Kulingana na baadhi ya riwaya, sūrah hii ni wahyi wa Madina, lakini riwaya nyingine zinaonyesha kuwa iliteremshwa Makka. Riwaya hizi za mwisho zinaonekana kuwa sahihi zaidi, kwa sababu mtindo wa maneno ya sūrah hii na mada zake zinaendana zaidi na mtindo na mada za sūrah za Makka.

According to some reports, this sūrah is a Madinan revelation, but other reports suggest that it was revealed in Makkah. The latter reports seem to be more valid, because the sūrah’s mode of expression and subject matter are more in line with the style and subjects of Makkan sūrahs.

Sūrah hii inatoa mwito mkali wa kuamsha mioyo iliyolegea, na mada yake, picha inayochorwa na mdundo wake vyote vinachangia athari ya mshtuko huu. Ni mlipuko wenye nguvu unaoifanya ardhi na kila kilichomo kutetemeka na kutikisika. Watu hawapati fahamu zao kwa haraka wanapojikuta wamekabiliwa na hesabu, kupimwa na kutathminiwa kwa matendo yao. Wao hupokea malipo yao mara moja. Yote haya yanaelezwa kwa misemo michache mifupi, jambo ambalo ni sifa ya sehemu hii ya Qur’ān kwa ujumla na linaloonyeshwa kwa nguvu katika sūrah hii hasa.

The sūrah makes a violent wake-up call to drowsy hearts; the subject matter, scene drawn and rhythm all contributing to the effect of this jolt. It is a powerful blast that makes the earth and all that is on it quake and tremble. Men hardly recover their senses when they find themselves confronted with the reckoning, weighing and evaluating of actions and deeds. They immediately receive their recompense. All this is expressed in just a few short phrases, which is characteristic of this part of the Qur’ān as a whole and forcefully portrayed in this particular sūrah.

Ardhi itakapotikiswa kwa mtetemeko wake wa mwisho, na ardhi itakapotoa mizigo yake, na mwanadamu akauliza: "Nini kimeipata?" Siku hiyo itatoa habari zake, kwa sababu Mola wako Mlezi amemfunulia.

When the earth is rocked by her [final] earthquake, when the earth shakes off her burdens, and man asks: ‘What is the matter with her?’ On that day she will tell her news, for your Lord will have inspired her. (Verses 1-5)

Ni Siku ya Kiyama, wakati ardhi thabiti itakapotetemeka na kutikisika kwa nguvu, na kutoa mizigo yake mizito aliyoibeba kwa muda mrefu: miili, madini na vitu vingine vilivyokuwa vikimlemea. Ni tukio linalofanya kila kitu kigumu na imara chini ya miguu ya wasikilizaji kutikisika na kuyumba. Wao hudhani kwamba wanayumbayumba na kujikwaa-kwaa, na ardhi chini yao inatetemeka na kutikisika. Ni tukio linalotenganisha moyo wa mtu na kila kitu duniani ambacho umeshikamana nacho, ukidhani kwamba ni imara na cha milele. Qur'ani inayapa matukio haya aina ya mwendo unaopenya karibu hadi kwenye mishipa ya msikilizaji. Athari hii ya papo hapo ina nguvu zaidi kwa sababu mwanadamu anaonyeshwa akikabiliana nayo yote na kuitikia: "Na mtu atasema: 'Kulikoni yake?'" (Aya ya 3)

It is the Day of Judgement when the firm earth trembles and quakes violently and yields up her long-carried loads of bodies and metals and other matters which have weighed heavily on her. It is a scene that makes every firm and solid object under the feet of the listeners shake and totter. They think themselves to be staggering and toddling along and the earth beneath them shuddering and quaking. It is a scene which separates one’s heart from everything on earth it clings to, assuming it to be firm and everlasting. The Qur’ān imparts to these scenes a kind of movement which is transmitted almost to the very sinews of the listener. Such immediate impact is all the more forceful because man is portrayed as confronting and reacting to it all: “And man asks: ‘What is the matter with her?’“ (Verse 3)

Ni swali linaloulizwa na mtu aliyechanganyikiwa, aliyeshangaa, aliyestaajabu na aliyeshikwa na mshangao, anayeona jambo lisilo la kawaida, anayekutana na lisiloonekana kwa macho, na anayeshuhudia kitu kinachomfanya asiwe na subira na kuwa na wasiwasi. Hivyo anatoa kauli: Kuna nini kwake? Ni nini kinachomtetemesha na kumtikisa kwa nguvu namna hii? Analia huku akiyumba na kujikwaa, akijaribu kushikilia chochote kinachoweza kumsaidia au kumweka wima. Lakini kila kitu kinamzunguka kinayumba na kutetereka kwa nguvu.

It is the question advanced by one who is bewildered, astonished, surprised and puzzled, who sees something unfamiliar, encounters what is imperceptible, and beholds what makes him impatient and agitated. o he blurts out: What is the matter with her? What is quaking and shaking her so violently? He cries as he reels and staggers, trying to hold on to anything which may support or keep him upright. But all around him waver and totter violently.