Chapter 56, 96 verses
When the Occurrence occurs,
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, at its occurrence, no denial.
And there can be no denial of its befalling.
There is no denying that it will befall -
It will bring down [some] and raise up [others].
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 is shaken with convulsion
When the earth will be shaken with a terrible shake.
When the earth is shaken with a shock
And the mountains are broken down, crumbling
And the mountains will be powdered to dust,
And the hills are ground to powder
And become dust dispersing.
So that they will become floating dust particles.
So that they become a scattered dust,
And you become [of] three kinds:
And you (all) will be in three groups.
And ye will be three kinds:
Then the companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
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 the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?
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 forerunners, the forerunners -
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:
Those are the ones brought near [to Allah]
These will be the nearest (to Allah).
Those are they who will be brought nigh
In the Gardens of Pleasure,
In the Gardens of Delight (Paradise).
In gardens of delight;
A [large] company of the former peoples
A multitude of those (foremost) will be from the first generations (who embraced Islam).
A multitude of those of old
And a few of the later peoples,
And a few of those (foremost) will be from the later generations.
And a few of those of later time.
On thrones woven [with ornament],
(They will be) on thrones woven with gold and precious stones.
On lined couches,
Reclining on them, facing each other.
Reclining thereon, face to face.
Reclining therein face to face.
There will circulate among them young boys made eternal
Immortal boys will go around them (serving),
There wait on them immortal youths
With vessels, pitchers and a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring -
With cups, and jugs, and a glass of flowing wine,
With bowls and ewers and a cup from a pure spring
No headache will they have therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated -
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 fruit of what they select
And with fruit that they may choose.
And fruit that they prefer
And the meat of fowl, from whatever they desire.
And with the flesh of fowls that they desire.
And flesh of fowls that they desire.
And [for them are] fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes,
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 likenesses of pearls well - protected,
Like unto preserved pearls.
Like unto hidden pearls,
As reward for what they used to do.
A reward for what they used to do.
Reward for what they used to do.
They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin -
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
Only a saying: "Peace, peace."
But only the saying of: Salam! Salam! (greetings with peace)!
(Naught) but the saying: Peace, (and again) Peace.
The companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
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 ?
[They will be] among lote trees with thorns removed
(They will be) among thornless lote-trees,
Among thornless lote - trees
And [banana] trees layered [with fruit]
And among Talh (banana-trees) with fruits piled one above another,
And clustered plantains,
And shade extended
And in shade long-extended,
And spreading shade,
And water poured out
And by water flowing constantly,
And water gushing,
And fruit, abundant [and varied],
And fruit in plenty,
And fruit in plenty
Neither limited [to season] 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 [upon] beds raised high.
And on couches or thrones, raised high.
And raised couches;
Indeed, We have produced the women of Paradise in a [new] creation
Verily, We have created them (maidens) of special creation.
Lo! We have created them a (new) creation
And made them virgins,
And made them virgins.
And made them virgins,
Devoted [to their husbands] and of equal age,
Loving (their husbands only), (and) of equal age.
Lovers, friends,
For the companions of the right [who are]
For those on the Right Hand.
For those on the right hand;
A company of the former peoples
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 company of the later peoples.
And a multitude of those (on the Right Hand) will be from the later generations.
And a multitude of those of later time.
And the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?
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 ?
[They will be] in scorching fire and scalding water
In fierce hot wind and boiling water,
In scorching wind and scalding water
And a shade of black smoke,
And shadow of black smoke,
And shadow of black smoke,
Neither cool nor beneficial.
(That shadow) neither cool, nor (even) pleasant,
Neither cool nor refreshing.
Indeed they were, before that, indulging in affluence,
Verily, before that, they indulged in luxury,
Lo! heretofore they were effete with luxury
And they used to persist 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, "When we die and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?
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 our forefathers [as well]?"
"And also our forefathers?"
And also our forefathers ?
Say, [O Muhammad], "Indeed, the former and the later peoples
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
Are to be gathered together for the appointment 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 indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers,
"Then moreover, verily you the erring-ones, the deniers (of Resurrection)!
Then lo! ye, the erring, the deniers,
Will be eating from trees of zaqqum
"You verily will eat of the trees of Zaqqum.
Ye verily will eat of a tree called Zaqqum
And filling with it your bellies
"Then you will fill your bellies therewith,
And will fill your bellies therewith;
And drinking on top of it from scalding water
"And drink boiling water on top of it.
And thereon ye will drink of boiling water,
And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.
"And you will drink (that) like thirsty camels!"
Drinking even as the camel drinketh.
That is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense.
That will be their entertainment on the Day of Recompense!
This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgment.
We have created you, so why do you not believe?
We created you: then why do you believe not?
We created you. Will ye then admit the truth ?
Have you seen that which you emit?
Then tell Me (about) the (human) semen that you emit.
Have ye seen that which ye emit ?
Is it you who creates it, or are We the Creator?
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 decreed death among you, and We are not to be outdone
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 that We will change your likenesses and produce you in that [form] which you do not know.
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 you have already known the first creation, so will you not remember?
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 have you seen that [seed] which you sow?
Then tell Me about the seed that you sow in the ground.
Have ye seen that which ye cultivate ?
Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower?
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 willed, We could make it [dry] debris, and you would remain in wonder,
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:
[Saying], "Indeed, we are [now] in 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!
Rather, we have been deprived."
"Nay, but we are deprived!"
Nay, but we are deprived!
And have you seen the water that you drink?
Then tell Me about the water that you drink.
Have ye observed the water which ye drink ?
Is it you who brought it down from the clouds, or is it We who bring it down?
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 willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?
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 ?
And have you seen the fire that you ignite?
Then tell Me about the fire which you kindle.
Have ye observed the fire which ye strike out;
Is it you who produced its tree, or are We the producer?
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 provision for the travelers,
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.
So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
Then glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.
Therefor (O Muhammad), praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
Then I swear by the setting of the stars,
So I swear by the setting of the stars.
Nay, I swear by the places of the stars -
And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great.
And verily that is indeed a great oath, if you but know.
And lo! that verily is a tremendous oath, if ye but knew -
Indeed, it is a noble Qur'an
That (this) is indeed an honourable recitation (the Noble Qur'an).
That (this) is indeed a noble Qur'an
In a Register well - protected;
In a Book well-guarded (with Allah in the heaven i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz ).
In a Book kept hidden
None touch it except the purified.
Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but the purified (i.e. the angels).
Which none toucheth save the purified,
[It is] a revelation from 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.
Then is it to this statement that you are indifferent
Is it such a talk (this Qur'an) that you (disbelievers) deny?
Is it this Statement that ye scorn,
And make [the thanks for] your provision that you deny [the Provider]?
And instead (of thanking Allah) for the provision He gives you, you deny (Him by disbelief)!
And make denial thereof your livelihood ?
Then why, when the soul at death reaches 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 are at that time looking on -
And you at the moment are looking on,
And ye are at that moment looking
And Our angels are nearer to him 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 do you not, if you are not to be recompensed,
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),
Bring it back, if you should be truthful?
Bring back the soul (to its body), if you are truthful?
Do ye not force it back, if ye are truthful ?
And if the deceased was of those brought near 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 [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure.
(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 was of the companions of the right,
And if he (the dying person) be of those on the Right Hand,
And if he is of those on the right hand,
Then [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right."
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.
But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray,
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,
Then [for him is] accommodation of scalding water
Then for him is an entertainment with boiling water.
Then the welcome will be boiling water
And burning in Hellfire
And burning in Hell-fire.
And roasting at hell - fire.
Indeed, this is the true certainty,
Verily, this! This is an absolute Truth with certainty.
Lo! this is certain truth.
So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
So glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.
Therefor (O Muhammad) praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.