Faces That Day Radiant — The Contrast Between Judgment Day Faces
balagha
Level: advanced
tibaq
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وُجُوهٌ يَوۡمَئِذٍ نَّاضِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌ
— القيامة 22
Verse: "Faces that day radiant — looking at their Lord. And faces that day grim — thinking that a catastrophe will befall them." (75:22-25)
Perfect contrast in four qualities: Radiant ↔ grim. Looking ↔ thinking of doom. Each quality has its precise counterpart.
"Nadhira" (radiant): From nadhra — beauty and brightness. A face glowing with joy from within, not external cosmetics.
"Looking at their Lord": Evidence of believers seeing Allah in the Hereafter. Ibn Kathir: scholars of Sunni consensus affirm this.
Source: Ibn Kathir (8/283); Al-Zarkashi (3/433)
Question: What is the verbal antithesis between the faces of Judgment Day in these verses?
Answer: Radiant ↔ grim (joy vs. sullenness). Looking ↔ expecting doom (gazing at Allah vs. fearing destruction) — four opposing qualities.