The Surah takes its name from its first word al- qari`ah. This
is not only a name but also the title of its subject matter, for
the Surah is devoted to Resurrection. There is no dispute about
its being a Makki Surah. Its contents show that this too is one
of the earliest Surahs to be revealed at Makkah. Its theme is
Resurrection and the Hereafter. At the outset, the people have
been aroused and alarmed, saying: "The Great Disaster!What is
the Great Disaster? And what do you know what the Great Disaster
is?"Thus, after preparing the listeners for the news of the
dreadful calamity, Resurrection has been depicted before them in
two sentences, saying that on that Day people will be running
about in confusion and bewilderment just like so many scattered
moths around a light, and the mountains uprooted, will their
cohesion and will fly about like carded wool. Then, it has been
said that when Allah's Court is established in the Hereafter and
the people are called upon to account for their deeds. The
people whose goo