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