Chapter 56, 96 verses
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. When the event befalleth -
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 -
And there can be no denial of its befalling.
Abasing (some), exalting (others);
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
When the earth will be shaken with a terrible shake.
And the hills are ground to powder
And the mountains will be powdered to dust,
So that they become a scattered dust,
So that they will become floating dust particles.
And ye will be three kinds:
And you (all) will be in three groups.
(First) those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand ?
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 ?
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:
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
These will be the nearest (to Allah).
In gardens of delight;
In the Gardens of Delight (Paradise).
A multitude of those of old
A multitude of those (foremost) will be from the first generations (who embraced Islam).
And a few of those of later time.
And a few of those (foremost) will be from the later generations.
On lined couches,
(They will be) on thrones woven with gold and precious stones.
Reclining therein face to face.
Reclining thereon, face to face.
There wait on them immortal youths
Immortal boys will go around them (serving),
With bowls and ewers and a cup from a pure spring
With cups, and jugs, and a glass of flowing wine,
Wherefrom they get no aching of the head nor any madness,
Wherefrom they will get neither any aching of the head, nor any intoxication.
And fruit that they prefer
And with fruit that they may choose.
And flesh of fowls that they desire.
And with the flesh of fowls that they desire.
And (there are) fair ones with wide, lovely eyes,
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,
Like unto preserved pearls.
Reward for what they used to do.
A reward for what they used to do.
There hear they no vain speaking nor recrimination
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.
But only the saying of: Salam! Salam! (greetings with peace)!
And those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand ?
And those on the Right Hand - how (fortunate) will be those on the Right Hand?
Among thornless lote - trees
(They will be) among thornless lote-trees,
And clustered plantains,
And among Talh (banana-trees) with fruits piled one above another,
And spreading shade,
And in shade long-extended,
And water gushing,
And by water flowing constantly,
And fruit in plenty
And fruit in plenty,
Neither out of reach nor yet forbidden,
Whose supply is not cut off (by change of season), nor are they out of reach,
And raised couches;
And on couches or thrones, raised high.
Lo! We have created them a (new) creation
Verily, We have created them (maidens) of special creation.
And made them virgins,
And made them virgins.
Lovers, friends,
Loving (their husbands only), (and) of equal age.
For those on the right hand;
For those on the Right Hand.
A multitude of those of old
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.
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 ?
And those on the Left Hand - how (unfortunate) will be those on the Left Hand?
In scorching wind and scalding water
In fierce hot wind and boiling water,
And shadow of black smoke,
And shadow of black smoke,
Neither cool nor refreshing.
(That shadow) neither cool, nor (even) pleasant,
Lo! heretofore they were effete with luxury
Verily, before that, they indulged in luxury,
And used to persist in the awful sin.
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,
And they used to say: "When we die and become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be resurrected?
And also our forefathers ?
"And also our forefathers?"
Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Lo! those of old and those of later time
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.
"All will surely be gathered together for appointed Meeting of a known Day.
Then lo! ye, the erring, the deniers,
"Then moreover, verily you the erring-ones, the deniers (of Resurrection)!
Ye verily will eat of a tree called Zaqqum
"You verily will eat of the trees of Zaqqum.
And will fill your bellies therewith;
"Then you will fill your bellies therewith,
And thereon ye will drink of boiling water,
"And drink boiling water on top of it.
Drinking even as the camel drinketh.
"And you will drink (that) like thirsty camels!"
This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgment.
That will be their entertainment on the Day of Recompense!
We created you. Will ye then admit the truth ?
We created you: then why do you believe not?
Have ye seen that which ye emit ?
Then tell Me (about) the (human) semen that you emit.
Do ye create it or are We the Creator ?
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,
We have decreed death to you all, and We are not outstripped,
That We may transfigure you and make you what ye know not.
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 ?
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 ?
Then tell Me about the seed that you sow in the ground.
Is it ye who foster it, or are We the Fosterer ?
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:
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!
(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!
"Nay, but we are deprived!"
Have ye observed the water which ye drink ?
Then tell Me about the water that you drink.
Is it ye who shed it from the raincloud, or are We the Shedder ?
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 ?
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;
Then tell Me about the fire which you kindle.
Was it ye who made the tree thereof to grow, or were We the grower ?
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.
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.
Then glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.
Nay, I swear by the places of the stars -
So I swear by the setting of the stars.
And lo! that verily is a tremendous oath, if ye but knew -
And verily that is indeed a great oath, if you but know.
That (this) is indeed a noble Qur'an
That (this) is indeed an honourable recitation (the Noble Qur'an).
In a Book kept hidden
In a Book well-guarded (with Allah in the heaven i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz ).
Which none toucheth save the purified,
Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but the purified (i.e. the angels).
A revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.
A Revelation (this Qur'an) from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).
Is it this Statement that ye scorn,
Is it such a talk (this Qur'an) that you (disbelievers) deny?
And make denial thereof your livelihood ?
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)
Then why do you not (intervene) when (the soul of a dying person) reaches the throat?
And ye are at that moment looking
And you at the moment are looking on,
- And We are nearer unto him than ye are, but ye see not -
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),
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 ?
Bring back the soul (to its body), if you are truthful?
Thus if he is of those brought nigh,
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.
(There is for him) rest and provision, and a Garden of Delights (Paradise).
And if he is of those on the right hand,
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.
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,
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
Then for him is an entertainment with boiling water.
And roasting at hell - fire.
And burning in Hell-fire.
Lo! this is certain truth.
Verily, this! This is an absolute Truth with certainty.
Therefor (O Muhammad) praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
So glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.