Surah Az-Zalzalah — Verse 3

Word Meanings:

• Al-Insan (الإنسان): Refers to mankind in general, though some scholars specify it as the disbeliever who will be most astonished by the earth's transformation on that Day.
• Ma laha (ما لها): Literally "What is the matter with it?" — an expression of bewilderment and fear, asking: "What has happened to it? Why is it behaving this way?"

Explanation of the Verse:

On the Day of Judgment, when the earth is shaken with its final, violent convulsion — a tremor unlike anything witnessed before — and it casts out everything buried within it, from the long-dead bodies of the departed to the treasures and secrets hidden in its depths, humanity will stand in utter shock and confusion. The verse captures that moment of overwhelming bewilderment: *"And man will say, 'What is the matter with it?'"*

This is not a casual question, but the cry of a terrified soul witnessing the collapse of everything it once knew as stable and permanent. The earth, which had always seemed so solid and reliable beneath their feet, suddenly becomes a living witness — trembling, shaking, and revealing all that was concealed within it. The human being, whether believer or disbeliever, will be seized by awe and dread, unable to comprehend the magnitude of what is unfolding.

For the disbeliever, this question carries an even deeper weight — it is the moment when the reality they denied for so long crashes upon them with undeniable force. The earth itself becomes a testimony against them, and their own words betray their confusion and helplessness.

A Call to Reflection:

Dear reader, pause and ponder: The earth that you walk upon every day — the ground you build your homes upon, the soil you till for your sustenance — that very earth has been commanded by its Lord to speak on that Day. It will bear witness to every deed done upon it, whether good or evil. The One who gave the earth the ability to quake and tremble at His command is the same Lord who created you, who watches over you, and who will call you to account.

Do not wait until that Day to ask, "What is the matter with it?" — for then, the answer will be too late. Ask yourself today: What have I prepared for that moment when the earth shakes and all secrets are laid bare? The Qur'an invites you now, in this life, to know your Lord, to worship Him, and to live in readiness for that inevitable encounter. The earth's trembling is but a reminder that nothing in this world is permanent — only the meeting with your Creator is certain. Turn to Him now, before that Day when every soul will see what it has sent forth, and the question "What is the matter with it?" will find its answer in the deeds of your own hands.