What does Quran 54:8 mean?

Quran 54:8 (Surah Al-Qamar, Ayah 8) translates to: "Racing ahead toward the Caller. The disbelievers will say, "This is a difficult Day.""

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 54:8 from?

This ayah is from Surah Al-Qamar (The Moon), the 54th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 27.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 54:8?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Sahih Muslim, Sahih al-Bukhari.

What tafsir is available for Quran 54:8?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Abbas, Al-Jalalayn — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 54:8 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Day of Judgment, Resurrection, Divine Punishment, Divine Warning, Humility.

Ayah 7

خُشَّعًا أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَا...

54:8Al-Qamar

Ayah 9

۞ كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍۢ فَكَذَّبُوا۟ ...

مُّهْطِعِينَ إِلَى ٱلدَّاعِ ۖ يَقُولُ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَسِرٌۭ

Muhti'eena ilad daa'i yaqoolul kafiroona haazaa yawmun 'asir

Racing ahead toward the Caller. The disbelievers will say, "This is a difficult Day."

Themes in this ayah

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Day of Judgment96

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Day of Judgment

54:8Ayah 155

7 ayahs in Al-Qamar are strongly about the Day of Judgment. This is one of them.

← Previous on Day of Judgment54:7Their eyes humbled, they will emerge from the graves as if they were locusts spreading,Next on Day of Judgment →54:46But the Hour is their appointment [for due punishment], and the Hour is more disastrous and more bitter.

Tafsir

Scholars largely agree on this ayah

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 54:8→

scrambling hastening with their necks stretched out toward the Summoner. The disbelievers among them will say ‘This is a hard day!’ a difficult one for disbelievers — as is stated in sūrat al-Muddaththir a day of hardship for the disbelievers Q. 749-10.

'Indeed the disbeliever's tongue will be stretched a Farsakh or two Farsakh, such that the people will walk upon it."

Sahih Muslim #7007Abu Huraira reported directly from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) that he said:Sahih

The distance of the two shoulders of the non-believer in Hell will be a three-day journey for a swift rider.

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #2375Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said:Sahih

"Race to do works against seven. Are you waiting but for overwhelming poverty, or distracting richness, or debilitating illness, or babbling senility, or sudden death, or the Dajjal, so that hidden evil is what is awaited, or the Hour? The Hour is more calamitous and more bitter." (Daif)

Sahih al-Bukhari #6312Narrated Abu Huraira:Sahih

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The width between the two shoulders of a Kafir (disbeliever) will be equal to the distance covered by a fast rider in three days."

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #2649Abu Hurairah narrated a Marfu' narration:Da'if

"The molar teeth of the disbeliever will be like Uhud (mountain)."