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