Al-Mukhtasar · Tafsir · in English
الواقعة
Al-Waqi'ah
The Inevitable · Meccan · 96 ayahs
When the inevitable rising will occur.
There will be no soul that denies it like how it used to deny in the world.
It will bring the sinful disbelievers low by entering them into the Fire, and it will raise the mindful believers high by entering them into Paradise.
When the earth is shaken violently.
And the mountains are completely crushed.
Due to this crushing they will become scattered dust.
You will be in three categories on that day.
56:8Page 534
فَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ ٨
Then the companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?1
The people of the right hand, who will receive their books in their right hands. How high and great will be their rank!
56:9Page 534
وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ ٩
And the companions of the left - what are companions of the left?1
The people of the left hand, who will receive their books in their left hands. How despicable and wretched will be their ranks.
Those who were foremost in doing good deeds in the world they will be foremost in the afterlife to enter Paradise.
They are the ones who will be brought close to Allah.
In gardens of delight, they will enjoy different types of delight.
A group from this nation and from previous nation.
A few people at the end of time will be the foremost ones that are brought close.
On couches woven with gold.
Reclining on these couches facing one another and no one will look at the back of another.
56:17Page 535
يَطُوفُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وِلۡدَٰنٞ مُّخَلَّدُونَ ١٧
There will circulate among them young boys made eternal
Children who will never face old age or extinction will roam around them, to serve them.
56:18Page 535
بِأَكۡوَابٖ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأۡسٖ مِّن مَّعِينٖ ١٨
With vessels, pitchers and a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring -
They will roam around them holding handle-less jugs, jugs with handles, and glasses of unlimited wine that flows in Paradise.
56:19Page 535
لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنۡهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ ١٩
No headache will they have therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated -
It is not like the wine of the world; it’s drinkers will not get headaches nor suffer intoxication.
These children will also roam around them with fruits, from which they may choose.
They will also roam around with the meat of birds their hearts desire.
They will also have beautiful, wide-eyed women in Paradise.
Like pearls protected within their shells.
As a reward for the good actions they used to do in the world.
56:25Page 535
لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغۡوٗا وَلَا تَأۡثِيمًا ٢٥
They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin -
They will not hear any foul language in Paradise, nor any language that incurs sin.
They will only hear the angels greeting them, and the greetings of one another.
56:27Page 535
وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِ ٢٧
The companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
And the People of the Right: who are the People of the Right? Their rank and status with Allah is indeed, great!
They will be among harmless, thornless lote trees.
And bananas, neatly arranged in rows with one another.
And lengthened, continuous, unmoving shadows.
And flowing water which never stops.
And many fruits that cannot be counted.
They will never finish, because they are not seasonal, nor will there be anything that comes in between their desire for them at any time.
And raised spreads, spread on the couches.
56:35Page 535
إِنَّآ أَنشَأۡنَٰهُنَّ إِنشَآءٗ ٣٥
Indeed, We have produced them [i.e., the women of Paradise] in a [new] creation
Indeed, I created the aforementioned wide-eyed women in an extraordinary way.
I made them virgins, previously untouched.
They are very loving to their husbands, and equal to them in age.
I created them for the People of the Right: those who will be taken towards the right as a sign of their excellence.
They are a group from the nations of the previous Prophets.
And a group from the nation of Muhammad (peace be upon him), which is the last of all nations.
56:41Page 535
وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ ٤١
And the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?
As for the People of the Left: who are the People of the Left? Their state and outcome is indeed, very bad.
They will be among severely hot winds and extremely hot water.
And in the shadow of black smoke.
Neither will it be pleasant, nor will it be a good sight.
56:45Page 535
إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَبۡلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتۡرَفِينَ ٤٥
Indeed they were, before that, indulging in affluence,
Indeed, before they came to the punishment, they were enjoying the luxuries in the world, caring only for their desires.
56:46Page 535
وَكَانُواْ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلۡحِنثِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٤٦
And they used to persist in the great violation,1
They used to persist on disbelief in Allah and the worship of idols instead of Him.
56:47Page 535
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?
They also used to reject the resurrection, and they would say regarding it, mocking it and thinking it to be far-fetched: “What, when we die and become dust and decayed and decomposed bones, shall we be resurrected after that?”
“Will our ancient forefathers who died before us also be resurrected?”
56:49Page 535
قُلۡ إِنَّ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلۡأٓخِرِينَ ٤٩
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Indeed, the former and later peoples
O Messenger! Say to these deniers of the resurrection: “Indeed, the earlier generations of people and the later ones from them...
56:50Page 535
لَمَجۡمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَٰتِ يَوۡمٖ مَّعۡلُومٖ ٥٠
Are to be gathered together for the appointment of a known Day."
“...will soon be inevitably gathered on the Day of Judgement to be taken to account and requited.”
56:51Page 536
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبُونَ ٥١
Then indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers,
Then, O you rejectors of the resurrection and deviants from the straight path!
You shall, on the Day of Judgement, eat from the fruits of the tree of Al-Zaqqūm, which are the worst and most disgusting of fruits.
You will fill your hungry bellied with the fruits of that bitter tree.
Then you will drink extremely hot water on top of that.
You will drink so much of it, just like a camel suffering from a burning thirst drinks.
56:56Page 536
هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلدِّينِ ٥٦
That is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense.
The aforementioned bitter fruit and extremely hot water is your hospitality you will be received with on the Day of Requital.
56:57Page 536
نَحۡنُ خَلَقۡنَٰكُمۡ فَلَوۡلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ ٥٧
We have created you, so why do you not believe?
O rejectors! I created you from non-existence, so why do you not believe I will resurrect you after you have died?
O people! Do you not see the semen you ejaculate into the wombs of your wives?
56:59Page 536
ءَأَنتُمۡ تَخۡلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقُونَ ٥٩
Is it you who creates it, or are We the Creator?
Is it you that creates that semen, or am I the one who creates it?
56:60Page 536
نَحۡنُ قَدَّرۡنَا بَيۡنَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَسۡبُوقِينَ ٦٠
We have decreed death among you, and We are not to be outdone
I determine death between you; each one of you has a fixed amount of time which he neither goes beyond nor falls short of. I am not incapable...
56:61Page 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
of changing the form and appearance that you currently hold, and recreating you into a form and appearance that you do not know of.
56:62Page 536
وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُمُ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ فَلَوۡلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ٦٢
And you have already known the first creation, so will you not remember?
Verily, you know how I created you initially, so do you not take heed and realise that the being who created you in the first place, is capable of resurrecting you after you die?
Do you see the seeds you plant in the earth?
56:64Page 536
ءَأَنتُمۡ تَزۡرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ ٦٤
Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower?
Are you the ones who make that seed grow, or am I the one that makes it grow?
56:65Page 536
لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلۡنَٰهُ حُطَٰمٗا فَظَلۡتُمۡ تَفَكَّهُونَ ٦٥
If We willed, We could make it [dry] debris, and you would remain in wonder,1
If I wish to ruin that crop, I can do so after bringing it close to ripening and harvest. You would then be left shocked at what affected it.
You would say, “Indeed, we lost everything we spent, and we have been punished.”
“Rather, we have been deprived of sustenance.”
56:68Page 536
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱلَّذِي تَشۡرَبُونَ ٦٨
And have you seen the water that you drink?
Do you see the water you drink when you are thirsty?
56:69Page 536
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?
Are you the ones who cause it to fall from the clouds in the sky, or am I the one who sends it down?
56:70Page 536
لَوۡ نَشَآءُ جَعَلۡنَٰهُ أُجَاجٗا فَلَوۡلَا تَشۡكُرُونَ ٧٠
If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?
If I wanted to make that water extremely bitter, such that it would be of no use for drinking nor for irrigation, I would have done so. Will you then not be grateful to Me for sending it down as palatable and a mercy for you?
Do you see the fire that you ignite for your interests?
56:72Page 536
ءَأَنتُمۡ أَنشَأۡتُمۡ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡمُنشِـُٔونَ ٧٢
Is it you who produced its tree, or are We the producer?
Are you the ones who make the trees you ignite it with, grow, or am I the one who causes it to grow, being kind to you?
56:73Page 536
نَحۡنُ جَعَلۡنَٰهَا تَذۡكِرَةٗ وَمَتَٰعٗا لِّلۡمُقۡوِينَ ٧٣
We have made it a reminder1 and provision for the travelers,2
I am the one who made this fire for you as a reminder to you of the fire of the Afterlife, and I made it a means of benefit for the travellers among you.
O Messenger! So glorify your great Lord, of everything that in unbefitting of Him.
Allah takes an oath on the positions of the stars and their orbits.
56:76Page 536
وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٞ لَّوۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ ٧٦
And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great.
And indeed, taking an oath of these orbits is a great thing - if only you were to understand its greatness-, because there are uncountable signs and lessons in it.
O people! Indeed, the Qur’ān that is recited to you is a noble Qur’ān, because of the great benefits that it contains.
It is in a record preserved from the eyes of people, i.e. the Preserved Tablet.
56:79Page 537
لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلۡمُطَهَّرُونَ ٧٩
None touch it except the purified [i.e., the angels].
Only the angels, pure of sin and defects can touch it.
It is a revelation from the Lord of the creations, on His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
56:81Page 537
أَفَبِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدۡهِنُونَ ٨١
Then is it to this statement that you are indifferent
O idolaters! Do you then reject this speech, and not believe in it?
56:82Page 537
وَتَجۡعَلُونَ رِزۡقَكُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ تُكَذِّبُونَ ٨٢
And make [the thanks for] your provision that you deny [the Provider]?
And do you show your gratitude to Allah for the blessings He has provided you with, by rejecting Him and attributing the rain to the setting of stars, by saying, “It rained upon us due to the setting of so and so star”.
56:83Page 537
فَلَوۡلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلۡحُلۡقُومَ ٨٣
Then why, when it [i.e., the soul at death] reaches the throat
Why not, when the soul reaches the throat...
and at that time, you see the dying person in front of you...
56:85Page 537
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 -
whilst My angels are closer to the dying person than you are, but you do not see them...
56:86Page 537
فَلَوۡلَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ غَيۡرَ مَدِينِينَ ٨٦
Then why do you not, if you are not to be recompensed,
Why then, if you are not going to be resurrected - as you claim - for requital...
return this soul that is leaving your dead, if you are truthful? You cannot do it.
56:88Page 537
فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبِينَ ٨٨
And if he [i.e., the deceased] was of those brought near [to Allāh],
As for if the dying person is one of those who hasten towards good...
56:89Page 537
فَرَوۡحٞ وَرَيۡحَانٞ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٖ ٨٩
Then [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure.
he will be in such comfort after which there will be no tiring, good sustenance and mercy. He will have a Paradise in which he will live in luxury, enjoying whatever his soul desires.
56:90–91Page 537
وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ ٩٠
And if he was of the companions of the right,
فَسَلَٰمٞ لَّكَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ ٩١
Then [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right."
And if the dying person is from the People of the Right, do not worry about their condition, because they will be in peace and security.
56:92Page 537
وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ٩٢
But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray,
And if the dying person is from the rejectors of what the Messenger (peace be upon him) brought: the deviators from the straight path...
then he will have some hospitality presented to him, which will be extremely hot water.
And he will have to burn in the fire of hell.
O Messenger! Indeed, the stories I have narrated to you are convincingly true, in which there is no doubt.
So glorify the great name of your Lord, and proclaim His purity from all defects.
Text: Quranic Universal Library (Tarteel), via spa5k/tafsir_api (MIT), at a fixed version. The ayahs: Quran Foundation. Sources and licences