๏ The pounding calamity! (1) What is the pounding calamity? (2) What will make you know what the pounding calamity is? (3) A day where the people – al-nās – are like the separated, the scattered – al-mabthūth! (4) And the mountains will be like wool, pulled apart – al-manfūsh! (5) As for him who loaded his scales, (6) then he is in a state of content. (7) But as for him who lightened his scales, (8) his essence is an insatiable emptiness. (9) And what will make you know what that is? (10) A hateful fire! (11) ๏
— _al-qāriʿat_⋆101/1-11
The calamities which come again and again, repetitive, pulsating, pounding, happens when people become separated and scattered. Imagery of mountains being pulled apart represents the things most firm in our societies deteriorating. This also suggests the optimum condition of al-nās is to be unified and not scattered.
Those who have loaded their scales with good (i.e. _al-zalzalah_⋆99/7) – khayr – will have the means to find contentment in such times. But the person who doesn’t practice goodness then ummuhu hāwiyatun. Literally, “his mother is an abyss.”
The word ummu is also seen in _āl ʿim'rān_⋆3/7: ummu l-kitāb. The “mother of the book” refers to the essence of the book. The word hāwiyatun is related to empty inclinations, or a void/emptiness. For example, in _ib'rāhīm_⋆14/43 we find the phrase afidatuhum hawāon – “their empty feelings.”
The meaning of ummuhu hāwiyatun then means “his essence is an endless void.” This is directly contrasted with those whose scales are heavy, those who feel contented. The ones with light scales will find their desires can not be quenched, they find no riḍ'wān. And this internal void is a fire, consuming whatever it touches.
The themes mentioned here – divided people, once firm principles falling part, empty hearts – are directly related to competition and the desire to accumulate wealth. This is mentioned in the next chapter.
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