Surah 56: The Inevitable (Al-Waqi`ah)

إِذا وَقَعَتِ الواقِعَةُ

When the inevitable comes to pass.

لَيسَ لِوَقعَتِها كاذِبَةٌ

Nothing can stop it from happening.

خافِضَةٌ رافِعَةٌ

It will lower some, and raise others.

إِذا رُجَّتِ الأَرضُ رَجًّا

The earth will be shaken up.

وَبُسَّتِ الجِبالُ بَسًّا

The mountains will be wiped out.

فَكانَت هَباءً مُنبَثًّا

As if they never existed.

وَكُنتُم أَزوٰجًا ثَلٰثَةً

You will be stratified into three kinds.

فَأَصحٰبُ المَيمَنَةِ ما أَصحٰبُ المَيمَنَةِ

Those who deserved bliss will be in bliss.

وَأَصحٰبُ المَشـَٔمَةِ ما أَصحٰبُ المَشـَٔمَةِ

Those who deserved misery will be in misery.

وَالسّٰبِقونَ السّٰبِقونَ

Then there is the elite of the elite.

أُولٰئِكَ المُقَرَّبونَ

They are those who will be closest (to God).

فى جَنّٰتِ النَّعيمِ

In the gardens of bliss.

ثُلَّةٌ مِنَ الأَوَّلينَ

Many from the first generations.*

*56:13-40 People who believe and nourish their souls through worshiping God alone are destined for the High Heaven. The contemporary followers of each messenger invariably suffer persecution from the traditionalists and adherents of the corrupted religion. Thus, they have a special place reserved for them in the High Heaven. All people who die before the age of 40 go to the Lower Heaven, at least (46:15).

وَقَليلٌ مِنَ الـٔاخِرينَ

Few from the later generations.

عَلىٰ سُرُرٍ مَوضونَةٍ

On luxurious furnishings.

مُتَّكِـٔينَ عَلَيها مُتَقٰبِلينَ

Enjoying everything, they will be neighbors.

يَطوفُ عَلَيهِم وِلدٰنٌ مُخَلَّدونَ

Serving them will be immortal servants.

بِأَكوابٍ وَأَباريقَ وَكَأسٍ مِن مَعينٍ

With cups, pitchers and pure drinks.

لا يُصَدَّعونَ عَنها وَلا يُنزِفونَ

They never run out, nor do they get bored.

وَفٰكِهَةٍ مِمّا يَتَخَيَّرونَ

Fruits of their choice.

وَلَحمِ طَيرٍ مِمّا يَشتَهونَ

Meat of birds that they desire.

وَحورٌ عينٌ

Beautiful mates.

كَأَمثٰلِ اللُّؤلُؤِ المَكنونِ

Like protected pearls.

جَزاءً بِما كانوا يَعمَلونَ

Rewards for their works.

لا يَسمَعونَ فيها لَغوًا وَلا تَأثيمًا

They never hear any nonsense therein, nor sinful utterances.

إِلّا قيلًا سَلٰمًا سَلٰمًا

Only the utterance: "Peace, peace."

وَأَصحٰبُ اليَمينِ ما أَصحٰبُ اليَمينِ

Those of the right side, will be on the right side.

فى سِدرٍ مَخضودٍ

In lush orchards.

وَطَلحٍ مَنضودٍ

Fragrant fruits.

وَظِلٍّ مَمدودٍ

Extended shade.

وَماءٍ مَسكوبٍ

Abundant water.

وَفٰكِهَةٍ كَثيرَةٍ

Many fruits.

لا مَقطوعَةٍ وَلا مَمنوعَةٍ

Never ending; never forbidden.

وَفُرُشٍ مَرفوعَةٍ

Luxurious furnishings.

إِنّا أَنشَأنٰهُنَّ إِنشاءً

We create for them mates.

فَجَعَلنٰهُنَّ أَبكارًا

Never previously touched.

عُرُبًا أَترابًا

Perfectly matched.

لِأَصحٰبِ اليَمينِ

For those on the right side.

ثُلَّةٌ مِنَ الأَوَّلينَ

Many from the early generations.

وَثُلَّةٌ مِنَ الـٔاخِرينَ

Many from the later generations.*

*56:13-40 People who believe and nourish their souls through worshiping God alone are destined for the High Heaven. The contemporary followers of each messenger invariably suffer persecution from the traditionalists and adherents of the corrupted religion. Thus, they have a special place reserved for them in the High Heaven. All people who die before the age of 40 go to the Lower Heaven, at least (46:15).

وَأَصحٰبُ الشِّمالِ ما أَصحٰبُ الشِّمالِ

Those of the left, will be on the left.

فى سَمومٍ وَحَميمٍ

In misery and inferno.

وَظِلٍّ مِن يَحمومٍ

Even their shade is hot.

لا بارِدٍ وَلا كَريمٍ

Never cool, never tolerable.

إِنَّهُم كانوا قَبلَ ذٰلِكَ مُترَفينَ

They used to be rich.

وَكانوا يُصِرّونَ عَلَى الحِنثِ العَظيمِ

They insisted on the great blasphemy.

وَكانوا يَقولونَ أَئِذا مِتنا وَكُنّا تُرابًا وَعِظٰمًا أَءِنّا لَمَبعوثونَ

They said, "After we die and turn to dust and bones, we get resurrected?

أَوَءاباؤُنَا الأَوَّلونَ

"Does this include our forefathers?"

قُل إِنَّ الأَوَّلينَ وَالـٔاخِرينَ

Say, "The early generations and the later generations.

لَمَجموعونَ إِلىٰ ميقٰتِ يَومٍ مَعلومٍ

"Will be summoned to a meeting on a predetermined day.

ثُمَّ إِنَّكُم أَيُّهَا الضّالّونَ المُكَذِّبونَ

"Then you, O disbelieving strayers.

لَـٔاكِلونَ مِن شَجَرٍ مِن زَقّومٍ

"Will eat from the trees of bitterness.

فَمالِـٔونَ مِنهَا البُطونَ

"Filling your bellies therefrom.

فَشٰرِبونَ عَلَيهِ مِنَ الحَميمِ

"Then drinking on top of it hellish drinks.

فَشٰرِبونَ شُربَ الهيمِ

"Then adding drinks of sand."

هٰذا نُزُلُهُم يَومَ الدّينِ

Such is their share on the Day of Judgment.

نَحنُ خَلَقنٰكُم فَلَولا تُصَدِّقونَ

We have created you, if you could only believe!

أَفَرَءَيتُم ما تُمنونَ

Have you noted the semen that you produce?

ءَأَنتُم تَخلُقونَهُ أَم نَحنُ الخٰلِقونَ

Did you create it, or did we?

نَحنُ قَدَّرنا بَينَكُمُ المَوتَ وَما نَحنُ بِمَسبوقينَ

We have predetermined death for you. Nothing can stop us -

عَلىٰ أَن نُبَدِّلَ أَمثٰلَكُم وَنُنشِئَكُم فى ما لا تَعلَمونَ

from substituting new generations in your place, and establishing what you do not know.

وَلَقَد عَلِمتُمُ النَّشأَةَ الأولىٰ فَلَولا تَذَكَّرونَ

You know about the first creation. Do you not remember?

أَفَرَءَيتُم ما تَحرُثونَ

Have you noted the crops you reap?

ءَأَنتُم تَزرَعونَهُ أَم نَحنُ الزّٰرِعونَ

Did you grow them, or did we?

لَو نَشاءُ لَجَعَلنٰهُ حُطٰمًا فَظَلتُم تَفَكَّهونَ

If we will, we can turn it into hay. Then you will lament:

إِنّا لَمُغرَمونَ

"We lost.

بَل نَحنُ مَحرومونَ

"We are deprived."

أَفَرَءَيتُمُ الماءَ الَّذى تَشرَبونَ

Have you noted the water you drink?

ءَأَنتُم أَنزَلتُموهُ مِنَ المُزنِ أَم نَحنُ المُنزِلونَ

Did you send it down from the clouds, or did we?

لَو نَشاءُ جَعَلنٰهُ أُجاجًا فَلَولا تَشكُرونَ

If we will, we can make it salty. You should be thankful.

أَفَرَءَيتُمُ النّارَ الَّتى تورونَ

Have you noted the fire you ignite?

ءَأَنتُم أَنشَأتُم شَجَرَتَها أَم نَحنُ المُنشِـٔونَ

Did you initiate its tree, or did we?

نَحنُ جَعَلنٰها تَذكِرَةً وَمَتٰعًا لِلمُقوينَ

We rendered it a reminder, and a useful tool for the users.

فَسَبِّح بِاسمِ رَبِّكَ العَظيمِ

You shall glorify the name of your Lord, the Great.

فَلا أُقسِمُ بِمَوٰقِعِ النُّجومِ

I swear by the positions of the stars.

وَإِنَّهُ لَقَسَمٌ لَو تَعلَمونَ عَظيمٌ

This is an oath, if you only knew, that is awesome.*

*56:75-76 Our universe, the smallest and innermost of seven universes, contains a billion galaxies, a billion trillion stars, spanning billions of light years. These uncountable decillions of heavenly bodies maintain their orbits in a divinely controlled precision. The more we learn, the more we realize how awesome this oath is. See Appendix 6.

إِنَّهُ لَقُرءانٌ كَريمٌ

This is an honorable Quran.

فى كِتٰبٍ مَكنونٍ

In a protected book.

لا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا المُطَهَّرونَ

None can grasp it except the sincere.*

*56:79 The insincere who are not satisfied with the Quran alone are divinely prevented from understanding the Quran. This concept is repeated throughout the Quran (17:45-46, 18:57). Consequently, they cannot understand this verse. For example, compare this translation of 7:3, 17:46, 41:44, and 56:79 with other translations.

تَنزيلٌ مِن رَبِّ العٰلَمينَ

A revelation from the Lord of the universe.

أَفَبِهٰذَا الحَديثِ أَنتُم مُدهِنونَ

Are you disregarding this narration?

وَتَجعَلونَ رِزقَكُم أَنَّكُم تُكَذِّبونَ

Do you make it your business that you disbelieve?

فَلَولا إِذا بَلَغَتِ الحُلقومَ

When the time comes and it (your soul) reaches your throat -

وَأَنتُم حينَئِذٍ تَنظُرونَ

you will then look around.

وَنَحنُ أَقرَبُ إِلَيهِ مِنكُم وَلٰكِن لا تُبصِرونَ

We are closer to it than you are, but you do not see.

فَلَولا إِن كُنتُم غَيرَ مَدينينَ

If it is true that you do not owe any accounting -

تَرجِعونَها إِن كُنتُم صٰدِقينَ

why do you not restore (your soul), if you are truthful?

فَأَمّا إِن كانَ مِنَ المُقَرَّبينَ

If he is one of those close to Me -

فَرَوحٌ وَرَيحانٌ وَجَنَّتُ نَعيمٍ

then joy, flowers, and gardens of bliss.

وَأَمّا إِن كانَ مِن أَصحٰبِ اليَمينِ

And if he is one of the right -

فَسَلٰمٌ لَكَ مِن أَصحٰبِ اليَمينِ

peace is the lot of those on the right.

وَأَمّا إِن كانَ مِنَ المُكَذِّبينَ الضّالّينَ

But if he is one of the disbelievers, the strayers -

فَنُزُلٌ مِن حَميمٍ

then an abode of inferno -

وَتَصلِيَةُ جَحيمٍ

and burning in Hell.

إِنَّ هٰذا لَهُوَ حَقُّ اليَقينِ

This is the absolute truth.

فَسَبِّح بِاسمِ رَبِّكَ العَظيمِ

You shall glorify the name of your Lord, the Great.