إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلْوَاقِعَةُ 1
When the Occurrence occurs,
Al-Waqi'ah
The Inevitable
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Surah Al-Waqi'ah, meaning "The Inevitable" or "The Event," is the 56th chapter of the Quran, consisting of 96 verses revealed in Makkah during a period when the early Muslim community faced intense opposition and skepticism, particularly regarding the concepts of resurrection and the afterlife. The surah opens with a powerful and dramatic declaration about the Day of Judgment, describing it as an event that is absolutely certain to occur, one that no soul can deny or avert. The very name of the surah sets its urgent tone: the Hour is coming, and it will shake the foundations of all existence, leveling mountains and scattering them as dust. This opening serves both as a warning to the disbelievers of Makkah who mocked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and as a sobering reminder to all of humanity about the transient nature of worldly life. One of the most distinctive features of this surah is its vivid classification of humanity into three groups on the Day of Judgment. The first group is the "Sabiqun" or the Foremost, those who were closest to God through their exceptional faith, devotion, and righteous deeds—they are granted the highest stations in Paradise and are described as being nearest to God in Gardens of Bliss. The second group is the "Ashab al-Yamin," the Companions of the Right Hand, who are the righteous believers rewarded with the pleasures and peace of Paradise, including thornless lote trees, flowing water, abundant fruits, and noble companionship. The third group is the "Ashab al-Shimal," the Companions of the Left Hand, who are the wretched deniers and evildoers condemned to scorching winds, boiling water, and black smoke that offers neither coolness nor comfort. This tripartite division is remarkable because it goes beyond a simple binary of heaven and hell, highlighting that even among the blessed, there are degrees of spiritual rank based on the depth and sincerity of one's faith and service. The surah then transitions into a series of profound rhetorical arguments that invite human beings to reflect on the signs of God's creative power all around them. It asks whether it is they who create the seed in the womb, or God; whether it is they who cause crops to grow from the earth, or God; whether it is they who send down rain from the clouds, or God; and whether it is they who produce the fire they kindle, or God. Each of these questions is designed to awaken a sense of humility and gratitude, leading the listener to the inescapable conclusion that the One who originated creation is fully capable of bringing about resurrection and a new creation after death. This logical, nature-
إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلْوَاقِعَةُ 1
When the Occurrence occurs,
لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ 2
There is, at its occurrence, no denial.
خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ 3
It will bring down [some] and raise up [others].
إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ رَجًّا 4
When the earth is shaken with convulsion
وَبُسَّتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ بَسًّا 5
And the mountains are broken down, crumbling
فَكَانَتْ هَبَآءً مُّنۢبَثًّا 6
And become dust dispersing,
وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا ثَلَـٰثَةً 7
And you become [of] three kinds:
فَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ مَآ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ 8
Then the companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
وَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ 9
And the companions of the left - what are companions of the left?
وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ 10
And the forerunners, the forerunners -
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبُونَ 11
Those are the ones brought near [to Allāh]
فِى جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ 12
In the Gardens of Pleasure,
ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ 13
A [large] company of the former peoples
وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِينَ 14
And a few of the later peoples,
عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَّوْضُونَةٍ 15
On thrones woven [with ornament],
مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَـٰبِلِينَ 16
Reclining on them, facing each other.
يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَٰنٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ 17
There will circulate among them young boys made eternal.
بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ مِّن مَّعِينٍ 18
With vessels, pitchers and a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring -
لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ 19
No headache will they have therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated -
وَفَـٰكِهَةٍ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ 20
And fruit of what they select
وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ 21
And the meat of fowl, from whatever they desire.
وَحُورٌ عِينٌ 22
And [for them are] fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes,
كَأَمْثَـٰلِ ٱللُّؤْلُؤِ ٱلْمَكْنُونِ 23
The likenesses of pearls well-protected,
جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ 24
As reward for what they used to do.
لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا 25
They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin -
إِلَّا قِيلًا سَلَـٰمًا سَلَـٰمًا 26
Only a saying [of] peace, peace.
وَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ مَآ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ 27
The companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
فِى سِدْرٍ مَّخْضُودٍ 28
[They will be] among lote trees with thorns removed.
وَطَلْحٍ مَّنضُودٍ 29
And [banana] trees layered [with fruit].
وَظِلٍّ مَّمْدُودٍ 30
And shade extended.
وَمَآءٍ مَّسْكُوبٍ 31
And water poured out
وَفَـٰكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ 32
And fruit, abundant [and varied],
لَّا مَقْطُوعَةٍ وَلَا مَمْنُوعَةٍ 33
Neither limited [to season] nor forbidden,
وَفُرُشٍ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ 34
And [upon] beds raised high.
إِنَّآ أَنشَأْنَـٰهُنَّ إِنشَآءً 35
Indeed, We have produced them [i.e., the women of Paradise] in a [new] creation
فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا 36
And made them virgins,
عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًا 37
Devoted [to their husbands] and of equal age,
لِّأَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ 38
For the companions of the right [who are]
ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ 39
A company of the former peoples
وَثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِينَ 40
And a company of the later peoples.
وَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ 41
And the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?
فِى سَمُومٍ وَحَمِيمٍ 42
[They will be] in scorching fire and scalding water
وَظِلٍّ مِّن يَحْمُومٍ 43
And a shade of black smoke,
لَّا بَارِدٍ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ 44
Neither cool nor beneficial.
إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتْرَفِينَ 45
Indeed they were, before that, indulging in affluence,
وَكَانُوا۟ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلْحِنثِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ 46
And they used to persist in the great violation,
وَكَانُوا۟ يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَـٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ 47
And they used to say, "When we die and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?
أَوَءَابَآؤُنَا ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ 48
And our forefathers [as well]?"
قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرِينَ 49
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Indeed, the former and later peoples
لَمَجْمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَـٰتِ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ 50
Are to be gathered together for the appointment of a known Day."
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبُونَ 51
Then indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers,
لَـَٔاكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍ مِّن زَقُّومٍ 52
Will be eating from trees of zaqqūm
فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنْهَا ٱلْبُطُونَ 53
And filling with it your bellies
فَشَـٰرِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَمِيمِ 54
And drinking on top of it from scalding water.
فَشَـٰرِبُونَ شُرْبَ ٱلْهِيمِ 55
And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.
هَـٰذَا نُزُلُهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ 56
That is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense.
نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَـٰكُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ 57
We have created you, so why do you not believe?
أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تُمْنُونَ 58
Have you seen that which you emit?
ءَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقُونَ 59
Is it you who creates it, or are We the Creator?
نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ 60
We have decreed death among you, and We are not to be outdone
عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَـٰلَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِى مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ 61
In that We will change your likenesses and produce you in that [form] which you do not know.
وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ ٱلنَّشْأَةَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ فَلَوْلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ 62
And you have already known the first creation, so will you not remember?
أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ 63
And have you seen that [seed] which you sow?
ءَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ 64
Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower?
لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ حُطَـٰمًا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ 65
If We willed, We could make it [dry] debris, and you would remain in wonder,
إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ 66
[Saying], "Indeed, we are [now] in debt;
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ 67
Rather, we have been deprived."
أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلْمَآءَ ٱلَّذِى تَشْرَبُونَ 68
And have you seen the water that you drink?
ءَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنزِلُونَ 69
Is it you who brought it down from the clouds, or is it We who bring it down?
لَوْ نَشَآءُ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ أُجَاجًا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ 70
If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?
أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِى تُورُونَ 71
And have you seen the fire that you ignite?
ءَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنشِـُٔونَ 72
Is it you who produced its tree, or are We the producer?
نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَـٰهَا تَذْكِرَةً وَمَتَـٰعًا لِّلْمُقْوِينَ 73
We have made it a reminder and provision for the travelers,
فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ 74
So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
۞ فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ 75
Then I swear by the setting of the stars,
وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ 76
And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great.
إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرْءَانٌ كَرِيمٌ 77
Indeed, it is a noble Qur’ān.
فِى كِتَـٰبٍ مَّكْنُونٍ 78
In a Register well-protected;.
لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْمُطَهَّرُونَ 79
None touch it except the purified [i.e., the angels].
تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 80
[It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.
أَفَبِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ 81
Then is it to this statement that you are indifferent
وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ 82
And make [the thanks for] your provision that you deny [the Provider]?
فَلَوْلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلْحُلْقُومَ 83
Then why, when it [i.e., the soul at death] reaches the throat
وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَنظُرُونَ 84
And you are at that time looking on -
وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ 85
And We [i.e., Our angels] are nearer to him than you, but you do not see -
فَلَوْلَآ إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ 86
Then why do you not, if you are not to be recompensed,
تَرْجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ 87
Bring it back, if you should be truthful?
فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ 88
And if he [i.e., the deceased] was of those brought near [to Allāh],
فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍ 89
Then [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure.
وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ 90
And if he was of the companions of the right,
فَسَلَـٰمٌ لَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ 91
Then [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right."
وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ 92
But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray,
فَنُزُلٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ 93
Then [for him is] accommodation of scalding water
وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ 94
And burning in Hellfire.
إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلْيَقِينِ 95
Indeed, this is the true certainty,
فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ 96
So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
Practice memorizing Surah Al-Waqi'ah. Choose how much of the Arabic text to hide, then tap each ayah to reveal it.