EARTHQUAKES’ MESSAGE AND HEAVY BURDENS
The Arabic word “zilzal” means “earthquake.”
The above verses are quoted from the sura
The Earthquake. These verses are believed to
refer justifiably to the earthquake expected to
occur in the end of the world; however, we
should take due notice of its wider sense,
depicting earthquakes in general. The fourth
verse announces that men will be informed
on that day. A terrible disaster like an
earthquake associates in one’s mind
destruction in the first place causing material
damage and bodily injury, leading to a
general terror and panic. This announcement
must have astounded the public.
When the earth is severely quaked. (99:1)
And the earth throws out its heavy burdens.
(99:2)
And man enquires, “What has come over
it?” (99:3)
On that day, it will tell its information. (99:4)
To establish a link between earthquakes and
knowledge of certain facts seemed
inconceivable to people up until the last
century. Today we have a great many data in
our possession regarding the ground
beneath our feet, thanks to earthquakes. The
shortest radius we could draw from where
we might be to the center of the earth is
longer than 6000 km, a distance we can
never cover. Yes, an earthquake provides
information about that portion of the earth
inaccessible to us. (During the earthquake to
take place at the end of the world, it is
possible that men will be further enlightened
on subjects beyond His prediction. We
certainly do not assert that the verse’s
meaning is limited to our interpretation.)
BURDENS OF THE EARTH
The second verse of the sura Earthquake is
interesting in that it refers to the burdens of
the earth. Years have gone by and men have
failed to understand what those burdens
might be. The widely accepted interpretation
was that the sura referred to the earthquake
that was going to take place at the end of the
world when the dead would be resurrected
and treasures hidden underground would
rise to the surface. No one could have
guessed that the ground beneath was
formed of dense and heavy matter that would
rise to the surface. References to earthquakes
in the Quran contribute to our better
appreciation of them. Let us not forget that
people believed at the time that the earth
rested on the horns of an ox or on a fish
whose tail, when it moved, produced
earthquakes (The commentary of Ibn Kethir is
an example). The fact that the Quran made no
reference to such false beliefs is another
indication of its miraculous character.
The more we know about the contents of the
Quran and about the universe, the more we
appreciate God’s artistry and the perfection of
his religion.
Say: “Are those who know equal to those
who do not know? Only men of
understanding take heed.” (39:9)