Al-Waqi'ah 56:61
The Inevitable · Juz 27 · Page 536
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
1 translator’s note
- An alternative meaning has also been given: "...in that We will replace the likes of you [with others upon the earth] and create you [in the Hereafter] in that which you do not know." ↩
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Commentary on 56:57–62
Proof that Resurrection will occur
Allah asserts that Resurrection will occur and refutes the misguided atheists who deny it, those who said,
أَءِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَاباً وَعِظَماً أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ
(When we die and become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be resurrected) 56:47 They said this statement in denial and discounting Resurrection. Allah the Exalted said,
نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَكُمْ
(We created you,) meaning, `We have created you after you were nothing. Therefore, is not that Who is able to start the creation, more able to bring it back' Allah's statement,
فَلَوْلاَ تُصَدِّقُونَ
(then why do you believe not) `why do you not then believe in Resurrection' Then Allah said, while bringing forth evidence that Resurrection occurs,
أَفَرَءَيْتُمْ مَّا تُمْنُونَ - أَءَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُ أَم نَحْنُ الْخَلِقُونَ
(Do you not see the semen you emit. Is it you who create it, or are We the Creator) meaning, `do you make the semen remain in the wombs and create life from it therein, stage after stage Or is Allah the One Who does all this' Allah said,
نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ
(We have decreed death to you all,) meaning, `We made death exist between you.' Ad-Dahhak commented, "Allah made the residents of the heavens and earth equal with regards to death." Allah said,
وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ
(and We are not outstripped,) meaning, `We are never unable,'
عَلَى أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَلَكُمْ
(To transfigure you), meaning, `to change your current shapes, on the Day of Resurrection,'
وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِى مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ
(and create you in that you know not.) meaning, `out of shapes and forms.' Allah the Exalted said,
وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ النَّشْأَةَ الاٍّولَى فَلَوْلاَ تَذَكَّرُونَ
(And indeed, you have already known the first form of creation, why then do you not remember) meaning, `you know that Allah has created you after you were nothing. He created you and gave you hearing, sight and hearts. Will you not then remember and take heed that He Who is able to create you in the beginning is more able to bring you back and resurrect you to life anew' Allah the Exalted said in other Ayat,
وَهُوَ الَّذِى يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ
(And He it is Who originates the creation, then He will repeat it; and this is easier for Him.)(30:27),
أَوَلاَ يَذْكُرُ إلإِنْسَنُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَاهُ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ يَكُ شَيْئاً
(Does not man remember that We created him before, while he was nothing)(19:67),
أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الإِنسَنُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَهُ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌ مٌّبِينٌ - وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلاً وَنَسِىَ خَلْقَهُ قَالَ مَن يُحىِ الْعِظَمَ وَهِىَ رَمِيمٌ - قُلْ يُحْيِيهَا الَّذِى أَنشَأَهَآ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلْقٍ عَلِيمٌ
(Does not man see that We have created him from Nutfah. Yet behold he (stands forth) as an open opponent. And he puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation. He says: " Who will give life to these bones after they are rotten and have become dust" Say: "He will give life to them Who created them for the first time! And He is the All-Knower of every creation.")(36:77-79), and,
أَيَحْسَبُ الإِنسَنُ أَن يُتْرَكَ سُدًى - أَلَمْ يَكُ نُطْفَةً مِّن مَّنِىٍّ يُمْنَى - ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّى - فَجَعَلَ مِنْهُ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالاٍّنثَى - أَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ بِقَدِرٍ عَلَى أَن يُحْيِىَ الْمَوْتَى
(Does man think that he will be left neglected Was he not a Nutfah of semen emitted Then he became an `Alaqah (a clot); then shaped and fashioned in due proportion. And made of him two sexes, male and female. Is not He able to give life to the dead)(75:36-40)
Page 536
56:51
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبُونَ ٥١
Then indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers,
56:52
لَأٓكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٖ مِّن زَقُّومٖ ٥٢
Will be eating from trees of zaqqūm
56:53
فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنۡهَا ٱلۡبُطُونَ ٥٣
And filling with it your bellies
56:54
فَشَٰرِبُونَ عَلَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلۡحَمِيمِ ٥٤
And drinking on top of it from scalding water
56:55
فَشَٰرِبُونَ شُرۡبَ ٱلۡهِيمِ ٥٥
And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.
56:56
هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلدِّينِ ٥٦
That is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense.
56:57
نَحۡنُ خَلَقۡنَٰكُمۡ فَلَوۡلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ ٥٧
We have created you, so why do you not believe?
56:58
أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تُمۡنُونَ ٥٨
Have you seen that which you emit?1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., semen, which contains the potential for human life. ↩
56:59
ءَأَنتُمۡ تَخۡلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقُونَ ٥٩
Is it you who creates it, or are We the Creator?
56:60
نَحۡنُ قَدَّرۡنَا بَيۡنَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَسۡبُوقِينَ ٦٠
We have decreed death among you, and We are not to be outdone
56:61
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
1 translator’s note
- An alternative meaning has also been given: "...in that We will replace the likes of you [with others upon the earth] and create you [in the Hereafter] in that which you do not know." ↩
56:62
وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُمُ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ فَلَوۡلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ٦٢
And you have already known the first creation, so will you not remember?
56:63
أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تَحۡرُثُونَ ٦٣
And have you seen that [seed] which you sow?
56:64
ءَأَنتُمۡ تَزۡرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ ٦٤
Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower?
56:65
لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلۡنَٰهُ حُطَٰمٗا فَظَلۡتُمۡ تَفَكَّهُونَ ٦٥
If We willed, We could make it [dry] debris, and you would remain in wonder,1
1 translator’s note
- At what had happened or remain in a state of shock. Another meaning is "in regret." ↩
56:66
إِنَّا لَمُغۡرَمُونَ ٦٦
[Saying], "Indeed, we are [now] in debt;
56:67
بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ ٦٧
Rather, we have been deprived."
56:68
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱلَّذِي تَشۡرَبُونَ ٦٨
And have you seen the water that you drink?
56:69
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?
56:70
لَوۡ نَشَآءُ جَعَلۡنَٰهُ أُجَاجٗا فَلَوۡلَا تَشۡكُرُونَ ٧٠
If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?
56:71
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِي تُورُونَ ٧١
And have you seen the fire that you ignite?
56:72
ءَأَنتُمۡ أَنشَأۡتُمۡ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡمُنشِـُٔونَ ٧٢
Is it you who produced its tree, or are We the producer?
56:73
نَحۡنُ جَعَلۡنَٰهَا تَذۡكِرَةٗ وَمَتَٰعٗا لِّلۡمُقۡوِينَ ٧٣
We have made it a reminder1 and provision for the travelers,2
56:74
فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٧٤
So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
56:75
۞ فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ ٧٥
Then I swear by the setting of the stars,1
1 translator’s note
- Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) confirms absolutely by oath. ↩
56:76
وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٞ لَّوۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ ٧٦
And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great.
Translation: Saheeh International · Text and layout: Quran Foundation · Mushaf fonts: King Fahd Complex, provided by Quran Foundation · Privacy