Chapter 56, 96 verses
When the Event inevitable cometh to pass,
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 -
Then will no (soul) entertain falsehood concerning its coming.
And there can be no denial of its befalling.
There is no denying that it will befall -
(Many) will it bring low; (many) will it exalt;
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 shall be shaken to its depths,
When the earth will be shaken with a terrible shake.
When the earth is shaken with a shock
And the mountains shall be crumbled to atoms,
And the mountains will be powdered to dust,
And the hills are ground to powder
Becoming dust scattered abroad,
So that they will become floating dust particles.
So that they become a scattered dust,
And ye shall be sorted out into three classes.
And you (all) will be in three groups.
And ye will be three kinds:
Then (there will be) the Companions of the Right Hand; - What will be the Companions of the Right Hand?
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 Hand, - what will be the Companions of the Left 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 those Foremost (in Faith) will be Foremost (in the Hereafter).
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:
These will be those Nearest to Allah:
These will be the nearest (to Allah).
Those are they who will be brought nigh
In Gardens of Bliss:
In the Gardens of Delight (Paradise).
In gardens of delight;
A number of people from those of old,
A multitude of those (foremost) will be from the first generations (who embraced Islam).
A multitude of those of old
And a few from those of later times.
And a few of those (foremost) will be from the later generations.
And a few of those of later time.
(They will be) on Thrones encrusted (with gold and precious stones),
(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.
Round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness),
Immortal boys will go around them (serving),
There wait on them immortal youths
With goblets, (shining) beakers, and cups (filled) out of clear - flowing fountains:
With cups, and jugs, and a glass of flowing wine,
With bowls and ewers and a cup from a pure spring
No after - ache will they receive therefrom, nor will they suffer intoxication:
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 with fruits, any that they may select:
And with fruit that they may choose.
And fruit that they prefer
And the flesh of fowls, any that they may desire.
And with the flesh of fowls that they desire.
And flesh of fowls that they desire.
And (there will be) Companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous 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,
Like unto Pearls well - guarded.
Like unto preserved pearls.
Like unto hidden pearls,
A Reward for the deeds of their past (life).
A reward for what they used to do.
Reward for what they used to do.
Not frivolity will they hear therein, nor any taint of ill, -
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 the 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 Hand, - what will be the Companions of the Right Hand?
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 without thorns,
(They will be) among thornless lote-trees,
Among thornless lote - trees
Among Talh trees with flowers (or fruits) piled one above another, -
And among Talh (banana-trees) with fruits piled one above another,
And clustered plantains,
In shade long - extended,
And in shade long-extended,
And spreading shade,
By water flowing constantly,
And by water flowing constantly,
And water gushing,
And fruit in abundance.
And fruit in plenty,
And fruit in plenty
Whose season is not limited, nor (supply) 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 on Thrones (of Dignity), raised high.
And on couches or thrones, raised high.
And raised couches;
We have created (their Companions) of special creation.
Verily, We have created them (maidens) of special creation.
Lo! We have created them a (new) creation
And made them virgin - pure (and undefiled), -
And made them virgins.
And made them virgins,
Beloved (by nature), equal in age, -
Loving (their husbands only), (and) of equal age.
Lovers, friends,
For the Companions of the Right Hand.
For those on the Right Hand.
For those on the right hand;
A (goodly) number from those of old,
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 (goodly) number from those of later times.
And a multitude of those (on the Right Hand) will be from the later generations.
And a multitude of those of later time.
The Companions of the Left Hand, - what will be the Companions of the Left Hand?
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 the midst of a Fierce Blast of Fire and in Boiling Water,
In fierce hot wind and boiling water,
In scorching wind and scalding water
And in the shades of Black Smoke:
And shadow of black smoke,
And shadow of black smoke,
Nothing (will there be) to refresh, nor to please:
(That shadow) neither cool, nor (even) pleasant,
Neither cool nor refreshing.
For that they were wont to be indulged, before that, in wealth (and luxury),
Verily, before that, they indulged in luxury,
Lo! heretofore they were effete with luxury
And persisted obstinately in wickedness supreme!
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, "What! when we die and become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be raised up again? -
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,
"(We) and our fathers of old?"
"And also our forefathers?"
And also our forefathers ?
Say: "Yea, those of old and those of later times,
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
"All will certainly be gathered together for the meeting appointed for a Day well - known.
"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 will ye truly, - O ye that go wrong, and treat (Truth) as Falsehood! -
"Then moreover, verily you the erring-ones, the deniers (of Resurrection)!
Then lo! ye, the erring, the deniers,
"Ye will surely taste of the Tree of Zaqqum.
"You verily will eat of the trees of Zaqqum.
Ye verily will eat of a tree called Zaqqum
"Then will ye fill your insides therewith,
"Then you will fill your bellies therewith,
And will fill your bellies therewith;
"And drink Boiling Water on top of it:
"And drink boiling water on top of it.
And thereon ye will drink of boiling water,
"Indeed ye shall drink like diseased camels raging with thirst!"
"And you will drink (that) like thirsty camels!"
Drinking even as the camel drinketh.
Such will be their entertainment on the Day of Requital!
That will be their entertainment on the Day of Recompense!
This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgment.
It is We Who have created you: why will ye not witness the Truth?
We created you: then why do you believe not?
We created you. Will ye then admit the truth ?
Do ye then see? - The (human Seed) that ye throw out, -
Then tell Me (about) the (human) semen that you emit.
Have ye seen that which ye emit ?
Is it ye who create it, or are We the Creators?
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 to be your common lot, and We are not to be frustrated
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,
from changing your Forms and creating you (again) in (forms) that ye know not.
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 ye certainly know already the first form of creation: why then do ye not celebrate His praises?
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 ?
See ye the seed that ye sow in the ground?
Then tell Me about the seed that you sow in the ground.
Have ye seen that which ye cultivate ?
Is it ye that cause it to grow, or are We the Cause?
Is it you that make 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 powder, and ye would be left in wonderment,
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), "We are indeed left with debts (for nothing):
(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!
"Indeed are we shut out (of the fruits of our labour)"
"Nay, but we are deprived!"
Nay, but we are deprived!
See ye the water which ye drink?
Then tell Me about the water that you drink.
Have ye observed the water which ye drink ?
Do ye bring it down (in rain) from the cloud or do We?
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 ?
Were it Our Will, We could make it salt (and unpalatable): then why do ye not give thanks?
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 ?
See ye the Fire which ye kindle?
Then tell Me about the fire which you kindle.
Have ye observed the fire which ye strike out;
Is it ye who grow the tree which feeds the fire, or do We grow it?
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 memorial (of Our handiwork), and an article of comfort and convenience for the denizens of deserts.
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.
Then celebrate with praises the name of thy Lord, the Supreme!
Then glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.
Therefor (O Muhammad), praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
Furthermore I call to witness the setting of the Stars, -
So I swear by the setting of the stars.
Nay, I swear by the places of the stars -
And that is indeed a mighty adjuration if ye but knew, -
And verily that is indeed a great oath, if you but know.
And lo! that verily is a tremendous oath, if ye but knew -
That this is indeed a qur'an Most Honourable,
That (this) is indeed an honourable recitation (the Noble Qur'an).
That (this) is indeed a noble Qur'an
In Book well - guarded,
In a Book well-guarded (with Allah in the heaven i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz ).
In a Book kept hidden
Which none shall touch but those who are clean:
Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but the purified (i.e. the angels).
Which none toucheth save the purified,
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.
Is it such a Message that ye would hold in light esteem?
Is it such a talk (this Qur'an) that you (disbelievers) deny?
Is it this Statement that ye scorn,
And have ye made it your livelihood that ye should declare it false?
And instead (of thanking Allah) for the provision He gives you, you deny (Him by disbelief)!
And make denial thereof your livelihood ?
Then why do ye not (intervene) when (the soul of the dying man) 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 ye the while (sit) looking on, -
And you at the moment are looking on,
And ye are at that moment looking
But We are nearer to him than ye, and yet see not, -
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 ye not, - If you are exempt from (future) account, -
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),
Call back the soul, if ye are true (in the claim of independence)?
Bring back the soul (to its body), if you are truthful?
Do ye not force it back, if ye are truthful ?
Thus, then, if he be of those Nearest 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,
(There is for him) Rest and Satisfaction, and a Garden of Delights.
(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 be of the Companions of the Right Hand,
And if he (the dying person) be of those on the Right Hand,
And if he is of those on the right hand,
(For him is the salutation), "Peace be unto thee", from the Companions of 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.
And if he be of those who treat (Truth) as Falsehood, who go wrong,
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,
For him is Entertainment with Boiling Water.
Then for him is an entertainment with boiling water.
Then the welcome will be boiling water
And burning in Hell - Fire.
And burning in Hell-fire.
And roasting at hell - fire.
Verily, this is the Very Truth and Certainly.
Verily, this! This is an absolute Truth with certainty.
Lo! this is certain truth.
So celebrate with praises the name of thy Lord, the Supreme.
So glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.
Therefor (O Muhammad) praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.