Colorful Surah Haqqah with English Translation

Al-Haqqah (Arabic: الحاقة‎) is the 69th chapter (surah) of the Qur'an with 52 verses (āyāt). There are several English names under which the surah is known. These include “The Inevitable Hour”, “The Indubitable”, “The Inevitable Truth”, and “The Reality”. These titles are derived from alternate translations of al Haqqah, the word that appears in the first three ayat of the sura. Though each of these titles may sound very different, each one alludes to the main theme of the surat – the Day of Judgment.

Hadith (Hadees) about Al-Haaqqa

Salah a.k.a namaz is one of the prior most practice in Islam, according to hadith, Muhammad used to recite this surah in salah as follows :

The Prophet (pbuh) used to recite 2 equal surahs in one Rakat; he would recite (for instance) surahs an-Najm and ar-Rahman in one rak'ah, surahs Al-Qamar and Al-Haaqqa in one rak'ah, surahs at-Tur and adh-Dhariyat in one rak'ah, surahs Al-Waqi'a (Waqiah) and Nun in one rak'ah, surahs Al-Maarij and An-Naziat in one rak'ah, surahs al-Mutaffifin and Abasa in one rak'ah, surahs Al-Muddaththir and al-Muzzammil in one rak'ah, surahs al-Insan and Al-Qiyama in one rak'ah, surahs an-Naba' and Al-Mursalat in one rak'ah, and surahs ad-Dukhan and at-Takwir in one rak'ah.

Theme and Subject Matter:

The Surah tells about the destiny of Thamud, ʿĀd, Pharaoh, other toppled towns, the flood that came in the hour of Prophet Noah. It discusses the prize of the steadfast and the punishment of the disbelievers. At last, it reminds the individuals that this message isn't the verse of a poet or something made up by the Prophet himself, it is the revelation of the Lord of the universes.

The first passage of the surah contains three ayaat. These 3 ayaat portray the day of resurrection and the day of judgement and emphasize that The judgment of God will infallibly come. "Haaqqa", referring to the Quranic view of the end time and eschatology. "Haqqa" has been translated to Reality, Inevitable Hour, laying-bare of the truth, etc. According to Ibn Kathir, a traditionalistic exegete, Al-Haaqqa is one of the names of the Day of Judgement, like Al-Qaria, At-Tammah, As-Sakhkhah and others.

Rhetorically Al-Haaqqa has 2 similarities with Al-Qaria. Firstly the opening of the surah resembles Al-Qaria which opens with the wordings

69:1 الْحَاقَّةُ

69:2 مَا الْحَاقَّةُ

69:3 وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْحَاقَّةُ

Notice that Al Qaria opens in exactly same style

101:1 الْقَارِعَةُ

101:2 مَا الْقَارِعَةُ

101:3 وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْقَارِعَةُ

Secondly, word Al-Qaria appears as a total of 5 times in Quran (Mushaf / Koran) and out of which thrice it is mentioned in Al-Qaria while once it appears in Al-Haaqqa as well.

1. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) said: One who recites this Surah, Allah takes an easy account from him.

2. Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) said: Recite Surah Haqqah very often because recitation of Surah Haqqah in obligatory and recommended prayers is a sign of belief in Allah and His Prophet and the religion of the reciter would not remain doubtful and uncertain till he meets Allah.

Surah al-Haqqah (The Sure Calamity)

This Surah was revealed in Makkah and it has 52 verses. Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) has advised that this Surah should be recited often in prayers as this is a sign of faith. This Surah has praise for Imam Ali (a.s.) and insult for Mu’awiya ibn Aba Sufyan.

The Holy Prophet (S) has said that reciting this Surah makes the accounting of deeds on the Day of Reckoning easier. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) said that the one who recites this Surah will never loose his religion.

Whoso recites this surah his belief in and love for Allah, the Holy Prophet and Imam Ali ibn abi Talib would grow to the highest limit.