Al-Waqi'ah (الواقعة)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ إِذَا وَقَعَتِ الْوَاقِعَةُ
Izaa waqa'atil waaqi'ah
WHEN THAT which must come to pass [at last] comes to pass,
لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ
Laisa liwaq'atihaa kaazibah
there will be nought that could give the lie to its having come to pass,
خَافِضَةٌ رَافِعَةٌ
Khafidatur raafi'ah
abasing [some], exalting [others]!
إِذَا رُجَّتِ الْأَرْضُ رَجًّا
Izaa rujjatil ardu rajjaa
When the earth is shaken with a shaking [severe],
وَبُسَّتِ الْجِبَالُ بَسًّا
Wa bussatil jibaalu bassaa
and the mountains are shattered into [countless] shards,
فَكَانَتْ هَبَاءً مُنْبَثًّا
Fakaanat habaaa'am mumbassaa
so that they become as scattered dust –
وَكُنْتُمْ أَزْوَاجًا ثَلَاثَةً
Wa kuntum azwaajan salaasah
[on that Day,] then, shall you be [divided into] three kinds.
فَأَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ
Fa as haabul maimanati maaa as haabul maimanah
Thus, there shall be such as will have attained to what is right: oh, how [happy] will be they who have attained to what is right!
وَأَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ
Wa as haabul mash'amati maaa as haabul mash'amah
And there shall be such as will have lost themselves in evil: oh, how [unhappy] will be they who have lost themselves in evil!
وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ
Wassaabiqoonas saabiqoon
But the foremost shall be [they who in life were] the foremost [in faith and good works]:
أُولَٰئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ
Ulaaa'ikal muqarraboon
they who were [always] drawn close unto God!
فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ
Fee Jannaatin Na'eem
In gardens of bliss [will they dwell] -
ثُلَّةٌ مِنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ
Sullatum minal awwaleen
a good many of those of olden times,
وَقَلِيلٌ مِنَ الْآخِرِينَ
Wa qaleelum minal aa khireen
but [only] a few of later times.
عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَوْضُونَةٍ
'Alaa sururim mawdoonah
[They will be seated] on gold-encrusted thrones of happiness,
مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَابِلِينَ
Muttaki'eena 'alaihaa mutaqabileen
reclining upon them, facing one another [in love].
يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُخَلَّدُونَ
Yatoofu 'alaihim wildaa num mukkhalladoon
Immortal youths will wait upon them
بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ مِنْ مَعِينٍ
Bi akwaabinw wa abaareeq, wa kaasim mim ma'een
with goblets, and ewers, and cups filled with water from unsullied springs
لَا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنْزِفُونَ
Laa yusadda'oona 'anhaa wa laa yunzifoon
by which their minds will not be clouded and which will not make them drunk;
وَفَاكِهَةٍ مِمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ
Wa faakihatim mimmaa yatakhaiyaroon
and with fruit of any kind that they may choose,
وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ
Wa lahmi tairim mimmaa yashtahoon
and with the flesh of any fowl that they may desire.
وَحُورٌ عِينٌ
Wa hoorun'een
And [with them will be their] companions pure, most beautiful of eye,
كَأَمْثَالِ اللُّؤْلُؤِ الْمَكْنُونِ
Ka amsaalil lu'lu'il maknoon
like unto pearls [still] hidden in their shells.
جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
Jazaaa'am bimaa kaanoo ya'maloon
[And this will be] a reward for what they did [in life].
لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا
Laa yasma'oona feehaa laghwanw wa laa taaseemaa
No empty talk will they hear there, nor any call to sin,
إِلَّا قِيلًا سَلَامًا سَلَامًا
Illaa qeelan salaaman salaamaa
but only the tiding of inner soundness and peace.
وَأَصْحَابُ الْيَمِينِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْيَمِينِ
Wa as haabul yameeni maaa as haabul Yameen
NOW AS FOR those who have attained to righteousness - what of those who have attained to righteousness?
فِي سِدْرٍ مَخْضُودٍ
Fee sidrim makhdood
[They, too, will find themselves] amidst fruit- laden lote-trees,
وَطَلْحٍ مَنْضُودٍ
Wa talhim mandood
and acacias flower-clad,
وَظِلٍّ مَمْدُودٍ
Wa zillim mamdood
and shade extended,
وَمَاءٍ مَسْكُوبٍ
Wa maaa'im maskoob
and waters gushing,
وَفَاكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ
Wa faakihatin kaseerah
and fruit abounding,
لَا مَقْطُوعَةٍ وَلَا مَمْنُوعَةٍ
Laa maqtoo'atinw wa laa mamnoo'ah
never-failing and never out of reach.
وَفُرُشٍ مَرْفُوعَةٍ
Wa furushim marfoo'ah
And [with them will be their] spouses, raised high:
إِنَّا أَنْشَأْنَاهُنَّ إِنْشَاءً
Innaaa anshaanaahunna inshaaa'aa
for, behold, We shall have brought them into being in a life renewed,
فَجَعَلْنَاهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا
Faja'alnaahunna abkaaraa
having resurrected them as virgins,
عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًا
'Uruban atraabaa
full of love, well-matched
لِأَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ
Li as haabil yameen
with those who have attained to righteousness:
ثُلَّةٌ مِنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ
Sullatum minal awwa leen
a good many of olden times,
وَثُلَّةٌ مِنَ الْآخِرِينَ
Wa sullatum minal aakhireen
and a good many of later times.
وَأَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ
Wa as haabush shimaali maaa as haabush shimaal
BUT AS FOR those who have persevered in evil - what of those who have persevered in evil?
فِي سَمُومٍ وَحَمِيمٍ
Fee samoominw wa hameem
[They will find themselves] in the midst of scorching winds, and burning despair,
وَظِلٍّ مِنْ يَحْمُومٍ
Wa zillim miny yahmoom
and the shadows of black smoke -
لَا بَارِدٍ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ
Laa baaridinw wa laa kareem
[shadows] neither cooling nor soothing.
إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتْرَفِينَ
Innaahum kaanoo qabla zaalika mutrafeen
For, behold, in times gone by they were wont to abandon themselves wholly to the pursuit of pleasures,
وَكَانُوا يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى الْحِنْثِ الْعَظِيمِ
Wa kaanoo yusirroona 'alal hinsil 'azeem
and would persist in heinous sinning,
وَكَانُوا يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَامًا أَإِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ
Wa kaanoo yaqooloona a'izaa mitnaa wa kunnaa turaabanw wa izaaman'ainnaa lamab'oosoon
and would say, “What! After we have died and become mere dust and bones, shall we, forsooth, be raised from the dead? -
أَوَآبَاؤُنَا الْأَوَّلُونَ
Awa aabaaa'unal awwaloon
and perhaps, too, our forebears of old?”
قُلْ إِنَّ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَالْآخِرِينَ
Qul innal awwaleena wal aakhireen
Say: “Verily, those of olden times and those of later times
لَمَجْمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَاتِ يَوْمٍ مَعْلُومٍ
Lamajmoo'oona ilaa meeqaati yawmim ma'loon
will indeed be gathered together at an appointed time on a Day known [only to God]:
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا الضَّالُّونَ الْمُكَذِّبُونَ
summa innakum ayyuhad daaalloonal mukazziboon
and then, verily, O you who have gone astray and called the truth a lie,
لَآكِلُونَ مِنْ شَجَرٍ مِنْ زَقُّومٍ
La aakiloona min shaja rim min zaqqoom
you will indeed have to taste of the tree of deadly fruit,
فَمَالِئُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ
Famaali'oona minhal butoon
and will have to fill your bellies therewith,
فَشَارِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْحَمِيمِ
Fashaariboona 'alaihi minal hameem
and will thereupon have to drink [many a draught] of burning despair -
فَشَارِبُونَ شُرْبَ الْهِيمِ
Fashaariboona shurbal heem
drink it as the most insatiably thirsty camels drink!”
هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمْ يَوْمَ الدِّينِ
Haazaa nuzuluhum yawmad deen
Such will be their welcome on Judgment Day!
نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَاكُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ
Nahnu khalaqnaakum falaw laa tusaddiqoon
WE who have created you, [O men:] why, then, do you not accept the truth?
أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا تُمْنُونَ
Afara'aytum maa tumnoon
Have you ever considered that [seed] which you emit?
أَأَنْتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْخَالِقُونَ
'A-antum takhluqoo nahooo am nahnul khaaliqoon
Is it you who create it - or are We the source of its creation?
نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ
Nahnu qaddarnaa baina kumul mawta wa maa nahnu bimasbooqeen
We have [indeed] decreed that death shall be [ever-present] among you: but there is nothing to prevent Us
عَلَىٰ أَنْ نُبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ وَنُنْشِئَكُمْ فِي مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
'Alaaa an nubaddila amsaalakum wa nunshi'akum fee maa laa ta'lamoon
from changing the nature of your existence and bringing you into being [anew] in a manner [as yet] unknown to you.
وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ النَّشْأَةَ الْأُولَىٰ فَلَوْلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Wa laqad 'alimtumun nash atal oolaa falaw laa tazakkaroon
And [since] you are indeed aware of the [miracle of your] coming into being in the first instance - why, then, do you not bethink yourselves [of Us]?
أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا تَحْرُثُونَ
Afara'aytum maa tahrusoon
Have you ever considered the seed which you cast upon the soil?
أَأَنْتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَّارِعُونَ
'A-antum tazra'oonahooo am nahnuz zaari'ooon
Is it you who cause it to grow - or are We the cause of its growth?
لَوْ نَشَاءُ لَجَعَلْنَاهُ حُطَامًا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ
Law nashaaa'u laja'al naahu hutaaman fazaltum tafakkahoon
[For,] were it Our will, We could indeed turn it into chaff, and you would be left to wonder [and to lament],
إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ
Innaa lamughramoon
“Verily, we are ruined!
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ
Bal nahnu mahroomoon
Nay, but we have been deprived [of our livelihood]!”
أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ الْمَاءَ الَّذِي تَشْرَبُونَ
Afara'aytumul maaa'allazee tashraboon
Have you ever considered the water which you drink?
أَأَنْتُمْ أَنْزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ الْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنْزِلُونَ
'A-antum anzaltumoohu minal muzni am nahnul munziloon
Is it you who cause it to come down from the clouds - or are We the cause of its coming down?
لَوْ نَشَاءُ جَعَلْنَاهُ أُجَاجًا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ
Law nashaaa'u ja'alnaahu ujaajan falaw laa tashkuroon
[It comes down sweet - but] were it Our will, We could make it burningly salty and bitter: why, then, do you not give thanks [unto Us]?
أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ النَّارَ الَّتِي تُورُونَ
Afara'aytumun naaral latee tooroon
Have you ever considered the fire which you kindle?
أَأَنْتُمْ أَنْشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَا أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنْشِئُونَ
'A-antum anshaatum shajaratahaaa am nahnul munshi'oon
Is it you who have brought into being the tree that serves as its fuel - or are We the cause of its coming into being?
نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَاهَا تَذْكِرَةً وَمَتَاعًا لِلْمُقْوِينَ
Nahnu ja'alnaahaa tazkira tanw wa mataa'al lilmuqween
It is We who have made it a means to remind [you of Us], and a comfort for all who are lost and hungry in the wilderness [of their lives].
فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ
Fasabbih bismi Rabbikal 'azeem
Extol, then, the limitless glory of thy Sustainer’s mighty name!
۞ فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَاقِعِ النُّجُومِ
Falaa uqsimu bimaawaa qi'innujoom
NAY, I call to witness the coming-down in parts [of this Qur’an]
وَإِنَّهُ لَقَسَمٌ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ
Wa innahoo laqasamul lawta'lamoona'azeem
and, behold, this is indeed a most solemn affirmation, if you but knew it!
إِنَّهُ لَقُرْآنٌ كَرِيمٌ
Innahoo la quraanun kareem
Behold, it is a truly noble discourse,
فِي كِتَابٍ مَكْنُونٍ
Fee kitaabim maknoon
[conveyed unto man] in a well-guarded divine writ
لَا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ
Laa yamassuhooo illal mutahharoon
which none but the pure [of heart] can touch:
تَنْزِيلٌ مِنْ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Tanzeelum mir Rabbil'aalameen
a revelation from the Sustainer of all the worlds!
أَفَبِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَنْتُمْ مُدْهِنُونَ
Afabihaazal hadeesi antum mudhinoon
Would you, now, look down with disdain on a tiding like this,
وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ
Wa taj'aloona rizqakum annakum tukazziboon
and make it your daily bread [as it were] to call the truth a lie?
فَلَوْلَا إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ
Falaw laaa izaa balaghatil hulqoom
Why, then, when [the last breath] comes up to the throat [of a dying man],
وَأَنْتُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَنْظُرُونَ
Wa antum heena'izin tanzuroon
the while you are [helplessly] looking on -
وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْكُمْ وَلَٰكِنْ لَا تُبْصِرُونَ
Wa nahnu aqrabu ilaihi minkum wa laakil laa tubsiroon
and while We are closer to him than you, although you see [Us] not -:
فَلَوْلَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ
Falaw laaa in kuntum ghira madeeneen
why, then, if [you think that] you are not truly dependent [on Us],
تَرْجِعُونَهَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
Tarji'oonahaaa in kuntum saadiqeen
can you not cause that [ebbing life] to return - if what you claim is true?
فَأَمَّا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ
Fa ammaaa in kaana minal muqarrabeen
[ALL OF YOU are destined to die.] Now if one happens to be of those who are drawn close unto God,
فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍ
Farawhunw wa raihaa nunw wa jannatu na'eem
happiness [awaits him in the life to come], and inner fulfillment, and a garden of bliss.
وَأَمَّا إِنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ
Wa ammaaa in kaana min as haabil yameen
And if one happens to be of those who have attained to righteousness,
فَسَلَامٌ لَكَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ
Fasalaamul laka min as haabil yameen
[he, too, will be welcomed into paradise with the words,] “Peace be unto thee [that art] of those who have attained to righteousness!”
وَأَمَّا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ الضَّالِّينَ
Wa ammaaa in kaana minal mukazzibeenad daaalleen
But if one happens to be of those who are wont to call the truth a lie, and [thus] go astray,
فَنُزُلٌ مِنْ حَمِيمٍ
Fanuzulum min hameem
a welcome of burning despair [awaits him in the life to come,]
وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ
Wa tasliyatu jaheem
and the heat of a blazing fire!
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ الْيَقِينِ
Inna haaza lahuwa haqqul yaqeen
Verily, this is indeed the truth of truths!
فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ
Fasabbih bismi rabbikal 'azeem
Extol, then, the limitless glory of thy Sustainer’s mighty name!
Meaning
The Inevitable
Ayas
96
Revelation
Meccan
Surah No
56
The inevitability of the Day of Judgment: The Surah begins with a powerful description of the world’s end and how no one can stop it.
Three groups of people: On the Day of Judgment, humanity will be divided into three categories:
The Foremost (As-Sabiqoon) – The righteous who excelled in faith and will be honored in Paradise.
The People of the Right Hand (Ashab al-Yameen) – The believers who did good and will be rewarded with bliss.
The People of the Left Hand (Ashab al-Shimal) – The disbelievers and sinners who will face severe punishment.
Affirms the certainty of the Hereafter and reminds people to prepare for it.
Encourages believers to strive for righteousness to be among the “Foremost” or “People of the Right Hand.”
Challenges the arrogance of disbelievers by showing the signs of Allah’s power.
Protection from poverty: It is said that reciting this Surah regularly, especially at night, brings financial blessings.
Strengthens faith in the Hereafter by vividly describing Paradise and Hell.
Brings peace and contentment by reminding believers of Allah’s justice and mercy.
Surah Al-Waqi’ah protects from poverty:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever recites Surah Al-Waqi’ah every night will never face poverty.” (Ibn Kathir)
Reminds of the importance of preparing for the Hereafter:
The Prophet (ﷺ) advised his companions to recite this Surah to strengthen their faith.
“If you find any mistakes in this, please let us know. For a more accurate translation, please refer to the English version. May Allah forgive us for any unintentional mistakes.”
