In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. When the event befalleth -
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم إذا وقعت الواقعة
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. When the Event (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) befalls.
Chapter 56, 96 verses
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. When the event befalleth -
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم إذا وقعت الواقعة
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. When the Event (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) befalls.
There is no denying that it will befall -
ليس لوقعتها كاذبة
And there can be no denial of its befalling.
Abasing (some), exalting (others);
خافضة رافعة
Bringing low (some - those who will enter Hell) Exalting (others - those who will enter Paradise). [Tafsir Ibn Kathir]
When the earth is shaken with a shock
إذا رجت الأرض رجا
When the earth will be shaken with a terrible shake.
And the hills are ground to powder
وبست الجبال بسا
And the mountains will be powdered to dust,
So that they become a scattered dust,
فكانت هباء منبثا
So that they will become floating dust particles.
And ye will be three kinds:
وكنتم أزواجا ثلاثة
And you (all) will be in three groups.
(First) those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand ?
فأصحاب الميمنة ما أصحاب الميمنة
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).
And (then) those on the left hand; what of those on the left hand ?
وأصحاب المشأمة ما أصحاب المشأمة
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).
And the foremost in the race, the foremost in the race:
والسابقون السابقون
And those foremost [(in Islamic Faith of Monotheism and in performing righteous deeds) in the life of this world on the very first call for to embrace Islam] will be foremost (in Paradise).
Those are they who will be brought nigh
أولئك المقربون
These will be the nearest (to Allah).
In gardens of delight;
في جنات النعيم
In the Gardens of Delight (Paradise).
A multitude of those of old
ثلة من الأولين
A multitude of those (foremost) will be from the first generations (who embraced Islam).
And a few of those of later time.
وقليل من الآخرين
And a few of those (foremost) will be from the later generations.
On lined couches,
على سرر موضونة
(They will be) on thrones woven with gold and precious stones.
Reclining therein face to face.
متكئين عليها متقابلين
Reclining thereon, face to face.
There wait on them immortal youths
يطوف عليهم ولدان مخلدون
Immortal boys will go around them (serving),
With bowls and ewers and a cup from a pure spring
بأكواب وأباريق وكأس من معين
With cups, and jugs, and a glass of flowing wine,
Wherefrom they get no aching of the head nor any madness,
لا يصدعون عنها ولا ينزفون
Wherefrom they will get neither any aching of the head, nor any intoxication.
And fruit that they prefer
وفاكهة مما يتخيرون
And with fruit that they may choose.
And flesh of fowls that they desire.
ولحم طير مما يشتهون
And with the flesh of fowls that they desire.
And (there are) fair ones with wide, lovely eyes,
وحور عين
And (there will be) Hur (fair females) with wide, lovely eyes (as wives for "Al-Muttaqun" - the pious - See V. 2:2),
Like unto hidden pearls,
كأمثال اللؤلؤ المكنون
Like unto preserved pearls.
Reward for what they used to do.
جزاء بما كانوا يعملون
A reward for what they used to do.
There hear they no vain speaking nor recrimination
لا يسمعون فيها لغوا ولا تأثيما
No Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk) will they hear therein, nor any sinful speech (like backbiting).
(Naught) but the saying: Peace, (and again) Peace.
إلا قيلا سلاما سلاما
But only the saying of: Salam! Salam! (greetings with peace)!
And those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand ?
وأصحاب اليمين ما أصحاب اليمين
And those on the Right Hand - how (fortunate) will be those on the Right Hand?
Among thornless lote - trees
في سدر مخضود
(They will be) among thornless lote-trees,
And clustered plantains,
وطلح منضود
And among Talh (banana-trees) with fruits piled one above another,
And spreading shade,
وظل ممدود
And in shade long-extended,
And water gushing,
وماء مسكوب
And by water flowing constantly,
And fruit in plenty
وفاكهة كثيرة
And fruit in plenty,
Neither out of reach nor yet forbidden,
لا مقطوعة ولا ممنوعة
Whose supply is not cut off (by change of season), nor are they out of reach,
And raised couches;
وفرش مرفوعة
And on couches or thrones, raised high.
Lo! We have created them a (new) creation
إنا أنشأناهن إنشاء
Verily, We have created them (maidens) of special creation.
And made them virgins,
فجعلناهن أبكارا
And made them virgins.
Lovers, friends,
عربا أترابا
Loving (their husbands only), (and) of equal age.
For those on the right hand;
لأصحاب اليمين
For those on the Right Hand.
A multitude of those of old
ثلة من الأولين
A multitude of those (on the Right Hand) will be from the first generation (who embraced Islam).
And a multitude of those of later time.
وثلة من الآخرين
And a multitude of those (on the Right Hand) will be from the later generations.
And those on the left hand: What of those on the left hand ?
وأصحاب الشمال ما أصحاب الشمال
And those on the Left Hand - how (unfortunate) will be those on the Left Hand?
In scorching wind and scalding water
في سموم وحميم
In fierce hot wind and boiling water,
And shadow of black smoke,
وظل من يحموم
And shadow of black smoke,
Neither cool nor refreshing.
لا بارد ولا كريم
(That shadow) neither cool, nor (even) pleasant,
Lo! heretofore they were effete with luxury
إنهم كانوا قبل ذلك مترفين
Verily, before that, they indulged in luxury,
And used to persist in the awful sin.
وكانوا يصرون على الحنث العظيم
And were persisting in great sin (joining partners in worship along with Allah, committing murder and other crimes)
And they used to say: When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised again,
وكانوا يقولون أئذا متنا وكنا ترابا وعظاما أإنا لمبعوثون
And they used to say: "When we die and become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be resurrected?
And also our forefathers ?
أوآباؤنا الأولون
"And also our forefathers?"
Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Lo! those of old and those of later time
قل إن الأولين والآخرين
Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "(Yes) verily, those of old, and those of later times.
Will all be brought together to the tryst of an appointed day.
لمجموعون إلى ميقات يوم معلوم
"All will surely be gathered together for appointed Meeting of a known Day.
Then lo! ye, the erring, the deniers,
ثم إنكم أيها الضالون المكذبون
"Then moreover, verily you the erring-ones, the deniers (of Resurrection)!
Ye verily will eat of a tree called Zaqqum
لآكلون من شجر من زقوم
"You verily will eat of the trees of Zaqqum.
And will fill your bellies therewith;
فمالئون منها البطون
"Then you will fill your bellies therewith,
And thereon ye will drink of boiling water,
فشاربون عليه من الحميم
"And drink boiling water on top of it.
Drinking even as the camel drinketh.
فشاربون شرب الهيم
"And you will drink (that) like thirsty camels!"
This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgment.
هذا نزلهم يوم الدين
That will be their entertainment on the Day of Recompense!
We created you. Will ye then admit the truth ?
نحن خلقناكم فلولا تصدقون
We created you: then why do you believe not?
Have ye seen that which ye emit ?
أفرأيتم ما تمنون
Then tell Me (about) the (human) semen that you emit.
Do ye create it or are We the Creator ?
أأنتم تخلقونه أم نحن الخالقون
Is it you who create it (i.e. make this semen into a perfect human being), or are We the Creator?
We mete out death among you, and We are not to be outrun,
نحن قدرنا بينكم الموت وما نحن بمسبوقين
We have decreed death to you all, and We are not outstripped,
That We may transfigure you and make you what ye know not.
على أن نبدل أمثالكم وننشئكم في ما لا تعلمون
To transfigure you and create you in (forms) that you know not.
And verily ye know the first creation. Why, then, do ye not reflect ?
ولقد علمتم النشأة الأولى فلولا تذكرون
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)?
Have ye seen that which ye cultivate ?
أفرأيتم ما تحرثون
Then tell Me about the seed that you sow in the ground.
Is it ye who foster it, or are We the Fosterer ?
أأنتم تزرعونه أم نحن الزارعون
Is it you that make it grow, or are We the Grower?
If We willed, We verily could make it chaff, then would ye cease not to exclaim:
لو نشاء لجعلناه حطاما فظلتم تفكهون
Were it Our Will, We could crumble it to dry pieces, and you would be regretful (or left in wonderment) [Tafsir Ibn Kathir].
Lo! we are laden with debt!
إنا لمغرمون
(Saying): "We are indeed Mughramun (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-Qurtubi)
Nay, but we are deprived!
بل نحن محرومون
"Nay, but we are deprived!"
Have ye observed the water which ye drink ?
أفرأيتم الماء الذي تشربون
Then tell Me about the water that you drink.
Is it ye who shed it from the raincloud, or are We the Shedder ?
أأنتم أنزلتموه من المزن أم نحن المنزلون
Is it you who cause it from the rain-clouds to come down, or are We the Causer of it to come down?
If We willed We verily could make it bitter. Why then, give ye not thanks ?
لو نشاء جعلناه أجاجا فلولا تشكرون
If We willed, We verily could make it salt (and undrinkable): why then do you not give thanks (to Allah)?
Have ye observed the fire which ye strike out;
أفرأيتم النار التي تورون
Then tell Me about the fire which you kindle.
Was it ye who made the tree thereof to grow, or were We the grower ?
أأنتم أنشأتم شجرتها أم نحن المنشئون
Is it you who made the tree thereof to grow, or are We the Grower?
We, even We, appointed it a memorial and a comfort for the dwellers in the wilderness.
نحن جعلناها تذكرة ومتاعا للمقوين
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).
Therefor (O Muhammad), praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
فسبح باسم ربك العظيم
Then glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.
Nay, I swear by the places of the stars -
۞ فلا أقسم بمواقع النجوم
So I swear by the setting of the stars.
And lo! that verily is a tremendous oath, if ye but knew -
وإنه لقسم لو تعلمون عظيم
And verily that is indeed a great oath, if you but know.
That (this) is indeed a noble Qur'an
إنه لقرآن كريم
That (this) is indeed an honourable recitation (the Noble Qur'an).
In a Book kept hidden
في كتاب مكنون
In a Book well-guarded (with Allah in the heaven i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz ).
Which none toucheth save the purified,
لا يمسه إلا المطهرون
Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but the purified (i.e. the angels).
A revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.
تنزيل من رب العالمين
A Revelation (this Qur'an) from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).
Is it this Statement that ye scorn,
أفبهذا الحديث أنتم مدهنون
Is it such a talk (this Qur'an) that you (disbelievers) deny?
And make denial thereof your livelihood ?
وتجعلون رزقكم أنكم تكذبون
And instead (of thanking Allah) for the provision He gives you, you deny (Him by disbelief)!
Why, then, when (the soul) cometh up to the throat (of the dying)
فلولا إذا بلغت الحلقوم
Then why do you not (intervene) when (the soul of a dying person) reaches the throat?
And ye are at that moment looking
وأنتم حينئذ تنظرون
And you at the moment are looking on,
- And We are nearer unto him than ye are, but ye see not -
ونحن أقرب إليه منكم ولكن لا تبصرون
But We (i.e. Our angels who take the soul) are nearer to him than you, but you see not, (Tafsir At-Tabari)
Why then, if ye are not in bondage (unto Us),
فلولا إن كنتم غير مدينين
Then why do you not - if you are exempt from the reckoning and recompense (punishment) -
Do ye not force it back, if ye are truthful ?
ترجعونها إن كنتم صادقين
Bring back the soul (to its body), if you are truthful?
Thus if he is of those brought nigh,
فأما إن كان من المقربين
Then, if he (the dying person) be of the Muqarrabun (those brought near to Allah),
Then breath of life, and plenty, and a Garden of delight.
فروح وريحان وجنت نعيم
(There is for him) rest and provision, and a Garden of Delights (Paradise).
And if he is of those on the right hand,
وأما إن كان من أصحاب اليمين
And if he (the dying person) be of those on the Right Hand,
Then (the greeting) "Peace be unto thee" from those on the right hand.
فسلام لك من أصحاب اليمين
Then there is safety and peace (from the Punishment of Allah) for those on the right Hand.
But if he is of the rejecters, the erring,
وأما إن كان من المكذبين الضالين
But if he (the dying person) be of the denying (of the Resurrection), the erring (away from the Right Path of Islamic Monotheism),
Then the welcome will be boiling water
فنزل من حميم
Then for him is an entertainment with boiling water.
And roasting at hell - fire.
وتصلية جحيم
And burning in Hell-fire.
Lo! this is certain truth.
إن هذا لهو حق اليقين
Verily, this! This is an absolute Truth with certainty.
Therefor (O Muhammad) praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
فسبح باسم ربك العظيم
So glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.