Chapter 56, 96 verses
When the great event comes to pass,
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. When the Event (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) befalls.
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. When the event befalleth -
There is no belying its coming to pass - -
And there can be no denial of its befalling.
There is no denying that it will befall -
Abasing (one party), exalting (the other),
Bringing low (some - those who will enter Hell) Exalting (others - those who will enter Paradise). [Tafsir Ibn Kathir]
Abasing (some), exalting (others);
When the earth shall be shaken with a (severe) shaking,
When the earth will be shaken with a terrible shake.
When the earth is shaken with a shock
And the mountains shall be made to crumble with (an awful) crumbling,
And the mountains will be powdered to dust,
And the hills are ground to powder
So that they shall be as scattered dust.
So that they will become floating dust particles.
So that they become a scattered dust,
And you shall be three sorts.
And you (all) will be in three groups.
And ye will be three kinds:
Then (as to) the companions of the right hand; how happy are the companions of 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).
(First) those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand ?
And (as to) the companions of the left hand; how wretched are the companions of 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 (then) those on the left hand; what of those on the left hand ?
And the foremost are the foremost,
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).
And the foremost in the race, the foremost in the race:
These are they who are drawn nigh (to Allah),
These will be the nearest (to Allah).
Those are they who will be brought nigh
In the gardens of bliss.
In the Gardens of Delight (Paradise).
In gardens of delight;
A numerous company from among the first,
A multitude of those (foremost) will be from the first generations (who embraced Islam).
A multitude of those of old
And a few from among the latter.
And a few of those (foremost) will be from the later generations.
And a few of those of later time.
On thrones decorated,
(They will be) on thrones woven with gold and precious stones.
On lined couches,
Reclining on them, facing one another.
Reclining thereon, face to face.
Reclining therein face to face.
Round about them shall go youths never altering in age,
Immortal boys will go around them (serving),
There wait on them immortal youths
With goblets and ewers and a cup of pure drink;
With cups, and jugs, and a glass of flowing wine,
With bowls and ewers and a cup from a pure spring
They shall not be affected with headache thereby, nor shall they get exhausted,
Wherefrom they will get neither any aching of the head, nor any intoxication.
Wherefrom they get no aching of the head nor any madness,
And fruits such as they choose,
And with fruit that they may choose.
And fruit that they prefer
And the flesh of fowl such as they desire.
And with the flesh of fowls that they desire.
And flesh of fowls that they desire.
And pure, beautiful ones,
And (there will be) Hur (fair females) with wide, lovely eyes (as wives for "Al-Muttaqun" - the pious - See V. 2:2),
And (there are) fair ones with wide, lovely eyes,
The like of the hidden pearls:
Like unto preserved pearls.
Like unto hidden pearls,
A reward for what they used to do.
A reward for what they used to do.
Reward for what they used to do.
They shall not hear therein vain or sinful discourse,
No Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk) will they hear therein, nor any sinful speech (like backbiting).
There hear they no vain speaking nor recrimination
Except the word peace, peace.
But only the saying of: Salam! Salam! (greetings with peace)!
(Naught) but the saying: Peace, (and again) Peace.
And the companions of the right hand; how happy are the companions of the right hand!
And those on the Right Hand - how (fortunate) will be those on the Right Hand?
And those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand ?
Amid thornless lote - trees,
(They will be) among thornless lote-trees,
Among thornless lote - trees
And banana - trees (with fruits), one above another.
And among Talh (banana-trees) with fruits piled one above another,
And clustered plantains,
And extended shade,
And in shade long-extended,
And spreading shade,
And water flowing constantly,
And by water flowing constantly,
And water gushing,
And abundant fruit,
And fruit in plenty,
And fruit in plenty
Neither intercepted nor forbidden,
Whose supply is not cut off (by change of season), nor are they out of reach,
Neither out of reach nor yet forbidden,
And exalted thrones.
And on couches or thrones, raised high.
And raised couches;
Surely We have made them to grow into a (new) growth,
Verily, We have created them (maidens) of special creation.
Lo! We have created them a (new) creation
Then We have made them virgins,
And made them virgins.
And made them virgins,
Loving, equals in age,
Loving (their husbands only), (and) of equal age.
Lovers, friends,
For the sake of the companions of the right hand.
For those on the Right Hand.
For those on the right hand;
A numerous company from among the first,
A multitude of those (on the Right Hand) will be from the first generation (who embraced Islam).
A multitude of those of old
And a numerous company from among the last.
And a multitude of those (on the Right Hand) will be from the later generations.
And a multitude of those of later time.
And those of the left hand, how wretched are those of the left hand!
And those on the Left Hand - how (unfortunate) will be those on the Left Hand?
And those on the left hand: What of those on the left hand ?
In hot wind and boiling water,
In fierce hot wind and boiling water,
In scorching wind and scalding water
And the shade of black smoke,
And shadow of black smoke,
And shadow of black smoke,
Neither cool nor honorable.
(That shadow) neither cool, nor (even) pleasant,
Neither cool nor refreshing.
Surely they were before that made to live in ease and plenty.
Verily, before that, they indulged in luxury,
Lo! heretofore they were effete with luxury
And they persisted in the great violation.
And were persisting in great sin (joining partners in worship along with Allah, committing murder and other crimes)
And used to persist in the awful sin.
And they used to say: What! when we die and have become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be raised?
And they used to say: "When we die and become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be resurrected?
And they used to say: When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised again,
Or our fathers of yore?
"And also our forefathers?"
And also our forefathers ?
Say: The first and the last,
Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "(Yes) verily, those of old, and those of later times.
Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Lo! those of old and those of later time
Shall most surely be gathered together for the appointed hour of a known day.
"All will surely be gathered together for appointed Meeting of a known Day.
Will all be brought together to the tryst of an appointed day.
Then shall you, O you who err and call it a lie!
"Then moreover, verily you the erring-ones, the deniers (of Resurrection)!
Then lo! ye, the erring, the deniers,
Most surely eat of a tree of Zaqqoom,
"You verily will eat of the trees of Zaqqum.
Ye verily will eat of a tree called Zaqqum
And fill (your) bellies with it;
"Then you will fill your bellies therewith,
And will fill your bellies therewith;
Then drink over it of boiling water;
"And drink boiling water on top of it.
And thereon ye will drink of boiling water,
And drink as drinks the thirsty camel.
"And you will drink (that) like thirsty camels!"
Drinking even as the camel drinketh.
This is their entertainment on the day of requital.
That will be their entertainment on the Day of Recompense!
This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgment.
We have created you, why do you not then assent?
We created you: then why do you believe not?
We created you. Will ye then admit the truth ?
Have you considered the seed?
Then tell Me (about) the (human) semen that you emit.
Have ye seen that which ye emit ?
Is it you that create it or are We the creators?
Is it you who create it (i.e. make this semen into a perfect human being), or are We the Creator?
Do ye create it or are We the Creator ?
We have ordained death among you and We are not to be overcome,
We have decreed death to you all, and We are not outstripped,
We mete out death among you, and We are not to be outrun,
In order that We may bring in your place the likes of you and make you grow into what you know not.
To transfigure you and create you in (forms) that you know not.
That We may transfigure you and make you what ye know not.
And certainly you know the first growth, why do you not then mind?
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)?
And verily ye know the first creation. Why, then, do ye not reflect ?
Have you considered what you sow?
Then tell Me about the seed that you sow in the ground.
Have ye seen that which ye cultivate ?
Is it you that cause it to grow, or are We the causers of growth?
Is it you that make it grow, or are We the Grower?
Is it ye who foster it, or are We the Fosterer ?
If We pleased, We should have certainly made it broken down into pieces, then would you begin to lament:
Were it Our Will, We could crumble it to dry pieces, and you would be regretful (or left in wonderment) [Tafsir Ibn Kathir].
If We willed, We verily could make it chaff, then would ye cease not to exclaim:
Surely we are burdened 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)
Lo! we are laden with debt!
Nay! we are deprived.
"Nay, but we are deprived!"
Nay, but we are deprived!
Have you considered the water which you drink?
Then tell Me about the water that you drink.
Have ye observed the water which ye drink ?
Is it you that send it down from the clouds, or are We the senders?
Is it you who cause it from the rain-clouds to come down, or are We the Causer of it to come down?
Is it ye who shed it from the raincloud, or are We the Shedder ?
If We pleased, We would have made it salty; why do you not then give thanks?
If We willed, We verily could make it salt (and undrinkable): why then do you not give thanks (to Allah)?
If We willed We verily could make it bitter. Why then, give ye not thanks ?
Have you considered the fire which you strike?
Then tell Me about the fire which you kindle.
Have ye observed the fire which ye strike out;
Is it you that produce the trees for it, or are We the producers?
Is it you who made the tree thereof to grow, or are We the Grower?
Was it ye who made the tree thereof to grow, or were We the grower ?
We have made it a reminder and an advantage for the wayfarers of the desert.
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).
We, even We, appointed it a memorial and a comfort for the dwellers in the wilderness.
Therefore glorify the name of your Lord, the Great.
Then glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.
Therefor (O Muhammad), praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
But nay! I swear by the falling of stars;
So I swear by the setting of the stars.
Nay, I swear by the places of the stars -
And most surely it is a very great oath if you only knew;
And verily that is indeed a great oath, if you but know.
And lo! that verily is a tremendous oath, if ye but knew -
Most surely it is an honored Quran,
That (this) is indeed an honourable recitation (the Noble Qur'an).
That (this) is indeed a noble Qur'an
In a book that is protected
In a Book well-guarded (with Allah in the heaven i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz ).
In a Book kept hidden
None shall touch it save the purified ones.
Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but the purified (i.e. the angels).
Which none toucheth save the purified,
A revelation by the Lord of the worlds.
A Revelation (this Qur'an) from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).
A revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.
Do you then hold this announcement in contempt?
Is it such a talk (this Qur'an) that you (disbelievers) deny?
Is it this Statement that ye scorn,
And to give (it) the lie you make your means of subsistence.
And instead (of thanking Allah) for the provision He gives you, you deny (Him by disbelief)!
And make denial thereof your livelihood ?
Why is it not then that when it (soul) comes up to the throat,
Then why do you not (intervene) when (the soul of a dying person) reaches the throat?
Why, then, when (the soul) cometh up to the throat (of the dying)
And you at that time look on - -
And you at the moment are looking on,
And ye are at that moment looking
And We are nearer to it than you, but you do not see - -
But We (i.e. Our angels who take the soul) are nearer to him than you, but you see not, (Tafsir At-Tabari)
- And We are nearer unto him than ye are, but ye see not -
Then why is it not - - if you are not held under authority - -
Then why do you not - if you are exempt from the reckoning and recompense (punishment) -
Why then, if ye are not in bondage (unto Us),
That you send it (not) back - - if you are truthful?
Bring back the soul (to its body), if you are truthful?
Do ye not force it back, if ye are truthful ?
Then if he is one of those drawn nigh (to Allah),
Then, if he (the dying person) be of the Muqarrabun (those brought near to Allah),
Thus if he is of those brought nigh,
Then happiness and bounty and a garden of bliss.
(There is for him) rest and provision, and a Garden of Delights (Paradise).
Then breath of life, and plenty, and a Garden of delight.
And if he is one of those on the right hand,
And if he (the dying person) be of those on the Right Hand,
And if he is of those on the right hand,
Then peace to you from those on the right hand.
Then there is safety and peace (from the Punishment of Allah) for those on the right Hand.
Then (the greeting) "Peace be unto thee" from those on the right hand.
And if he is one of the rejecters, the erring ones,
But if he (the dying person) be of the denying (of the Resurrection), the erring (away from the Right Path of Islamic Monotheism),
But if he is of the rejecters, the erring,
He shall have an entertainment of boiling water,
Then for him is an entertainment with boiling water.
Then the welcome will be boiling water
And burning in hell.
And burning in Hell-fire.
And roasting at hell - fire.
Most surely this is a certain truth.
Verily, this! This is an absolute Truth with certainty.
Lo! this is certain truth.
Therefore glorify the name of your Lord, the Great.
So glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.
Therefor (O Muhammad) praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.