The InevitableAl-Waaqiaالواقعة

إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلْوَاقِعَةُ

When the Inevitable Event comes to pass,

لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ

there will be none to deny its occurrence;

خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ

it will bring some low and raise others up¹.

إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ رَجًّا

When the earth is shaken violently,

وَبُسَّتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ بَسًّا

and the mountains crushed to pieces,

فَكَانَتْ هَبَآءً مُّنۢبَثًّا

and turn to scattered dust,

وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا ثَلَٰثَةً

then you are sorted into three groups:

فَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

the people of the right – how blessed will be the people of the right²!

وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

The people of the left – how miserable will be the people of the left³!

وَٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ

And the forerunners [in faith] are the forerunners [in Paradise].

أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبُونَ

They are the nearest ones [to Allah],

فِى جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

in Gardens of Bliss,

ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

many from the early generations,

وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِينَ

and a few from the later generations.

عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَّوْضُونَةٍ

[They will be seated] on jeweled couches,

مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَٰبِلِينَ

reclining on them, facing one another.

يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَٰنٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ

They will be served by immortal youths

بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ مِّن مَّعِينٍ

with cups, pitchers, and glasses [of wine] from a flowing spring,

لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ

which will neither cause any headache nor intoxication,

وَفَٰكِهَةٍ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ

along with fruits of their choice,

وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ

and flesh of birds that they may desire.

وَحُورٌ عِينٌ

And [they will have] maidens with wide gorgeous eyes,

كَأَمْثَٰلِ ٱللُّؤْلُؤِ ٱلْمَكْنُونِ

like pristine pearls,

جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

as a reward for what they used to do.

لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا

They will not hear therein any idle talk or sinful speech,

إِلَّا قِيلًا سَلَٰمًا سَلَٰمًا

except the words of peace, peace⁴.

وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ

The people of the right – how blessed will be the people of the right!

فِى سِدْرٍ مَّخْضُودٍ

[They will be] in the midst of thornless lote trees,

وَطَلْحٍ مَّنضُودٍ

and clusters of bananas,

وَظِلٍّ مَّمْدُودٍ

and extended shade,

وَمَآءٍ مَّسْكُوبٍ

and flowing water,

وَفَٰكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ

and abundant fruit –

لَّا مَقْطُوعَةٍ وَلَا مَمْنُوعَةٍ

neither ceasing nor restricted –

وَفُرُشٍ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ

and elevated mattresses [on beds].

إِنَّآ أَنشَأْنَٰهُنَّ إِنشَآءً

Indeed, We have perfectly created them [i.e., their spouses],

فَجَعَلْنَٰهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا

and have made them virgins,

عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًا

loving and of equal age,

لِّأَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ

for the people of the right,

ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

many from the earlier generations,

وَثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِينَ

and many from the later generations.

وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ

And the people of the left – how wretched will be the people of the left!

فِى سَمُومٍ وَحَمِيمٍ

[They will be] in scorching wind and scalding water,

وَظِلٍّ مِّن يَحْمُومٍ

in the shade of black smoke,

لَّا بَارِدٍ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ

neither cool nor refreshing.

إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتْرَفِينَ

Indeed, they used to be in luxuries before,

وَكَانُوا۟ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلْحِنثِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

and persisted in the gravest sin⁵.

وَكَانُوا۟ يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ

They used to say, "When we die and become dust and bones, will we really be raised again?

أَوَءَابَآؤُنَا ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ

And our forefathers as well?”

قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرِينَ

Say, [O Prophet], “Indeed, the former and later generations

لَمَجْمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَٰتِ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ

will be gathered on a predetermined Day.

ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبُونَ

Then you, O misguided deniers,

لَـَٔاكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍ مِّن زَقُّومٍ

will surely eat from the tree of zaqqūm⁶,

فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنْهَا ٱلْبُطُونَ

filling your bellies with it,

فَشَٰرِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَمِيمِ

and drinking scalding water on top of it,

فَشَٰرِبُونَ شُرْبَ ٱلْهِيمِ

drinking like thirsty camels do.”

هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ

This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgment.

نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَٰكُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ

It is We Who created you; why do you not then believe [in resurrection]?

أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تُمْنُونَ

Have you thought about the semen that you emit?

ءَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْخَٰلِقُونَ

Is it you who create it, or is it We Who are the Creators?

نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ

We have ordained death among you, and nothing can overcome us

عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَٰلَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِى مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

from transforming you and recreating you in forms that you do not know⁷.

وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ ٱلنَّشْأَةَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ فَلَوْلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

You are well aware of the first creation; why do you not then take heed?

أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ

Have you thought about what you sow?

ءَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ

Is it you who cause it to grow, or is it We Who make it grow?

لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَٰهُ حُطَٰمًا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ

If We willed, We could reduce your harvest to rubble, leaving you to wonder and lament,

إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ

“We suffered loss,

بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ

rather, we are deprived.”

أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلْمَآءَ ٱلَّذِى تَشْرَبُونَ

Have you thought about the water that you drink?

ءَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنزِلُونَ

Is it you who bring it down from the clouds, or is it We Who bring it down?

لَوْ نَشَآءُ جَعَلْنَٰهُ أُجَاجًا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ

If We willed, We could make it salty; will you not then give thanks?

أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِى تُورُونَ

Have you thought about the fire that you kindle?

ءَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنشِـُٔونَ

Is it you who produced its trees⁸, or is it We Who produced it?

نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَٰهَا تَذْكِرَةً وَمَتَٰعًا لِّلْمُقْوِينَ

We made it a reminder [of the Hellfire] and a benefit for the travelers⁹.

فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

So glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.

فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ

I do swear¹⁰ by the positions of the stars –

وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ

and this is indeed a great oath, if only you knew –

إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرْءَانٌ كَرِيمٌ

that this is indeed a noble Qur’an,

فِى كِتَٰبٍ مَّكْنُونٍ

in a well-preserved Record¹¹,

لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْمُطَهَّرُونَ

that none can touch except the purified ones¹² –

تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.

أَفَبِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ

Do you take this discourse lightly,

وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ

and instead [of thanking Allah] for the provision you are given, you show ingratitude?

فَلَوْلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلْحُلْقُومَ

Then why [are you helpless] when the soul reaches the throat,

وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَنظُرُونَ

while you are looking on,

وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ

when We are closer¹³ to him than you, but you do not see?

فَلَوْلَآ إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ

If you are not subject to retribution, then why do you not

تَرْجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ

bring that [soul] back, if you are truthful?

فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ

If that dying person is one of those who will be brought near to Allah,

فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍ

then [he will have] comfort, fragrance¹⁴, and a Garden of Bliss.

وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ

If he is one of the people of the right,

فَسَلَٰمٌ لَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ

[He will be told], “Peace be to you, for being one of the people of the right.”

وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

But if he is one of the misguided deniers,

فَنُزُلٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ

then he will be welcomed with scalding water,

وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ

and he will burn in Blazing Fire.

إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلْيَقِينِ

This is indeed the absolute truth.