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سُورَةُ الوَاقِعَةِ

Surah 56 - Al-Waaqia

The Inevitable

  • 96 verses
  • Juz 27
  • Pages 534 to 537 of the Mushaf

Al-Waaqia opens on a day announced as certain: the ground is shaken, the mountains crumbled to scattered dust. Verse 7 then sets a division in three, and the next three verses name the groups: the people of the right, the people of the left, and the foremost, called the ones brought near. The text takes up each of them in turn, beginning with the last named, and describes what awaits it. Four questions follow, built on one same opening, about seed, crop, water and fire: who makes them? Then an oath on the places of the stars, and the Quran held in a guarded Book. The end returns to the three groups, at the moment breath reaches the throat.

The main parts

  1. The event, the shaken ground, the three groups1-10
  2. Those brought near, and what is kept for them11-26
  3. The people of the right, and what awaits them27-40
  4. The people of the left, and where they go41-56
  5. Four questions on what man does not make57-74
  6. The oath on the stars and the guarded Book75-82
  7. Breath at the throat, and the three groups again83-96

The text of the surah

  1. بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلْوَاقِعَةُ

    When the Occurrence occurs,

  2. لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ

    There is, at its occurrence, no denial.

  3. خَافِضَةٌۭ رَّافِعَةٌ

    It will bring down [some] and raise up [others].

  4. إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ رَجًّۭا

    When the earth is shaken with convulsion

  5. وَبُسَّتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ بَسًّۭا

    And the mountains are broken down, crumbling

  6. فَكَانَتْ هَبَآءًۭ مُّنۢبَثًّۭا

    And become dust dispersing.

  7. وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا ثَلَٰثَةًۭ

    And you become [of] three kinds:

  8. فَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

    Then the companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?

  9. وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

    And the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?

  10. وَٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ

    And the forerunners, the forerunners -

  11. أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبُونَ

    Those are the ones brought near [to Allah]

  12. فِى جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

    In the Gardens of Pleasure,

  13. ثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

    A [large] company of the former peoples

  14. وَقَلِيلٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ

    And a few of the later peoples,

  15. عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍۢ مَّوْضُونَةٍۢ

    On thrones woven [with ornament],

  16. مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَٰبِلِينَ

    Reclining on them, facing each other.

  17. يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَٰنٌۭ مُّخَلَّدُونَ

    There will circulate among them young boys made eternal

  18. بِأَكْوَابٍۢ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍۢ مِّن مَّعِينٍۢ

    With vessels, pitchers and a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring -

  19. لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ

    No headache will they have therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated -

  20. وَفَٰكِهَةٍۢ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ

    And fruit of what they select

  21. وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍۢ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ

    And the meat of fowl, from whatever they desire.

  22. وَحُورٌ عِينٌۭ

    And [for them are] fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes,

  23. كَأَمْثَٰلِ ٱللُّؤْلُؤِ ٱلْمَكْنُونِ

    The likenesses of pearls well-protected,

  24. جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

    As reward for what they used to do.

  25. لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًۭا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا

    They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin -

  26. إِلَّا قِيلًۭا سَلَٰمًۭا سَلَٰمًۭا

    Only a saying: "Peace, peace."

  27. وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ

    The companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?

  28. فِى سِدْرٍۢ مَّخْضُودٍۢ

    [They will be] among lote trees with thorns removed

  29. وَطَلْحٍۢ مَّنضُودٍۢ

    And [banana] trees layered [with fruit]

  30. وَظِلٍّۢ مَّمْدُودٍۢ

    And shade extended

  31. وَمَآءٍۢ مَّسْكُوبٍۢ

    And water poured out

  32. وَفَٰكِهَةٍۢ كَثِيرَةٍۢ

    And fruit, abundant [and varied],

  33. لَّا مَقْطُوعَةٍۢ وَلَا مَمْنُوعَةٍۢ

    Neither limited [to season] nor forbidden,

  34. وَفُرُشٍۢ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ

    And [upon] beds raised high.

  35. إِنَّآ أَنشَأْنَٰهُنَّ إِنشَآءًۭ

    Indeed, We have produced the women of Paradise in a [new] creation

  36. فَجَعَلْنَٰهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا

    And made them virgins,

  37. عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًۭا

    Devoted [to their husbands] and of equal age,

  38. لِّأَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ

    For the companions of the right [who are]

  39. ثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

    A company of the former peoples

  40. وَثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ

    And a company of the later peoples.

  41. وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ

    And the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?

  42. فِى سَمُومٍۢ وَحَمِيمٍۢ

    [They will be] in scorching fire and scalding water

  43. وَظِلٍّۢ مِّن يَحْمُومٍۢ

    And a shade of black smoke,

  44. لَّا بَارِدٍۢ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ

    Neither cool nor beneficial.

  45. إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتْرَفِينَ

    Indeed they were, before that, indulging in affluence,

  46. وَكَانُوا۟ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلْحِنثِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

    And they used to persist in the great violation,

  47. وَكَانُوا۟ يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًۭا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ

    And they used to say, "When we die and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?

  48. أَوَءَابَآؤُنَا ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ

    And our forefathers [as well]?"

  49. قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلْءَاخِرِينَ

    Say, [O Muhammad], "Indeed, the former and the later peoples

  50. لَمَجْمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَٰتِ يَوْمٍۢ مَّعْلُومٍۢ

    Are to be gathered together for the appointment of a known Day."

  51. ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبُونَ

    Then indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers,

  52. لَءَاكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍۢ مِّن زَقُّومٍۢ

    Will be eating from trees of zaqqum

  53. فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنْهَا ٱلْبُطُونَ

    And filling with it your bellies

  54. فَشَٰرِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَمِيمِ

    And drinking on top of it from scalding water

  55. فَشَٰرِبُونَ شُرْبَ ٱلْهِيمِ

    And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.

  56. هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ

    That is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense.

  57. نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَٰكُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ

    We have created you, so why do you not believe?

  58. أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تُمْنُونَ

    Have you seen that which you emit?

  59. ءَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْخَٰلِقُونَ

    Is it you who creates it, or are We the Creator?

  60. نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ

    We have decreed death among you, and We are not to be outdone

  61. عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَٰلَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِى مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

    In that We will change your likenesses and produce you in that [form] which you do not know.

  62. وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ ٱلنَّشْأَةَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ فَلَوْلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

    And you have already known the first creation, so will you not remember?

  63. أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ

    And have you seen that [seed] which you sow?

  64. ءَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ

    Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower?

  65. لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَٰهُ حُطَٰمًۭا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ

    If We willed, We could make it [dry] debris, and you would remain in wonder,

  66. إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ

    [Saying], "Indeed, we are [now] in debt;

  67. بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ

    Rather, we have been deprived."

  68. أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلْمَآءَ ٱلَّذِى تَشْرَبُونَ

    And have you seen the water that you drink?

  69. ءَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنزِلُونَ

    Is it you who brought it down from the clouds, or is it We who bring it down?

  70. لَوْ نَشَآءُ جَعَلْنَٰهُ أُجَاجًۭا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ

    If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?

  71. أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِى تُورُونَ

    And have you seen the fire that you ignite?

  72. ءَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنشِـُٔونَ

    Is it you who produced its tree, or are We the producer?

  73. نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَٰهَا تَذْكِرَةًۭ وَمَتَٰعًۭا لِّلْمُقْوِينَ

    We have made it a reminder and provision for the travelers,

  74. فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

    So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.

  75. ۞ فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ

    Then I swear by the setting of the stars,

  76. وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٌۭ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ

    And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great.

  77. إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرْءَانٌۭ كَرِيمٌۭ

    Indeed, it is a noble Qur'an

  78. فِى كِتَٰبٍۢ مَّكْنُونٍۢ

    In a Register well-protected;

  79. لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْمُطَهَّرُونَ

    None touch it except the purified.

  80. تَنزِيلٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

    [It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.

  81. أَفَبِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ

    Then is it to this statement that you are indifferent

  82. وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ

    And make [the thanks for] your provision that you deny [the Provider]?

  83. فَلَوْلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلْحُلْقُومَ

    Then why, when the soul at death reaches the throat

  84. وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍۢ تَنظُرُونَ

    And you are at that time looking on -

  85. وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ

    And Our angels are nearer to him than you, but you do not see -

  86. فَلَوْلَآ إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ

    Then why do you not, if you are not to be recompensed,

  87. تَرْجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ

    Bring it back, if you should be truthful?

  88. فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ

    And if the deceased was of those brought near to Allah,

  89. فَرَوْحٌۭ وَرَيْحَانٌۭ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍۢ

    Then [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure.

  90. وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ

    And if he was of the companions of the right,

  91. فَسَلَٰمٌۭ لَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ

    Then [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right."

  92. وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

    But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray,

  93. فَنُزُلٌۭ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍۢ

    Then [for him is] accommodation of scalding water

  94. وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ

    And burning in Hellfire

  95. إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلْيَقِينِ

    Indeed, this is the true certainty,

  96. فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

    So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.

Key verses of the surah

  • The verse announcing the division: three groups, which the next verses name one by one.

    وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا ثَلَٰثَةًۭ

    And you become [of] three kinds:

  • The opening of the passage on the Quran, set in a Book that nothing reaches.

    إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرْءَانٌۭ كَرِيمٌۭ

    Indeed, it is a noble Qur'an

  • The moment breath reaches the throat; the surah's last scene starts there.

    فَلَوْلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلْحُلْقُومَ

    Then why, when the soul at death reaches the throat

  • The last verse, identical to verse 74: the surah closes on what already closed its middle.

    فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

    So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.

What is surah Al-Waaqia about?

Of a day given as unavoidable, and of the sorting it performs among people. The text ranks, describes, then turns to the doubters: four questions on what they do not bring about themselves, an oath, and a scene on the edge of death.

What are the three groups in surah Al-Waaqia?

Verse 7 announces the division; verses 8, 9 and 10 point to one group each. The development then follows an order other than the naming: those brought near first, verses 11 to 26, then the right up to verse 40, then the left up to verse 56.

How is surah Al-Waaqia built?

In three moves. First the division, developed group by group. Then four questions opened by the same word, at verses 58, 63, 68 and 71. Finally the same groups return at the moment of dying, at verses 88, 90 and 92.

What does surah Al-Waaqia say about the Quran?

Verses 77 to 80 call it noble, set in a preserved Book that only purified beings reach, and come down from the Lord of all creation. Verse 81 then asks whether this is really the speech being pushed aside.

How does surah Al-Waaqia end?

With three cases, according to who is leaving: those brought near, then the right, then those who denied. A verse then states the certainty, and the very last repeats word for word the command already given at verse 74.

Why is surah Al-Waaqia called that?

“Al-Waaqia” means the event that falls due, what happens and is carried out. The word sits in the first verse and appears nowhere else in the surah. The next two verses add that no one will deny it, and that it brings some low and raises others.

How many verses does surah Al-Waaqia have?

Surah Al-Waaqia has 96 verses. It stands at number 56 in the order of the Mushaf, which holds 114.

The Arabic text is that of the Mushaf. The summary, the outline and the answers on this page describe the text and how it is built: they are not religious commentary.

Themes that quote this surah

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