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 Occurrence occurs,
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. When the event befalleth -
And there can be no denial of its befalling.
There is, at its occurrence, no denial.
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]
It will bring down [some] and raise up [others].
Abasing (some), exalting (others);
When the earth will be shaken with a terrible shake.
When the earth is shaken with convulsion
When the earth is shaken with a shock
And the mountains will be powdered to dust,
And the mountains are broken down, crumbling
And the hills are ground to powder
So that they will become floating dust particles.
And become dust dispersing.
So that they become a scattered dust,
And you (all) will be in three groups.
And you become [of] three kinds:
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 the companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
(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 the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?
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 forerunners, the forerunners -
And the foremost in the race, the foremost in the race:
These will be the nearest (to Allah).
Those are the ones brought near [to Allah]
Those are they who will be brought nigh
In the Gardens of Delight (Paradise).
In the Gardens of Pleasure,
In gardens of delight;
A multitude of those (foremost) will be from the first generations (who embraced Islam).
A [large] company of the former peoples
A multitude of those of old
And a few of those (foremost) will be from the later generations.
And a few of the later peoples,
And a few of those of later time.
(They will be) on thrones woven with gold and precious stones.
On thrones woven [with ornament],
On lined couches,
Reclining thereon, face to face.
Reclining on them, facing each other.
Reclining therein face to face.
Immortal boys will go around them (serving),
There will circulate among them young boys made eternal
There wait on them immortal youths
With cups, and jugs, and a glass of flowing wine,
With vessels, pitchers and a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring -
With bowls and ewers and a cup from a pure spring
Wherefrom they will get neither any aching of the head, nor any intoxication.
No headache will they have therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated -
Wherefrom they get no aching of the head nor any madness,
And with fruit that they may choose.
And fruit of what they select
And fruit that they prefer
And with the flesh of fowls that they desire.
And the meat of fowl, from whatever 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 [for them are] fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes,
And (there are) fair ones with wide, lovely eyes,
Like unto preserved pearls.
The likenesses of pearls well - protected,
Like unto hidden pearls,
A reward for what they used to do.
As 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 will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin -
There hear they no vain speaking nor recrimination
But only the saying of: Salam! Salam! (greetings with peace)!
Only a saying: "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?
The companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
And those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand ?
(They will be) among thornless lote-trees,
[They will be] among lote trees with thorns removed
Among thornless lote - trees
And among Talh (banana-trees) with fruits piled one above another,
And [banana] trees layered [with fruit]
And clustered plantains,
And in shade long-extended,
And shade extended
And spreading shade,
And by water flowing constantly,
And water poured out
And water gushing,
And fruit in plenty,
And fruit, abundant [and varied],
And fruit in plenty
Whose supply is not cut off (by change of season), nor are they out of reach,
Neither limited [to season] nor forbidden,
Neither out of reach nor yet forbidden,
And on couches or thrones, raised high.
And [upon] beds raised high.
And raised couches;
Verily, We have created them (maidens) of special creation.
Indeed, We have produced the women of Paradise in a [new] creation
Lo! We have created them a (new) creation
And made them virgins.
And made them virgins,
And made them virgins,
Loving (their husbands only), (and) of equal age.
Devoted [to their husbands] and of equal age,
Lovers, friends,
For those on the Right Hand.
For the companions of the right [who are]
For those on the right hand;
A multitude of those (on the Right Hand) will be from the first generation (who embraced Islam).
A company of the former peoples
A multitude of those of old
And a multitude of those (on the Right Hand) will be from the later generations.
And a company of the later peoples.
And a multitude of those of later time.
And those on the Left Hand - how (unfortunate) will be those on the Left Hand?
And the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?
And those on the left hand: What of those on the left hand ?
In fierce hot wind and boiling water,
[They will be] in scorching fire and scalding water
In scorching wind and scalding water
And shadow of black smoke,
And a shade of black smoke,
And shadow of black smoke,
(That shadow) neither cool, nor (even) pleasant,
Neither cool nor beneficial.
Neither cool nor refreshing.
Verily, before that, they indulged in luxury,
Indeed they were, before that, indulging in affluence,
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 used to persist 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, "When we die and become dust and bones, are we indeed to 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 also our forefathers?"
And our forefathers [as well]?"
And also our forefathers ?
Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "(Yes) verily, those of old, and those of later times.
Say, [O Muhammad], "Indeed, the former and the later peoples
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.
Are to be gathered together for the appointment 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 indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers,
Then lo! ye, the erring, the deniers,
"You verily will eat of the trees of Zaqqum.
Will be eating from trees of zaqqum
Ye verily will eat of a tree called Zaqqum
"Then you will fill your bellies therewith,
And filling with it your bellies
And will fill your bellies therewith;
"And drink boiling water on top of it.
And drinking on top of it from scalding water
And thereon ye will drink of boiling water,
"And you will drink (that) like thirsty camels!"
And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.
Drinking even as the camel drinketh.
That will be their entertainment on the Day of Recompense!
That is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense.
This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgment.
We created you: then why do you believe not?
We have created you, so why do you not believe?
We created you. Will ye then admit the truth ?
Then tell Me (about) the (human) semen that you emit.
Have you seen that which you emit?
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 who creates it, or are We the Creator?
Do ye create it or are We the Creator ?
We have decreed death to you all, and We are not outstripped,
We have decreed death among you, and We are not to be outdone
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 that We will change your likenesses and produce you in that [form] which you do not know.
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 you have already known the first creation, so will you not remember?
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.
And have you seen that [seed] which you sow?
Have ye seen that which ye cultivate ?
Is it you that make it grow, or are We the Grower?
Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower?
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 willed, We could make it [dry] debris, and you would remain in wonder,
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)
[Saying], "Indeed, we are [now] in debt;
Lo! we are laden with debt!
"Nay, but we are deprived!"
Rather, we have been deprived."
Nay, but we are deprived!
Then tell Me about the water that you drink.
And have you seen the water that 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 who brought it down from the clouds, or is it We who bring it down?
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 willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?
If We willed We verily could make it bitter. Why then, give ye not thanks ?
Then tell Me about the fire which you kindle.
And have you seen the fire that you ignite?
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 who produced its tree, or are We the producer?
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 provision for the travelers,
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.
So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
Therefor (O Muhammad), praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
So I swear by the setting of the stars.
Then I swear by the setting of the stars,
Nay, I swear by the places of the stars -
And verily that is indeed a great oath, if you but know.
And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great.
And lo! that verily is a tremendous oath, if ye but knew -
That (this) is indeed an honourable recitation (the Noble Qur'an).
Indeed, it is a noble Qur'an
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 Register well - protected;
In a Book kept hidden
Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but the purified (i.e. the angels).
None touch it except the purified.
Which none toucheth save the purified,
A Revelation (this Qur'an) from the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).
[It is] a revelation from 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?
Then is it to this statement that you are indifferent
Is it this Statement that ye scorn,
And instead (of thanking Allah) for the provision He gives you, you deny (Him by disbelief)!
And make [the thanks for] your provision that you deny [the Provider]?
And make denial thereof your livelihood ?
Then why do you not (intervene) when (the soul of a dying person) reaches the throat?
Then why, when the soul at death reaches 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 are at that time looking 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 Our angels are nearer to him 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 do you not, if you are not to be recompensed,
Why then, if ye are not in bondage (unto Us),
Bring back the soul (to its body), if you are truthful?
Bring it back, if you should be 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),
And if the deceased was of those brought near to Allah,
Thus if he is of those brought nigh,
(There is for him) rest and provision, and a Garden of Delights (Paradise).
Then [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure.
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 was of the companions of the right,
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 [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right."
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),
But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray,
But if he is of the rejecters, the erring,
Then for him is an entertainment with boiling water.
Then [for him is] accommodation of scalding water
Then the welcome will be boiling water
And burning in Hell-fire.
And burning in Hellfire
And roasting at hell - fire.
Verily, this! This is an absolute Truth with certainty.
Indeed, this is the true certainty,
Lo! this is certain truth.
So glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.
So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
Therefor (O Muhammad) praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.