الواقعة
Al-Waqi'ah
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.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
- 56:1إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلۡوَاقِعَةُWhen the Occurrence occurs,
- 56:2لَيۡسَ لِوَقۡعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌThere is, at its occurrence, no denial.
- 56:3خَافِضَةٞ رَّافِعَةٌIt will bring down [some] and raise up [others].
- 56:4إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ رَجّٗاWhen the earth is shaken with convulsion
- 56:5وَبُسَّتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ بَسّٗاAnd the mountains are broken down, crumbling
- 56:6فَكَانَتۡ هَبَآءٗ مُّنۢبَثّٗاAnd become dust dispersing.
- 56:7وَكُنتُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا ثَلَٰثَةٗAnd you become [of] three kinds:
- 56:8فَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِThen the companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
- 56:9وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِAnd the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?
- 56:10وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَAnd the forerunners, the forerunners -
- 56:11أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبُونَThose are the ones brought near [to Allah]
- 56:12فِي جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِIn the Gardens of Pleasure,
- 56:13ثُلَّةٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَA [large] company of the former peoples
- 56:14وَقَلِيلٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأٓخِرِينَAnd a few of the later peoples,
- 56:15عَلَىٰ سُرُرٖ مَّوۡضُونَةٖOn thrones woven [with ornament],
- 56:16مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَيۡهَا مُتَقَٰبِلِينَReclining on them, facing each other.
- 56:17يَطُوفُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وِلۡدَٰنٞ مُّخَلَّدُونَThere will circulate among them young boys made eternal
- 56:18بِأَكۡوَابٖ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأۡسٖ مِّن مَّعِينٖWith vessels, pitchers and a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring -
- 56:19لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنۡهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَNo headache will they have therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated -
- 56:20وَفَٰكِهَةٖ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَAnd fruit of what they select
- 56:21وَلَحۡمِ طَيۡرٖ مِّمَّا يَشۡتَهُونَAnd the meat of fowl, from whatever they desire.
- 56:22وَحُورٌ عِينٞAnd [for them are] fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes,
- 56:23كَأَمۡثَٰلِ ٱللُّؤۡلُوِٕ ٱلۡمَكۡنُونِThe likenesses of pearls well-protected,
- 56:24جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَAs reward for what they used to do.
- 56:25لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغۡوٗا وَلَا تَأۡثِيمًاThey will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin -
- 56:26إِلَّا قِيلٗا سَلَٰمٗا سَلَٰمٗاOnly a saying: "Peace, peace."
- 56:27وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِThe companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
- 56:28فِي سِدۡرٖ مَّخۡضُودٖ[They will be] among lote trees with thorns removed
- 56:29وَطَلۡحٖ مَّنضُودٖAnd [banana] trees layered [with fruit]
- 56:30وَظِلّٖ مَّمۡدُودٖAnd shade extended
- 56:31وَمَآءٖ مَّسۡكُوبٖAnd water poured out
- 56:32وَفَٰكِهَةٖ كَثِيرَةٖAnd fruit, abundant [and varied],
- 56:33لَّا مَقۡطُوعَةٖ وَلَا مَمۡنُوعَةٖNeither limited [to season] nor forbidden,
- 56:34وَفُرُشٖ مَّرۡفُوعَةٍAnd [upon] beds raised high.
- 56:35إِنَّآ أَنشَأۡنَٰهُنَّ إِنشَآءٗIndeed, We have produced the women of Paradise in a [new] creation
- 56:36فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُنَّ أَبۡكَارًاAnd made them virgins,
- 56:37عُرُبًا أَتۡرَابٗاDevoted [to their husbands] and of equal age,
- 56:38لِّأَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِFor the companions of the right [who are]
- 56:39ثُلَّةٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَA company of the former peoples
- 56:40وَثُلَّةٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأٓخِرِينَAnd a company of the later peoples.
- 56:41وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِAnd the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?
- 56:42فِي سَمُومٖ وَحَمِيمٖ[They will be] in scorching fire and scalding water
- 56:43وَظِلّٖ مِّن يَحۡمُومٖAnd a shade of black smoke,
- 56:44لَّا بَارِدٖ وَلَا كَرِيمٍNeither cool nor beneficial.
- 56:45إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَبۡلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتۡرَفِينَIndeed they were, before that, indulging in affluence,
- 56:46وَكَانُواْ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلۡحِنثِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِAnd they used to persist in the great violation,
- 56:47وَكَانُواْ يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتۡنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابٗا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوثُونَAnd they used to say, "When we die and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?
- 56:48أَوَءَابَآؤُنَا ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَAnd our forefathers [as well]?"
- 56:49قُلۡ إِنَّ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلۡأٓخِرِينَSay, [O Muhammad], "Indeed, the former and the later peoples
- 56:50لَمَجۡمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَٰتِ يَوۡمٖ مَّعۡلُومٖAre to be gathered together for the appointment of a known Day."
- 56:51ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبُونَThen indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers,
- 56:52لَأٓكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٖ مِّن زَقُّومٖWill be eating from trees of zaqqum
- 56:53فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنۡهَا ٱلۡبُطُونَAnd filling with it your bellies
- 56:54فَشَٰرِبُونَ عَلَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلۡحَمِيمِAnd drinking on top of it from scalding water
- 56:55فَشَٰرِبُونَ شُرۡبَ ٱلۡهِيمِAnd will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.
- 56:56هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلدِّينِThat is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense.
- 56:57نَحۡنُ خَلَقۡنَٰكُمۡ فَلَوۡلَا تُصَدِّقُونَWe have created you, so why do you not believe?
- 56:58أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تُمۡنُونَHave you seen that which you emit?
- 56:59ءَأَنتُمۡ تَخۡلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقُونَIs it you who creates it, or are We the Creator?
- 56:60نَحۡنُ قَدَّرۡنَا بَيۡنَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَسۡبُوقِينَWe have decreed death among you, and We are not to be outdone
- 56:61عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمۡثَٰلَكُمۡ وَنُنشِئَكُمۡ فِي مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَIn that We will change your likenesses and produce you in that [form] which you do not know.
- 56:62وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُمُ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ فَلَوۡلَا تَذَكَّرُونَAnd you have already known the first creation, so will you not remember?
- 56:63أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تَحۡرُثُونَAnd have you seen that [seed] which you sow?
- 56:64ءَأَنتُمۡ تَزۡرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلزَّـٰرِعُونَIs it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower?
- 56:65لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلۡنَٰهُ حُطَٰمٗا فَظَلۡتُمۡ تَفَكَّهُونَIf We willed, We could make it [dry] debris, and you would remain in wonder,
- 56:66إِنَّا لَمُغۡرَمُونَ[Saying], "Indeed, we are [now] in debt;
- 56:67بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَRather, we have been deprived."
- 56:68أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱلَّذِي تَشۡرَبُونَAnd have you seen the water that you drink?
- 56:69ءَأَنتُمۡ أَنزَلۡتُمُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُزۡنِ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡمُنزِلُونَIs it you who brought it down from the clouds, or is it We who bring it down?
- 56:70لَوۡ نَشَآءُ جَعَلۡنَٰهُ أُجَاجٗا فَلَوۡلَا تَشۡكُرُونَIf We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?
- 56:71أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِي تُورُونَAnd have you seen the fire that you ignite?
- 56:72ءَأَنتُمۡ أَنشَأۡتُمۡ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡمُنشِـُٔونَIs it you who produced its tree, or are We the producer?
- 56:73نَحۡنُ جَعَلۡنَٰهَا تَذۡكِرَةٗ وَمَتَٰعٗا لِّلۡمُقۡوِينَWe have made it a reminder and provision for the travelers,
- 56:74فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِSo exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
- 56:75۞فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِThen I swear by the setting of the stars,
- 56:76وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٞ لَّوۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌAnd indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great.
- 56:77إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرۡءَانٞ كَرِيمٞIndeed, it is a noble Qur'an
- 56:78فِي كِتَٰبٖ مَّكۡنُونٖIn a Register well-protected;
- 56:79لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلۡمُطَهَّرُونَNone touch it except the purified.
- 56:80تَنزِيلٞ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ[It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.
- 56:81أَفَبِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدۡهِنُونَThen is it to this statement that you are indifferent
- 56:82وَتَجۡعَلُونَ رِزۡقَكُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ تُكَذِّبُونَAnd make [the thanks for] your provision that you deny [the Provider]?
- 56:83فَلَوۡلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلۡحُلۡقُومَThen why, when the soul at death reaches the throat
- 56:84وَأَنتُمۡ حِينَئِذٖ تَنظُرُونَAnd you are at that time looking on -
- 56:85وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنكُمۡ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبۡصِرُونَAnd Our angels are nearer to him than you, but you do not see -
- 56:86فَلَوۡلَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ غَيۡرَ مَدِينِينَThen why do you not, if you are not to be recompensed,
- 56:87تَرۡجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَBring it back, if you should be truthful?
- 56:88فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبِينَAnd if the deceased was of those brought near to Allah,
- 56:89فَرَوۡحٞ وَرَيۡحَانٞ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٖThen [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure.
- 56:90وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِAnd if he was of the companions of the right,
- 56:91فَسَلَٰمٞ لَّكَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِThen [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right."
- 56:92وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَBut if he was of the deniers [who were] astray,
- 56:93فَنُزُلٞ مِّنۡ حَمِيمٖThen [for him is] accommodation of scalding water
- 56:94وَتَصۡلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍAnd burning in Hellfire
- 56:95إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلۡيَقِينِIndeed, this is the true certainty,
- 56:96فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِSo exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.