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