Encouragement and intimidation in Surat Al-Zalzalah and its effect on modifying behavior

Abstract

Surat Al-Zalzalah is one of the Qur’anic surahs that carries within it deep meanings and strong connotations whose goal is to guide humans toward right behavior, as the main focus of the surah is to depict scenes on the Day of Resurrection, when every soul will be rewarded for what it has earned. The Qur’anic text in this Surah shows a balanced approach that relies on spreading fear of divine punishment for those who do wrong, and at the same time, it opens the door to hope for good reward for those who do good. This balance is reflected in the human psyche, as it motivates a person to modify his behavior in accordance with the moral values​. The approach of the pure Imams (peace be upon them) in his interpretation of this Surah emphasizes the role of balance in education, and the importance of a person’s relationship with God being based on a combination of fear and hope, since the desire for Paradise and the fear of Hell are tools for correcting the soul and directing it towards obedience and good deeds. This study emphasizes the importance of reviving these concepts in contemporary education, to guide individuals towards moral and social commitment to achieve balance in this life and the afterlife