وَتَرَىٰ كُلَّ أُمَّةٍ جَاثِيَةً ۚ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ تُدۡعَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ كِتَٰبِهَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ تُجۡزَوۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ
And you will see every nation kneeling [from fear]. Every nation will be called to its record [and told], “Today you will be recompensed for what you used to do.”
This is one of the most striking scenes in the Qur’an, and it is also the reason this whole surah bears the name “Al-Jathiyah.”
You will see every community that has ever lived in a state of جَاثِيَةً, that is, kneeling in the presence of Allah, unable to rise, and in complete submission.
The word jathiyah comes from the root جَثَا, which expresses kneeling down and collapsing to the ground out of exhaustion.
Every civilization and every community that has lived on earth, whatever its power, arrogance or achievements, will be found on its knees that day.
كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ تُدۡعَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ كِتَٰبِهَا
Every nation will be called to its book.
“Were you not the nation that followed Jesus (peace be upon him)? Where is your book? Were you not the people of Moses (peace be upon him)? Where is your book? Which book did you follow?”
ٱلۡيَوۡمَ تُجۡزَوۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ
Today you will be recompensed for what you used to do.
Perfect justice.