Tazkirul Quran · Tafsir · in English
Al-Waqi'ah 56:75–96
The word ‘mawaqi’ is the plural of ‘mauqa’a’. Its meaning is the place of falling. Here, the mawaqi of stars probably means the orbits of stars. In this universe, there are countless big stars. They are revolving in their respective orbits with extreme precision.
56:76–82Page 536
وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٞ لَّوۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ ٧٦
And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great.
إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرۡءَانٞ كَرِيمٞ ٧٧
Indeed, it is a noble Qur’ān.
فِي كِتَٰبٖ مَّكۡنُونٖ ٧٨
In a Register well-protected;1.
لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلۡمُطَهَّرُونَ ٧٩
None touch it except the purified [i.e., the angels].
تَنزِيلٞ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٨٠
[It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.
أَفَبِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدۡهِنُونَ ٨١
Then is it to this statement that you are indifferent
وَتَجۡعَلُونَ رِزۡقَكُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ تُكَذِّبُونَ ٨٢
And make [the thanks for] your provision that you deny [the Provider]?
This is a happening so great as to be owesome. A person who gives serious consideration to this system functioning in space, will be compelled to admit that the Creator of this universe is unimaginably Mighty. Then the Book coming from such a Creator should also be certainly great, and the Qur’an is undoubtedly such a great Book. The Quran reached the Prophet through the angels in exactly the same condition as it was in the preserved tablet (lawh mahfudh) and it is still intact in that same condition today. There is no other book of ancient times which has been so perfectly preserved. This in itself is proof of the Book’s (the Quran’s) greatness. The misfortune of one who does not obtain guidance from such a book is incalculable.
56:83–96Page 537
فَلَوۡلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلۡحُلۡقُومَ ٨٣
Then why, when it [i.e., the soul at death] reaches the throat
وَأَنتُمۡ حِينَئِذٖ تَنظُرُونَ ٨٤
And you are at that time looking on -
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 -
فَلَوۡلَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ غَيۡرَ مَدِينِينَ ٨٦
Then why do you not, if you are not to be recompensed,
تَرۡجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ ٨٧
Bring it back,1 if you should be truthful?
فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبِينَ ٨٨
And if he [i.e., the deceased] was of those brought near [to Allāh],
فَرَوۡحٞ وَرَيۡحَانٞ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٖ ٨٩
Then [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure.
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."
وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ٩٢
But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray,
فَنُزُلٞ مِّنۡ حَمِيمٖ ٩٣
Then [for him is] accommodation of scalding water
وَتَصۡلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ ٩٤
And burning in Hellfire.
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلۡيَقِينِ ٩٥
Indeed, this is the true certainty,
فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٩٦
So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
The event of death is the last proof of the fact that man is completely helpless before the Divine powers. Every man will essentially die at a fixed time and nobody can save him from the angel of death. In view of this, man should be more concerned about his condition after death. Those who performed deeds deserving of paradise in their life before death, will be ushered into paradise in the life after death. However, those who shunned God in this world will be denied God’s grace in the Hereafter. They will be greeted with scalding water and the fire will be their abode.
Text: through the Quran Foundation. The ayahs: Quran Foundation. Sources and licences