56. Sūrah al-Wāqi‘ah (The Inevitable) – The Noble Qur’an

56:1

إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلۡوَاقِعَةُ

When the Event (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) befalls.

56:2

لَيۡسَ لِوَقۡعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ

And there can be no denial of its befalling.

56:3

خَافِضَةٞ رَّافِعَةٌ

Bringing low (some – those who will enter Hell) Exalting (others – those who will enter Paradise). [Tafsir Ibn Kathir]

56:4

إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ رَجّٗا

When the earth will be shaken with a terrible shake.

56:5

وَبُسَّتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ بَسّٗا

And the mountains will be powdered to dust,

56:6

فَكَانَتۡ هَبَآءٗ مُّنۢبَثّٗا

So that they will become floating dust particles.

56:7

وَكُنتُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا ثَلَٰثَةٗ

And you (all) will be in three groups.

56:8

فَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ

So those on the Right Hand (i.e. those who will be given their Records in their right hands) – how (fortunate) will be those on the Right Hand! (As a respect for them, because they will enter Paradise).

56:9

وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ

And those on the Left Hand (i.e. those who will be given their Record in their left hands) – how (unfortunate) will be those on the Left Hand! (As a disgrace for them, because they will enter Hell).

56:10

وَٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ

And those foremost [(in Islâmic Faith of Monotheism and in performing righteous deeds) in the life of this world on the very first call for to embrace Islâm] will be foremost (in Paradise).

56:11

أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبُونَ

These will be the nearest (to Allâh).

56:12

فِي جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

In the Gardens of Delight (Paradise).

56:13

ثُلَّةٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ

A multitude of those (foremost) will be from the first generations (who embraced Islâm).

56:14

وَقَلِيلٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأٓخِرِينَ

And a few of those (foremost) will be from the later generations.

56:15

عَلَىٰ سُرُرٖ مَّوۡضُونَةٖ

(They will be) on thrones woven with gold and precious stones.

56:16

مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَيۡهَا مُتَقَٰبِلِينَ

Reclining thereon, face to face.

56:17

يَطُوفُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وِلۡدَٰنٞ مُّخَلَّدُونَ

Immortal boys will go around them (serving),

56:18

بِأَكۡوَابٖ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأۡسٖ مِّن مَّعِينٖ

With cups, and jugs, and a glass of flowing wine,

56:19

لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنۡهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ

Wherefrom they will get neither any aching of the head, nor any intoxication.

56:20

وَفَٰكِهَةٖ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ

And with fruit that they may choose.

56:21

وَلَحۡمِ طَيۡرٖ مِّمَّا يَشۡتَهُونَ

And with the flesh of fowls that they desire.

56:22

وَحُورٌ عِينٞ

And (there will be) Hûr (fair females) with wide, lovely eyes (as wives for “Al-Muttaqûn” – the pious – See V. 2:2),

56:23

كَأَمۡثَٰلِ ٱللُّؤۡلُوِٕ ٱلۡمَكۡنُونِ

Like unto preserved pearls.

56:24

جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ

A reward for what they used to do.

56:25

لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغۡوٗا وَلَا تَأۡثِيمًا

No Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk) will they hear therein, nor any sinful speech (like backbiting).

56:26

إِلَّا قِيلٗا سَلَٰمٗا سَلَٰمٗا

But only the saying of: Salâm! Salâm! (greetings with peace)!^[1]

56:27

وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِ

And those on the Right Hand – how (fortunate) will be those on the Right Hand?

56:28

فِي سِدۡرٖ مَّخۡضُودٖ

(They will be) among thornless lote-trees,

56:29

وَطَلۡحٖ مَّنضُودٖ

And among Talh (banana-trees) with fruits piled one above another,

56:30

وَظِلّٖ مَّمۡدُودٖ

And in shade long-extended,

56:31

وَمَآءٖ مَّسۡكُوبٖ

And by water flowing constantly,

56:32

وَفَٰكِهَةٖ كَثِيرَةٖ

And fruit in plenty,

56:33

لَّا مَقۡطُوعَةٖ وَلَا مَمۡنُوعَةٖ

Whose supply is not cut off (by change of season), nor are they out of reach,

56:34

وَفُرُشٖ مَّرۡفُوعَةٍ

And on couches or thrones, raised high.

56:35

إِنَّآ أَنشَأۡنَٰهُنَّ إِنشَآءٗ

Verily, We have created them (maidens) of special creation.

56:36

فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُنَّ أَبۡكَارًا

And made them virgins.

56:37

عُرُبًا أَتۡرَابٗا

Loving (their husbands only), (and) of equal age.

56:38

لِّأَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ

For those on the Right Hand.

56:39

ثُلَّةٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ

A multitude of those (on the Right Hand) will be from the first generation (who embraced Islâm).

56:40

وَثُلَّةٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأٓخِرِينَ

And a multitude of those (on the Right Hand) will be from the later generations.

56:41

وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ

And those on the Left Hand – how (unfortunate) will be those on the Left Hand?

56:42

فِي سَمُومٖ وَحَمِيمٖ

In fierce hot wind and boiling water,

56:43

وَظِلّٖ مِّن يَحۡمُومٖ

And shadow of black smoke,

56:44

لَّا بَارِدٖ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ

(That shadow) neither cool, nor (even) pleasant,

56:45

إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَبۡلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتۡرَفِينَ

Verily, before that, they indulged in luxury,

56:46

وَكَانُواْ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلۡحِنثِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ

And were persisting in great sin (joining partners in worship along with Allâh, committing murder and other crimes)^[2]

56:47

وَكَانُواْ يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتۡنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابٗا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوثُونَ

And they used to say: “When we die and become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be resurrected?

56:48

أَوَءَابَآؤُنَا ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ

“And also our forefathers?”

56:49

قُلۡ إِنَّ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلۡأٓخِرِينَ

Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): “(Yes) verily, those of old, and those of later times.

56:50

لَمَجۡمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَٰتِ يَوۡمٖ مَّعۡلُومٖ

“All will surely be gathered together for appointed Meeting of a known Day.

56:51

ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبُونَ

“Then moreover, verily you the erring-ones, the deniers (of Resurrection)!

56:52

لَأٓكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٖ مِّن زَقُّومٖ

“You verily will eat of the trees of Zaqqûm.

56:53

فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنۡهَا ٱلۡبُطُونَ

“Then you will fill your bellies therewith,

56:54

فَشَٰرِبُونَ عَلَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلۡحَمِيمِ

“And drink boiling water on top of it.

56:55

فَشَٰرِبُونَ شُرۡبَ ٱلۡهِيمِ

“And you will drink (that) like thirsty camels!”

56:56

هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلدِّينِ

That will be their entertainment on the Day of Recompense!

56:57

نَحۡنُ خَلَقۡنَٰكُمۡ فَلَوۡلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ

We created you: then why do you believe not?

56:58

أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تُمۡنُونَ

Then tell Me (about) the (human) semen that you emit.

56:59

ءَأَنتُمۡ تَخۡلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقُونَ

Is it you who create it (i.e. make this semen into a perfect human being), or are We the Creator?

56:60

نَحۡنُ قَدَّرۡنَا بَيۡنَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَسۡبُوقِينَ

We have decreed death to you all, and We are not outstripped,

56:61

عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمۡثَٰلَكُمۡ وَنُنشِئَكُمۡ فِي مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ

To transfigure you and create you in (forms) that you know not.

56:62

وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُمُ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ فَلَوۡلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

And indeed, you have already known the first form of creation (i.e. the creation of Adam): why then do you not remember (or take heed)?

56:63

أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تَحۡرُثُونَ

Then tell Me about the seed that you sow in the ground.

56:64

ءَأَنتُمۡ تَزۡرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ

Is it you that make it grow, or are We the Grower?

56:65

لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلۡنَٰهُ حُطَٰمٗا فَظَلۡتُمۡ تَفَكَّهُونَ

Were it Our Will, We could crumble it to dry pieces, and you would be regretful (or left in wonderment) [Tafsir Ibn Kathîr].

56:66

إِنَّا لَمُغۡرَمُونَ

(Saying): “We are indeed Mughramûn (i.e. ruined or have lost the money without any profit, or are punished by the loss of all that we spend for cultivation)! (Tafsir Al-Qurtubî)

56:67

بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ

“Nay, but we are deprived!”

56:68

أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱلَّذِي تَشۡرَبُونَ

Then tell Me about the water that you drink.

56:69

ءَأَنتُمۡ أَنزَلۡتُمُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُزۡنِ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡمُنزِلُونَ

Is it you who cause it from the rain-clouds to come down, or are We the Causer of it to come down?

56:70

لَوۡ نَشَآءُ جَعَلۡنَٰهُ أُجَاجٗا فَلَوۡلَا تَشۡكُرُونَ

If We willed, We verily could make it salt (and undrinkable): why then do you not give thanks (to Allâh)?

56:71

أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِي تُورُونَ

Then tell Me about the fire which you kindle.

56:72

ءَأَنتُمۡ أَنشَأۡتُمۡ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡمُنشِـُٔونَ

Is it you who made the tree thereof to grow, or are We the Grower?

56:73

نَحۡنُ جَعَلۡنَٰهَا تَذۡكِرَةٗ وَمَتَٰعٗا لِّلۡمُقۡوِينَ

We have made it a Reminder (of the Hell-fire in the Hereafter), and an article of use for the travellers (and all the others, in this world).

56:74

فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ

Then glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.

56:75

۞ فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ

So I swear by the setting of the stars.^[3]

56:76

وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٞ لَّوۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ

And verily that is indeed a great oath, if you but know.

56:77

إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرۡءَانٞ كَرِيمٞ

That (this) is indeed an honourable recitation (the Noble Qur’ân).

56:78

فِي كِتَٰبٖ مَّكۡنُونٖ

In a Book well-guarded (with Allâh in the heaven i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz ).

56:79

لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلۡمُطَهَّرُونَ

Which (that Book with Allâh) none can touch but the purified (i.e. the angels).

56:80

تَنزِيلٞ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

A Revelation (this Qur’ân) from the Lord of the ‘Âlamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).

56:81

أَفَبِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدۡهِنُونَ

Is it such a talk (this Qur’ân) that you (disbelievers) deny?

56:82

وَتَجۡعَلُونَ رِزۡقَكُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ تُكَذِّبُونَ

And instead (of thanking Allâh) for the provision He gives you, you deny (Him by disbelief)!

56:83

فَلَوۡلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلۡحُلۡقُومَ

Then why do you not (intervene) when (the soul of a dying person) reaches the throat?

56:84

وَأَنتُمۡ حِينَئِذٖ تَنظُرُونَ

And you at the moment are looking on,

56:85

وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنكُمۡ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبۡصِرُونَ

But We (i.e. Our angels who take the soul) are nearer to him than you, but you see not, (Tafsir At-Tabarî)

56:86

فَلَوۡلَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ غَيۡرَ مَدِينِينَ

Then why do you not – if you are exempt from the reckoning and recompense (punishment) –

56:87

تَرۡجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ

Bring back the soul (to its body), if you are truthful?

56:88

فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبِينَ

Then, if he (the dying person) be of the Muqarrabûn (those brought near to Allâh),

56:89

فَرَوۡحٞ وَرَيۡحَانٞ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٖ

(There is for him) rest and provision, and a Garden of Delights (Paradise).

56:90

وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ

And if he (the dying person) be of those on the Right Hand,

56:91

فَسَلَٰمٞ لَّكَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ

Then there is safety and peace (from the Punishment of Allâh) for those on the right Hand.

56:92

وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

But if he (the dying person) be of the denying (of the Resurrection), the erring (away from the Right Path of Islâmic Monotheism),

56:93

فَنُزُلٞ مِّنۡ حَمِيمٖ

Then for him is an entertainment with boiling water.

56:94

وَتَصۡلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ

And burning in Hell-fire.

56:95

إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلۡيَقِينِ

Verily, this! This is an absolute Truth with certainty.

56:96

فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ

So glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.