Surah 99. Az-Zalzalah

When the earth is shaken 'in' its ultimate quaking,

  - Mustafa Khattab

When the Earth is shaken to her (utmost) convulsion ⁶²³⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

To the ordinary human observer a violent earthquake is a terrifying phenomenon, in its suddenness, in its origin, and in its power to destroy and uproot the strongest buildings and to bring up strange materials from the bowels of the earth. The Overwhelming Event (S. lxxxviii.) which ushers in the Judgment will be a bigger and more far-reaching convulsion than any earthquakes that we know. And yet the incidents of earthquakes may give us some idea of that supreme world-shaking Event.

and when the earth throws out 'all' its contents,¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 lit., burdens (i.e., treasures and dead bodies).

And the Earth throws up her burden (from within) ⁶²³⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

An earthquake, if accompanied by a volcanic eruption, throws up enormous boulders and lava from beneath the crust of the earth. They are thrown up as if they were a burden to the Earth personified. They may be all kinds of minerals, or treasures buried for secrecy. So in the great and final Convulsion, the dead who had been buried and forgotten will rise; and will be brought to the light of day, and justice will be done in the full glare of absolute Truth.

and humanity cries, 'What is wrong with it?'-

  - Mustafa Khattab

And man cries (distressed): `What is the matter with her?' ⁶²³⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The puzzled agony suffered by the victims of violent earthquakes is as nothing compared to the experience of the new and wonderful world which will then open out of the gaze of man.

on that Day the earth will recount everything,

  - Mustafa Khattab

On that Day will she declare her tidings:

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

having been inspired by your Lord 'to do so'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

For that thy Lord will have given her inspiration. ⁶²³⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The present order may be personified as the earth. It will pass away, but the Deeds done therein, even the most secret, will be brought to the full light of day. And this will be because Allah will give the Command, the inspiration or Word, by which alone all events do proceed. The "inspiration" is the Command or direction conveyed by instruction breathed into the Earth personified: she is directed to tell the whole story of what she knows. Cf. xvi. 68, n. 2097.