Al-Waqi’ah

إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلۡوَاقِعَةُ

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

لَيۡسَ لِوَقۡعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ

And there can be no denial of its befalling.

خَافِضَةٌۭ رَّافِعَةٌ

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

إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ رَجًّۭا

When the earth will be shaken with a terrible shake.

وَبُسَّتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ بَسًّۭا

And the mountains will be powdered to dust,

فَكَانَتۡ هَبَآءًۭ مُّنۢبَثًّۭا

So that they will become floating dust particles.

وَكُنتُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجًۭا ثَلَـٰثَةًۭ

And you (all) will be in three groups.

فَأَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَـٰبُ 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).

وَأَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَـٰبُ 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).

وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ

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).

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبُونَ

These will be the nearest (to Allâh).

فِى جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

In the Gardens of Delight (Paradise).

ثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ

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

وَقَلِيلٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلۡـَٔاخِرِينَ

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

عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍۢ مَّوۡضُونَةٍۢ

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

مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَيۡهَا مُتَقَـٰبِلِينَ

Reclining thereon, face to face.

يَطُوفُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وِلۡدَٰنٌۭ مُّخَلَّدُونَ

Immortal boys will go around them (serving),

بِأَكۡوَابٍۢ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأۡسٍۢ مِّن مَّعِينٍۢ

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

لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنۡهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ

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

وَفَـٰكِهَةٍۢ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ

And with fruit that they may choose.

وَلَحۡمِ طَيۡرٍۢ مِّمَّا يَشۡتَهُونَ

And with the flesh of fowls that they desire.

وَحُورٌ عِينٌۭ

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

كَأَمۡثَـٰلِ ٱللُّؤۡلُؤِ ٱلۡمَكۡنُونِ

Like unto preserved pearls.

جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعۡمَلُونَ

A reward for what they used to do.

لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغۡوًۭا وَلَا تَأۡثِيمًا

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

إِلَّا قِيلًۭا سَلَـٰمًۭا سَلَـٰمًۭا

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

وَأَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِ مَآ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِ

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

فِى سِدۡرٍۢ مَّخۡضُودٍۢ

(They will be) among thornless lote-trees,

وَطَلۡحٍۢ مَّنضُودٍۢ

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

وَظِلٍّۢ مَّمۡدُودٍۢ

And in shade long-extended,

وَمَآءٍۢ مَّسۡكُوبٍۢ

And by water flowing constantly,

وَفَـٰكِهَةٍۢ كَثِيرَةٍۢ

And fruit in plenty,

لَّا مَقۡطُوعَةٍۢ وَلَا مَمۡنُوعَةٍۢ

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

وَفُرُشٍۢ مَّرۡفُوعَةٍ

And on couches or thrones, raised high.

إِنَّآ أَنشَأۡنَـٰهُنَّ إِنشَآءًۭ

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

فَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُنَّ أَبۡكَارًا

And made them virgins.

عُرُبًا أَتۡرَابًۭا

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

لِّأَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ

For those on the Right Hand.

ثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ

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

وَثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلۡـَٔاخِرِينَ

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

وَأَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ

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

فِى سَمُومٍۢ وَحَمِيمٍۢ

In fierce hot wind and boiling water,

وَظِلٍّۢ مِّن يَحۡمُومٍۢ

And shadow of black smoke,

لَّا بَارِدٍۢ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ

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

إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُوا۟ قَبۡلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتۡرَفِينَ

Verily, before that, they indulged in luxury,

وَكَانُوا۟ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلۡحِنثِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ

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

وَكَانُوا۟ يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتۡنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًۭا وَعِظَـٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوثُونَ

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

أَوَءَابَآؤُنَا ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ

"And also our forefathers?"

قُلۡ إِنَّ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلۡـَٔاخِرِينَ

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

لَمَجۡمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَـٰتِ يَوۡمٍۢ مَّعۡلُومٍۢ

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

ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبُونَ

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

لَـَٔاكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍۢ مِّن زَقُّومٍۢ

"You verily will eat of the trees of Zaqqûm.

فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنۡهَا ٱلۡبُطُونَ

"Then you will fill your bellies therewith,

فَشَـٰرِبُونَ عَلَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلۡحَمِيمِ

"And drink boiling water on top of it.

فَشَـٰرِبُونَ شُرۡبَ ٱلۡهِيمِ

"And you will drink (that) like thirsty camels!"

هَـٰذَا نُزُلُهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلدِّينِ

That will be their entertainment on the Day of Recompense!

نَحۡنُ خَلَقۡنَـٰكُمۡ فَلَوۡلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ

We created you: then why do you believe not?

أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تُمۡنُونَ

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

ءَأَنتُمۡ تَخۡلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقُونَ

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

نَحۡنُ قَدَّرۡنَا بَيۡنَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَسۡبُوقِينَ

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

عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمۡثَـٰلَكُمۡ وَنُنشِئَكُمۡ فِى مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ

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

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)?

أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تَحۡرُثُونَ

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

ءَأَنتُمۡ تَزۡرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ

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

لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُ حُطَـٰمًۭا 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].

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)

بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ

"Nay, but we are deprived!"

أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱلَّذِى تَشۡرَبُونَ

Then tell Me about the water that you drink.

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?

لَوۡ نَشَآءُ جَعَلۡنَـٰهُ أُجَاجًۭا فَلَوۡلَا تَشۡكُرُونَ

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

أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِى تُورُونَ

Then tell Me about the fire which you kindle.

ءَأَنتُمۡ أَنشَأۡتُمۡ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡمُنشِـُٔونَ

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

نَحۡنُ جَعَلۡنَـٰهَا تَذۡكِرَةًۭ وَمَتَـٰعًۭا 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).

فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ

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

۞ فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ

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

وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٌۭ لَّوۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ

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

إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرۡءَانٌۭ كَرِيمٌۭ

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

فِى كِتَـٰبٍۢ مَّكۡنُونٍۢ

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

لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلۡمُطَهَّرُونَ

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

تَنزِيلٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ

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

أَفَبِهَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدۡهِنُونَ

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

وَتَجۡعَلُونَ رِزۡقَكُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ تُكَذِّبُونَ

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

فَلَوۡلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلۡحُلۡقُومَ

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

وَأَنتُمۡ حِينَئِذٍۢ تَنظُرُونَ

And you at the moment are looking on,

وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنكُمۡ وَلَـٰكِن 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)

فَلَوۡلَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ غَيۡرَ مَدِينِينَ

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

تَرۡجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ

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

فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبِينَ

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

فَرَوۡحٌۭ وَرَيۡحَانٌۭ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍۢ

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

وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ

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

فَسَلَـٰمٌۭ لَّكَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَـٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ

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

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),

فَنُزُلٌۭ مِّنۡ حَمِيمٍۢ

Then for him is an entertainment with boiling water.

وَتَصۡلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ

And burning in Hell-fire.

إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلۡيَقِينِ

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

فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ

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