement. One community after another suffered such severe punishment that each were utterly destroyed: “ The people of Thamud and Ad denied the Striker. The Thamud were destroyed by an overwhelming event, while the Ad were destroyed by a furiously howling wind, which He caused to rage upon them for seven nights and eight decisive days. You could see their people lying dead, like uprooted trunks of hollow palm trees. Can you see any trace of them now? Pharaoh, too, and those before him, and the ruined cities - all indulged in sin, and disobeyed their Lord's messenger; and so He took them to task with an ever tightening grip. When the waters rose high, We carried you in the floating Ark, making it all a lasting reminder for you, so that attentive ears may take heed.” (Verses 4-12) Thus, all those who turned away from faith suffered such grave and sudden punishments, as befit their approach to this decisive and serious requirement. It is important to realize then that this question of faith and religion admits no frivolity of approach and allows no distraction.

Msisitizo kama huu pia unaonekana katika picha ambayo sura inachora ya ufufuo, mwisho wa kutisha wa ulimwengu, na tukio la kuvutia zaidi la malaika wanaobeba Kiti cha Enzi: "Pindi tarumbeta itakapopulizwa mara moja, na ardhi na milima vitainuliwa na kupondwa kwa pigo moja kubwa, basi siku hiyo yatatokea yale yaliyo hakika kutokea. Mbingu zitapasuka, kwani siku hiyo zitakuwa dhaifu. Malaika watasimama pembeni mwake, na siku hiyo watu wanane wao watalibeba Kiti cha Enzi cha Mola wako." (Aya 13—17)

Such seriousness is also seen in the picture the surah draws of the resurrection, the terrible end of the universe, and the even more majestic scene of the angels carrying the Throne: “ When the trumpet is sounded a single time, and the earth and mountains are lifted up and with one mighty crash are flattened, that which is certain to happen will on that day have come to pass. The sky will be rent asunder, for, it will have become frail on that day. The angels will stand on all its sides and, on that day, eight of them will bear aloft the Throne of your Lord.” (Verses 13—17)

Ukuu na utukufu huu huongeza uzito zaidi katika tukio la kuhesabiwa kwa swali kuu la imani. Vyote viwili husaidia kuimarisha athari yake kwetu, pamoja na mapigo ya sura hii na kauli za wale waliopewa thawabu na wale waliohukumiwa kuteswa:

Such awesomeness and majesty impart added seriousness to the scene of accounting for the all-important question of faith. Both help to deepen its effect on us, as do the beats of the surah and the statements of those who are granted reward and those who are doomed to suffer:

"Yule ambaye atapewa kitabu chake kwa mkono wake wa kulia atasema, 'Njooni, someni kitabu changu! Hakika nilijua kwamba siku moja ningekabiliana na hesabu yangu.' Atakuwa katika hali ya furaha ya maisha, katika bustani tukufu, matunda yake yakiwa karibu sana kufikiwa. 'Kuleni na kunywani mpaka mioyo yenu iridhike, kama malipo ya yale mliyotenda siku zilizopita.' Lakini yule ambaye atapewa kitabu chake kwa mkono wake wa kushoto atasema, 'Laiti nisingeonyeshwa kitabu changu, wala nisingejua hesabu yangu! Laiti kifo kingekuwa mwisho wangu! Mali yangu haijanisaidia chochote. Sasa nimepotelewa na nguvu zangu zote.' (Aya 19—29) Maombolezo haya marefu yanatupa hisia kali ya mwisho mbaya aliopata."

"He who is given his record in his right hand will say, 'Come you all! Read this my record. I certainly knew that one day I would have to face my account.' He will be in a happy state of life, in a lofty garden, with its fruits within easy reach. 'Eat and drink to your hearts content as a reward for what you have done in days gone by ' But he who is given his record in his left hand will say, 'Would that I had never been shown my record and knew nothing of my account! Would that death had been the end of me! Nothing has my wealth availed me. I am now bereft of all my power.™ (Verses 19—29) This long lamentation gives us a strong impression of the terrible end suffered.

Maneno ya Mwenyezi Mungu mwenyewe, yanayotamkwa kwa uwazi katikati ya tukio hilo zito siku hiyo kuu, yanaongeza uzito wa jambo zima: “Mkamateni, kisha mfungeni minyororo, kisha mtieni motoni Jahannamu, kisha mfungeni kwenye mnyororo wenye urefu wa dhiraa sabini” (Aya 30-32). Kila kifungu cha amri hii kinaonekana kubeba uzito wote wa mbingu na ardhi ili kumpiga mkosaji, katika picha ya kutisha.

Gods own words, spelling out His sentence in the middle of that solemn scene on that great day, add to the seriousness of the whole affair: “Lay hold of him and shackle him, and burn him in the fire of hell, and then fasten him in a chain seventy cubits long” (Verses 30-32) Each clause in this command sounds as if it carries the whole weight of the heavens and earth to strike the offender in what is a terrifying image.

Sentensi hii inafuatiwa na maelezo ya sababu zake zinazoihalalisha: "Hakuwa akimwamini Mungu Mwenyezi, wala hakuwa akihimiza kulisha masikini. Kwa hiyo, leo hapa hana rafiki yoyote, wala chakula chochote isipokuwa uchafu ambao hakuna mwingine ila wakosefu wanaoula?" (Aya 33—37)

This sentence is then followed with an explanation of its justifying causes: “He did not believe in God Almighty, and he never encouraged feeding the needy. So, no friend has he here today, nor any food except the filth that none other than the sinners eat? (Verses 33—37)

Dalili ya kiapo kikuu kinafuatwa katika kauli ya Mwenyezi Mungu Mwenyewe inayoeleza ukweli wa dini hii ya mwisho: "Sihitaji kuapa kwa yale mnayoyaona na yale msiyoyaona: hii [Qur'an] ni neno la Mjumbe mtukufu, si neno la mshairi - jinsi mnavyoamini kidogo! wala si neno la mpiga ramli - jinsi mnavyotafakari kidogo! Hii [Qur'an] ni ufunuo kutoka kwa Mola Mlezi wa viumbe vyote."

A hint of a great oath is followed in Gods own statement outlining the truth of this final religion: ‘7 need not swear by what you can see and what you cannot see: this [Qur'an] is the word of a noble Messenger, not the word of a poet - how little you believe! nor the word of a soothsayer — how little you reflect! This [Qur'an] is a revelation from the Lord of all the worlds.” (verses 38-43)

Ukali zaidi hutolewa na sehemu ya mwisho ya sura hii, inapotoa onyo kali kwamba adhabu kali sana itatolewa kwa yeyote atakayejaribu kuleta mabadiliko yoyote katika dini hii. Hili linamhusu hata Muhammad, Mjumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu ﷺ: "Kama angemzulia Sisi baadhi ya maneno ya uongo, bila shaka tungelimshika kwa mkono wake wa kulia, kisha tungelikata mshipa wake wa moyo, wala hapana hata mmoja wenu angaliweza kumzuia." (aya 44-47)

Further seriousness is provided by the surah's last beat as it issues a decisive warning of a very severe punishment to be meted out to anyone who tries to introduce any alteration into this faith. This applies even to Muhammad, Gods Messenger: “Had he attributed some fabrications to Us, We would indeed have seized him by the right hand and cut off his life-vein, and none of you could have saved him.” (verses 44-47)

Sura inamalizika kwa kauli nyingine thabiti inayofanya wazi kabisa suala la ujumbe wa mwisho wa Mungu kama unavyojumuishwa katika Qur'ani: "Hakika hii [Qur'ani] ni ukumbusho kwa wenye kumcha Mungu."

The surah concludes with another decisive statement making the question of the final divine message as it is embodied in the Qur’an absolutely clear: “ This [Qur'an] is indeed a reminder to the God fearing.

Tunajua vizuri kwamba miongoni mwenu wako wanaokanusha ukweli wake. Hata hivyo, hilo litakuwa chanzo cha majuto makubwa kwa makafiri. Hakika hii ndiyo haki iliyo thabiti kabisa. Basi tukuza utukufu wa jina la Mola wako Mlezi, Aliye Mkuu.” (Aya 48-52) Huu ni mwisho usioacha nafasi ya chochote kuongezwa.

We well know that among you are some who deny its truth. Yet it will be a cause of bitter regret for the unbelievers. It is indeed truth absolute. Extol, then, the glory of the name of your Lord, the Supreme.” (Verses 48-52) It is a finale that leaves no room for anything further to be added.

Sura hii ina mada kuu ambayo inakusudia kuifanya iwe wazi kabisa. Mtindo na mdundo inaoutumia, pamoja na picha na matukio inayoyachora, vinafanya kazi kwa pamoja kutufikishia msisitizo huo kwa njia ya kuvutia sana. Hivyo, sura hii inatupa picha nyingi, kwa kweli inatuzunguka pande zote. Hatuwezi kushindwa kuziona zikiwa hai kana kwamba zinatokea mbele ya macho yetu. Hapa tunaona hatima za Thamud, 'Ad, Firauni, Sodoma na Gomora, na tunajisikia tumezama katika athari zake za kutisha. Tukio la mafuriko makubwa na watu wachache walionusurika waliobebwa katika Safina limechorwa katika aya mbili fupi. Soma, ikiwa utapenda, jinsi 'Ad walivyopata hatima yao ya kutisha: “ 'Ad waliangamizwa kwa upepo mkali unaovuma kwa ghadhabu, ambao Yeye aliuachilia juu yao kwa usiku saba na siku nane za kuendelea. Ungeliweza kuwaona watu wao wamelala wamekufa, kama shina zilizong'olewa za mitende isiyo na kiini. Je, unaweza kuona athari yoyote ya wao sasa?” (Aya 6-8) Je, unaweza kushindwa kuona katika jicho la akili yako jinsi dhoruba hii iliyokuwa ikivuma ilivyoendelea kuleta uharibifu wake kwa siku nane na usiku saba, na kuwaacha 'Ad wameangamizwa kabisa na kufanana na mashina matupu yaliyong'olewa? Ni tukio lenye picha kali kiasi kwamba hatuwezi kujizuia kuliona kwa macho yetu na kulichora kwa akili zetu. Vivyo hivyo kwa picha zote za hatima za kutisha walizopata makafiri wa zamani.

The surah has a central theme, which it aims to make absolutely clear. The style and beat it employs and the images and scenes it draws work in unison to drive this home to us in a highly inspiring way. Thus, the surah gives us a great host of images indeed it surrounds us with them from all sides. We cannot fail to see them brought alive as if they are taking place in front of our very eyes. Here, we see the fates of the Thamud, the 'Ad, Pharaoh, Sodom and Gomorrah and feel engulfed by their terrible effects. The scene of the great floods and the few human survivors carried in the Ark is painted in two short verses. Read, if you will, how the 'Ad suffered their terrible fate: “ The (Ad were destroyed by a furiously howling wind, which He caused to rage upon them for seven nights and eight decisive days. You could see their people lying dead, like uprooted trunks of hollow palm trees. Can you see any trace of them now? ” (Verses 6-8) Can you fail to see in your mind’s eye how this raging storm continued to vent its furious havoc for eight days and seven nights leaving the 'Ad utterly destroyed and resembling hollow, uprooted tree trunks? It is such a vivid scene that we cannot help but see it with our eyes and paint it with our minds. The same applies to all images of the terrible fates suffered by unbelievers of old.

Kisha tena picha za mwisho wa kutisha wa ulimwengu zinatuwekwa mbele yetu; tunasikia kelele zinazoambatana nazo na tunajawa na hofu na huzuni. Sikiliza aya hii: “ Ardhi na milima vitainuliwa na kwa mgongano mmoja mkubwa vitasawazishwa. ” (Aya ya 14) Je, hamsikii ule mgongano mkubwa baada ya kuona kuinuliwa na kisha kuanguka?