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Surah Al-Waqi'ah (The Inevitable)

الواقعة · Surah 56 · Makkah · 96 ayat · Pages 534–537 · Juz 27

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About this surah

Name

The Surah takes its name from the word al-waqi\`ah of the very first verse.

Period of Revelation

According to the chronological order that Hadrat Abdullah bin Abbas has given of the Surahs, first Surah Ta Ha was sent down, then Al-Waqi'ah and then Ash-Shu\`ara'(Suyuti: Al-Itqan). The same sequence has been reported from Ikrimah (Baihaqi: Dala'il an Nubuwwat).

This is supported also by the story that Ibn Hisham has related from Ibn Ishaq about the affirmation of the Faith by Hadrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). It says that when Hadarat Umar entered his sister's house, Surah Ta Ha was being recited. Hearing his voice the people of the house hid the pages of the Qur'an. Hadrat Umar first seized his brother-in-law and then his sister rose in defense of her husband, he hit her also and wounded her on the head. When Umar saw blood on his sister, he was sorry for what he had done, and said to her: "Show me the manuscript that you have concealed so that I may see what it contains." The sister said: "You are unclean because of your polytheism: wa anna-hu la yamassu-ha ill-at-tahir : "Only a clean person can touch it." So, Hadrat Umar rose and washed himself, and then took up the manuscript to read it. This shows that Surah Al-Waqi'ah had been sent down by that time for it contains the verse: La yamassu hu ill al mutahharun ; and it had been established historically that Hadrat Umar embraced Islam after the first migration to Habash, in the fifth year of the Prophethood.

Theme and Subject Matter

Its theme is the Hereafter, Tauhid and refutation of the Makkan disbelievers' suspicions about the Qur'an. What they regarded as utterly incredible was that Resurrection would ever take place, then the entire system of the earth and heavens would be upset, and when all the dead would be resurrected and called to account, after which the righteous would be admitted to Paradise and the wicked cast into Hell. They regarded all this as imaginary, which could not possibly happen in actual fact. In answer to this, it was said: "When the inevitable event will take place, there will be none to belie its happening, nor will anyone have the Power to avert it, nor prove it to, be an unreal happening. At that time all peoples will be divided into three classes: (1) The foremost in rank and position; (2) the common righteous people and (3) those who denied the Hereafter and persisted in disbelief and polytheism and major sins till the last." How these three classes of the people will be rewarded and punished has been described in detail in vv. 7-56.

Then, in vv. 57-74 arguments have been given, one after the other, to prove the truth of the two basic doctrines of Islam, which the disbelievers were refusing to accept, viz. the doctrines of Tauhid and the Hereafter. In these arguments, apart from every thing else that exists in the earth and heavens, man's attention has been drawn to his own body and to the food that he eats and to the water that he drinks and to the fire on which he cooks his food, and he has been invited to ponder the question : What right do you have to behave independently of, or serve any other than, the God Whose creative power has brought you into being, and Whose provisions sustain you And how can you entertain the idea that after having once brought you into existence He has become so helpless and powerless that He cannot recreate you once again even if he wills to?

Then, in vv. 75-82 their suspicions in respect of the Qur'an have been refuted and they have been made to realize how fortunate they are that instead of deriving any benefit from the great blessing that the Qur'an is, they are treating it with scant attention and have set only this share of theirs in it that they deny it. If one seriously considers this matchless argument that has been presented in two brief sentences about the truth of the Qur'an, one will find in it the same kind of firm and stable system as exists among the stars and planets of the Universe, and the same is the proof of the fact that its Author is the same Being Who has created the Universe. Then the disbelievers have been told that this Book is inscribed in that Writ of Destiny which is beyond the reach of the creatures, as if to say "You think it is brought down by the devils to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), whereas none but the pure angels has any access to the means by which it reaches Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) from the well guarded Tablet."

In conclusion, man has been warned, as if to say: "You may brad and boast as you like and may shut your eyes to the truths in your arrogance of independence, but death is enough to open your eyes. At death you become helpless: you cannot save your own parents; you cannot save your children; you cannot save your religious guided and beloved leaders. They all die in front of your vary eyes while you look on helplessly. If there is no supreme power ruling over you, and your this assumption is correct that you are all in all in the world, and there is no God, then why don't you restore to the dying person his soul?Just as you are helpless in this, so it is also beyond your power to stop Allah from calling the people to account and mete out rewards and punishments to them. You may or may not believe it, but every dying person will surely see his own end after death. If he belongs to those nearest to God, he will see the good end meant for them if he be from among the righteous, he will see the end prepared for the righteous; and if he be from among the deniers of the truth, he will see the end destined for the criminals.

Surah Al-Waqi'ah — Arabic with English translation

Al-Waqi'ah 56:1Ayah page →

إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلۡوَاقِعَةُ ١

When the Occurrence occurs,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:2Ayah page →

لَيۡسَ لِوَقۡعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ ٢

There is, at its occurrence, no denial.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:3Ayah page →

خَافِضَةٞ رَّافِعَةٌ ٣

It will bring down [some] and raise up [others].1

Al-Waqi'ah 56:4Ayah page →

إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ رَجّٗا ٤

When the earth is shaken with convulsion

Al-Waqi'ah 56:5Ayah page →

وَبُسَّتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ بَسّٗا ٥

And the mountains are broken down, crumbling

Al-Waqi'ah 56:6Ayah page →

فَكَانَتۡ هَبَآءٗ مُّنۢبَثّٗا ٦

And become dust dispersing,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:7Ayah page →

وَكُنتُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا ثَلَٰثَةٗ ٧

And you become [of] three kinds:

Al-Waqi'ah 56:8Ayah page →

فَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ ٨

Then the companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?1

Al-Waqi'ah 56:9Ayah page →

وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ ٩

And the companions of the left - what are companions of the left?1

Al-Waqi'ah 56:10Ayah page →

وَٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ١٠

And the forerunners, the forerunners1 -

Al-Waqi'ah 56:11Ayah page →

أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبُونَ ١١

Those are the ones brought near [to Allāh]

Al-Waqi'ah 56:12Ayah page →

فِي جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ ١٢

In the Gardens of Pleasure,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:13Ayah page →

ثُلَّةٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ١٣

A [large] company of the former peoples

Al-Waqi'ah 56:14Ayah page →

وَقَلِيلٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأٓخِرِينَ ١٤

And a few of the later peoples,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:15Ayah page →

عَلَىٰ سُرُرٖ مَّوۡضُونَةٖ ١٥

On thrones woven [with ornament],

Al-Waqi'ah 56:16Ayah page →

مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَيۡهَا مُتَقَٰبِلِينَ ١٦

Reclining on them, facing each other.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:17Ayah page →

يَطُوفُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وِلۡدَٰنٞ مُّخَلَّدُونَ ١٧

There will circulate among them young boys made eternal

Al-Waqi'ah 56:18Ayah page →

بِأَكۡوَابٖ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأۡسٖ مِّن مَّعِينٖ ١٨

With vessels, pitchers and a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring -

Al-Waqi'ah 56:19Ayah page →

لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنۡهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ ١٩

No headache will they have therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated -

Al-Waqi'ah 56:20Ayah page →

وَفَٰكِهَةٖ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ ٢٠

And fruit of what they select

Al-Waqi'ah 56:21Ayah page →

وَلَحۡمِ طَيۡرٖ مِّمَّا يَشۡتَهُونَ ٢١

And the meat of fowl, from whatever they desire.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:22Ayah page →

وَحُورٌ عِينٞ ٢٢

And [for them are] fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:23Ayah page →

كَأَمۡثَٰلِ ٱللُّؤۡلُوِٕ ٱلۡمَكۡنُونِ ٢٣

The likenesses of pearls well-protected,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:24Ayah page →

جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٢٤

As reward for what they used to do.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:25Ayah page →

لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغۡوٗا وَلَا تَأۡثِيمًا ٢٥

They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin -

Al-Waqi'ah 56:26Ayah page →

إِلَّا قِيلٗا سَلَٰمٗا سَلَٰمٗا ٢٦

Only a saying [of] peace, peace.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:27Ayah page →

وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِ ٢٧

The companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?

Al-Waqi'ah 56:28Ayah page →

فِي سِدۡرٖ مَّخۡضُودٖ ٢٨

[They will be] among lote trees with thorns removed

Al-Waqi'ah 56:29Ayah page →

وَطَلۡحٖ مَّنضُودٖ ٢٩

And [banana] trees layered [with fruit]

Al-Waqi'ah 56:30Ayah page →

وَظِلّٖ مَّمۡدُودٖ ٣٠

And shade extended

Al-Waqi'ah 56:31Ayah page →

وَمَآءٖ مَّسۡكُوبٖ ٣١

And water poured out

Al-Waqi'ah 56:32Ayah page →

وَفَٰكِهَةٖ كَثِيرَةٖ ٣٢

And fruit, abundant [and varied],

Al-Waqi'ah 56:33Ayah page →

لَّا مَقۡطُوعَةٖ وَلَا مَمۡنُوعَةٖ ٣٣

Neither limited [to season] nor forbidden,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:34Ayah page →

وَفُرُشٖ مَّرۡفُوعَةٍ ٣٤

And [upon] beds raised high.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:35Ayah page →

إِنَّآ أَنشَأۡنَٰهُنَّ إِنشَآءٗ ٣٥

Indeed, We have produced them [i.e., the women of Paradise] in a [new] creation

Al-Waqi'ah 56:36Ayah page →

فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُنَّ أَبۡكَارًا ٣٦

And made them virgins,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:37Ayah page →

عُرُبًا أَتۡرَابٗا ٣٧

Devoted [to their husbands] and of equal age,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:38Ayah page →

لِّأَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ ٣٨

For the companions of the right [who are]

Al-Waqi'ah 56:39Ayah page →

ثُلَّةٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ٣٩

A company of the former peoples

Al-Waqi'ah 56:40Ayah page →

وَثُلَّةٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأٓخِرِينَ ٤٠

And a company of the later peoples.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:41Ayah page →

وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ ٤١

And the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?

Al-Waqi'ah 56:42Ayah page →

فِي سَمُومٖ وَحَمِيمٖ ٤٢

[They will be] in scorching fire and scalding water

Al-Waqi'ah 56:43Ayah page →

وَظِلّٖ مِّن يَحۡمُومٖ ٤٣

And a shade of black smoke,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:44Ayah page →

لَّا بَارِدٖ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ ٤٤

Neither cool nor beneficial.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:45Ayah page →

إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَبۡلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتۡرَفِينَ ٤٥

Indeed they were, before that, indulging in affluence,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:46Ayah page →

وَكَانُواْ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلۡحِنثِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٤٦

And they used to persist in the great violation,1

Al-Waqi'ah 56:47Ayah page →

وَكَانُواْ يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتۡنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابٗا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوثُونَ ٤٧

And they used to say, "When we die and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?

Al-Waqi'ah 56:48Ayah page →

أَوَءَابَآؤُنَا ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ ٤٨

And our forefathers [as well]?"

Al-Waqi'ah 56:49Ayah page →

قُلۡ إِنَّ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلۡأٓخِرِينَ ٤٩

Say, [O Muḥammad], "Indeed, the former and later peoples

Al-Waqi'ah 56:50Ayah page →

لَمَجۡمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَٰتِ يَوۡمٖ مَّعۡلُومٖ ٥٠

Are to be gathered together for the appointment of a known Day."

Al-Waqi'ah 56:51Ayah page →

ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبُونَ ٥١

Then indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:52Ayah page →

لَأٓكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٖ مِّن زَقُّومٖ ٥٢

Will be eating from trees of zaqqūm

Al-Waqi'ah 56:53Ayah page →

فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنۡهَا ٱلۡبُطُونَ ٥٣

And filling with it your bellies

Al-Waqi'ah 56:54Ayah page →

فَشَٰرِبُونَ عَلَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلۡحَمِيمِ ٥٤

And drinking on top of it from scalding water

Al-Waqi'ah 56:55Ayah page →

فَشَٰرِبُونَ شُرۡبَ ٱلۡهِيمِ ٥٥

And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:56Ayah page →

هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلدِّينِ ٥٦

That is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:57Ayah page →

نَحۡنُ خَلَقۡنَٰكُمۡ فَلَوۡلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ ٥٧

We have created you, so why do you not believe?

Al-Waqi'ah 56:58Ayah page →

أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تُمۡنُونَ ٥٨

Have you seen that which you emit?1

Al-Waqi'ah 56:59Ayah page →

ءَأَنتُمۡ تَخۡلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقُونَ ٥٩

Is it you who creates it, or are We the Creator?

Al-Waqi'ah 56:60Ayah page →

نَحۡنُ قَدَّرۡنَا بَيۡنَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَسۡبُوقِينَ ٦٠

We have decreed death among you, and We are not to be outdone

Al-Waqi'ah 56:61Ayah page →

عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمۡثَٰلَكُمۡ وَنُنشِئَكُمۡ فِي مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ ٦١

In that We will change your likenesses and produce you in that [form] which you do not know.1

Al-Waqi'ah 56:62Ayah page →

وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُمُ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ فَلَوۡلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ٦٢

And you have already known the first creation, so will you not remember?

Al-Waqi'ah 56:63Ayah page →

أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تَحۡرُثُونَ ٦٣

And have you seen that [seed] which you sow?

Al-Waqi'ah 56:64Ayah page →

ءَأَنتُمۡ تَزۡرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ ٦٤

Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower?

Al-Waqi'ah 56:65Ayah page →

لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلۡنَٰهُ حُطَٰمٗا فَظَلۡتُمۡ تَفَكَّهُونَ ٦٥

If We willed, We could make it [dry] debris, and you would remain in wonder,1

Al-Waqi'ah 56:66Ayah page →

إِنَّا لَمُغۡرَمُونَ ٦٦

[Saying], "Indeed, we are [now] in debt;

Al-Waqi'ah 56:67Ayah page →

بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ٦٧

Rather, we have been deprived."

Al-Waqi'ah 56:68Ayah page →

أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱلَّذِي تَشۡرَبُونَ ٦٨

And have you seen the water that you drink?

Al-Waqi'ah 56:69Ayah page →

ءَأَنتُمۡ أَنزَلۡتُمُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُزۡنِ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡمُنزِلُونَ ٦٩

Is it you who brought it down from the clouds, or is it We who bring it down?

Al-Waqi'ah 56:70Ayah page →

لَوۡ نَشَآءُ جَعَلۡنَٰهُ أُجَاجٗا فَلَوۡلَا تَشۡكُرُونَ ٧٠

If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?

Al-Waqi'ah 56:71Ayah page →

أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِي تُورُونَ ٧١

And have you seen the fire that you ignite?

Al-Waqi'ah 56:72Ayah page →

ءَأَنتُمۡ أَنشَأۡتُمۡ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡمُنشِـُٔونَ ٧٢

Is it you who produced its tree, or are We the producer?

Al-Waqi'ah 56:73Ayah page →

نَحۡنُ جَعَلۡنَٰهَا تَذۡكِرَةٗ وَمَتَٰعٗا لِّلۡمُقۡوِينَ ٧٣

We have made it a reminder1 and provision for the travelers,2

Al-Waqi'ah 56:74Ayah page →

فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٧٤

So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:75Ayah page →

۞ فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ ٧٥

Then I swear by the setting of the stars,1

Al-Waqi'ah 56:76Ayah page →

وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٞ لَّوۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ ٧٦

And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:77Ayah page →

إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرۡءَانٞ كَرِيمٞ ٧٧

Indeed, it is a noble Qur’ān.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:78Ayah page →

فِي كِتَٰبٖ مَّكۡنُونٖ ٧٨

In a Register well-protected;1.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:79Ayah page →

لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلۡمُطَهَّرُونَ ٧٩

None touch it except the purified [i.e., the angels].

Al-Waqi'ah 56:80Ayah page →

تَنزِيلٞ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٨٠

[It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:81Ayah page →

أَفَبِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدۡهِنُونَ ٨١

Then is it to this statement that you are indifferent

Al-Waqi'ah 56:82Ayah page →

وَتَجۡعَلُونَ رِزۡقَكُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ تُكَذِّبُونَ ٨٢

And make [the thanks for] your provision that you deny [the Provider]?

Al-Waqi'ah 56:83Ayah page →

فَلَوۡلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلۡحُلۡقُومَ ٨٣

Then why, when it [i.e., the soul at death] reaches the throat

Al-Waqi'ah 56:84Ayah page →

وَأَنتُمۡ حِينَئِذٖ تَنظُرُونَ ٨٤

And you are at that time looking on -

Al-Waqi'ah 56:85Ayah page →

وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنكُمۡ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبۡصِرُونَ ٨٥

And We [i.e., Our angels] are nearer to him than you, but you do not see -

Al-Waqi'ah 56:86Ayah page →

فَلَوۡلَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ غَيۡرَ مَدِينِينَ ٨٦

Then why do you not, if you are not to be recompensed,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:87Ayah page →

تَرۡجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ ٨٧

Bring it back,1 if you should be truthful?

Al-Waqi'ah 56:88Ayah page →

فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبِينَ ٨٨

And if he [i.e., the deceased] was of those brought near [to Allāh],

Al-Waqi'ah 56:89Ayah page →

فَرَوۡحٞ وَرَيۡحَانٞ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٖ ٨٩

Then [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:90Ayah page →

وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ ٩٠

And if he was of the companions of the right,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:91Ayah page →

فَسَلَٰمٞ لَّكَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ ٩١

Then [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right."

Al-Waqi'ah 56:92Ayah page →

وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ٩٢

But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:93Ayah page →

فَنُزُلٞ مِّنۡ حَمِيمٖ ٩٣

Then [for him is] accommodation of scalding water

Al-Waqi'ah 56:94Ayah page →

وَتَصۡلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ ٩٤

And burning in Hellfire.

Al-Waqi'ah 56:95Ayah page →

إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلۡيَقِينِ ٩٥

Indeed, this is the true certainty,

Al-Waqi'ah 56:96Ayah page →

فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٩٦

So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.