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56: The Event (Al-Waqiah)

Revealed at Makkah

The Event referred to in the first verse, from which the title of this chapter is taken, is the time of the meting out of reward and punishment to the faithful and their opponents respectively. It begins by stating that people will be divided into three classes: the foremost among the faithful, the other believers and the opponents. Then it speaks of the judgment upon them, the three classes each receiving what they deserve. The chapter is an early revelation at Makkah.

Section 1 (Verses 56:1–56:38): Three Classes of People

56:1

اِذَا وَقَعَتِ الۡوَاقِعَۃُ ۙ﴿۱﴾

When the Event comes to pass —

The Quran speaks of the Hour or the Event not only as signifying the Resurrection, but also very frequently as signifying the doom of its opponents. That doom was, in fact, a foretaste of what they would suffer in the life after death; this is made clear in v. 3.

56:2

لَیۡسَ لِوَقۡعَتِہَا کَاذِبَۃٌ ۘ﴿۲﴾

there is no denying its coming to pass —

56:3

خَافِضَۃٌ رَّافِعَۃٌ ۙ﴿۳﴾

degrading (some), exalting (others) —

56:4

اِذَا رُجَّتِ الۡاَرۡضُ رَجًّا ۙ﴿۴﴾

when the earth is shaken with a (severe) shaking,

56:5

وَّ بُسَّتِ الۡجِبَالُ بَسًّا ۙ﴿۵﴾

and the mountains are crumbled to pieces,

The crumbling of the mountains signifies the fall of great opponents; see 20:105 footnote.

56:6

فَکَانَتۡ ہَبَآءً مُّنۡۢبَثًّا ۙ﴿۶﴾

so they are as scattered dust,

56:7

وَّ کُنۡتُمۡ اَزۡوَاجًا ثَلٰثَۃً ؕ﴿۷﴾

and you are three sorts.

56:8

فَاَصۡحٰبُ الۡمَیۡمَنَۃِ ۬ۙ مَاۤ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡمَیۡمَنَۃِ ؕ﴿۸﴾

So those on the right hand; how (happy) are those on the right hand!

56:9

وَ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡمَشۡـَٔمَۃِ ۬ۙ مَاۤ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡمَشۡـَٔمَۃِ ؕ﴿۹﴾

And those on the left; how (wretched) are those on the left!

56:10

وَ السّٰبِقُوۡنَ السّٰبِقُوۡنَ ﴿ۚۙ۱۰﴾

And the foremost (in doing good) are the foremost (in reaping reward) —

56:11

اُولٰٓئِکَ الۡمُقَرَّبُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۱۱﴾

these are drawn near (to Allah).

56:12

فِیۡ جَنّٰتِ النَّعِیۡمِ ﴿۱۲﴾

In Gardens of bliss.

56:13

ثُلَّۃٌ مِّنَ الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۳﴾

A multitude from among the first,

56:14

وَ قَلِیۡلٌ مِّنَ الۡاٰخِرِیۡنَ ﴿ؕ۱۴﴾

and a few from among those of later times,

Those who accepted the Holy Prophet in the earlier stages of his mission, and had to make greater sacrifices, had a greater reward; but there were others who waited until Islam was established in the land and made no sacrifices.

56:15

عَلٰی سُرُرٍ مَّوۡضُوۡنَۃٍ ﴿ۙ۱۵﴾

on thrones well-woven,

56:16

مُّتَّکِـِٕیۡنَ عَلَیۡہَا مُتَقٰبِلِیۡنَ ﴿۱۶﴾

reclining on them, facing each other.

56:17

یَطُوۡفُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ وِلۡدَانٌ مُّخَلَّدُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۷﴾

Round about them will go youths never altering in age,

Because there is no decay in the life after death.

56:18

بِاَکۡوَابٍ وَّ اَبَارِیۡقَ ۬ۙ وَ کَاۡسٍ مِّنۡ مَّعِیۡنٍ ﴿ۙ۱۸﴾

with goblets and ewers, and a cup of pure drink —

56:19

لَّا یُصَدَّعُوۡنَ عَنۡہَا وَ لَا یُنۡزِفُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۹﴾

they are not affected with headache by it, nor are they intoxicated,

56:20

وَ فَاکِہَۃٍ مِّمَّا یَتَخَیَّرُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۲۰﴾

and fruits that they choose,

56:21

وَ لَحۡمِ طَیۡرٍ مِّمَّا یَشۡتَہُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۲۱﴾

and flesh of fowl that they desire,

56:22

وَ حُوۡرٌ عِیۡنٌ ﴿ۙ۲۲﴾

and pure, beautiful ones,

56:23

کَاَمۡثَالِ اللُّؤۡلُؤَ الۡمَکۡنُوۡنِ ﴿ۚ۲۳﴾

like hidden pearls.

56:24

جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۴﴾

A reward for what they did.

56:25

لَا یَسۡمَعُوۡنَ فِیۡہَا لَغۡوًا وَّ لَا تَاۡثِیۡمًا ﴿ۙ۲۵﴾

They hear therein no idle or sinful talk —

56:26

اِلَّا قِیۡلًا سَلٰمًا سَلٰمًا ﴿۲۶﴾

but only the saying, Peace! Peace!

After various blessings are enumerated, their true nature is depicted in one word, Peace. Peace in this world, and Peace in the Hereafter, such is the message of Islam.

56:27

وَ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡیَمِیۡنِ ۬ۙ مَاۤ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡیَمِیۡنِ ﴿ؕ۲۷﴾

And those on the right hand; how (happy) are those on the right hand!

56:28

فِیۡ سِدۡرٍ مَّخۡضُوۡدٍ ﴿ۙ۲۸﴾

Amid thornless lote trees,

56:29

وَّ طَلۡحٍ مَّنۡضُوۡدٍ ﴿ۙ۲۹﴾

and clustered banana trees,

56:30

وَّ ظِلٍّ مَّمۡدُوۡدٍ ﴿ۙ۳۰﴾

and extensive shade,

56:31

وَّ مَآءٍ مَّسۡکُوۡبٍ ﴿ۙ۳۱﴾

and water gushing,

56:32

وَّ فَاکِہَۃٍ کَثِیۡرَۃٍ ﴿ۙ۳۲﴾

and abundant fruit,

56:33

لَّا مَقۡطُوۡعَۃٍ وَّ لَا مَمۡنُوۡعَۃٍ ﴿ۙ۳۳﴾

neither failing, nor forbidden,

56:34

وَّ فُرُشٍ مَّرۡفُوۡعَۃٍ ﴿ؕ۳۴﴾

and exalted couches.

56:35

اِنَّاۤ اَنۡشَاۡنٰہُنَّ اِنۡشَآءً ﴿ۙ۳۵﴾

Surely We have created them as a (new) creation,

These words show that the blessings of the next life, whether shades or trees or water or fruits, are all the fruits of deeds which have been created as a new creation.

56:36

فَجَعَلۡنٰہُنَّ اَبۡکَارًا ﴿ۙ۳۶﴾

so We have made them virgins,

56:37

عُرُبًا اَتۡرَابًا ﴿ۙ۳۷﴾

loving, equals in age,

As shown in 52:20 footnote, words primarily applicable to women are used to describe some blessings of the next life because womanhood stands as a symbol of purity and beauty. “Equals in age”, as already shown in 38:52 footnote, signifies that the growth of those blessings begins with the growth of spiritual life in a person.

56:38

لِّاَصۡحٰبِ الۡیَمِیۡنِ ﴿ؕ٪۳۸﴾

for those on the right hand.

Section 2 (Verses 56:39–56:74): The Guilty

56:39

ثُلَّۃٌ مِّنَ الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳۹﴾

A multitude from among the first,

56:40

وَ ثُلَّۃٌ مِّنَ الۡاٰخِرِیۡنَ ﴿ؕ۴۰﴾

and a multitude from among those of later times.

These verses do not contradict verses 13 and 14, as the earlier verses speak only of those who were foremost in accepting the Holy Prophet.

56:41

وَ اَصۡحٰبُ الشِّمَالِ ۬ۙ مَاۤ اَصۡحٰبُ الشِّمَالِ ﴿ؕ۴۱﴾

And those on the left hand; how (wretched) are those on the left hand!

56:42

فِیۡ سَمُوۡمٍ وَّ حَمِیۡمٍ ﴿ۙ۴۲﴾

In hot wind and boiling water,

56:43

وَّ ظِلٍّ مِّنۡ یَّحۡمُوۡمٍ ﴿ۙ۴۳﴾

and shadow of black smoke,

56:44

لَّا بَارِدٍ وَّ لَا کَرِیۡمٍ ﴿۴۴﴾

neither cool nor refreshing.

56:45

اِنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا قَبۡلَ ذٰلِکَ مُتۡرَفِیۡنَ ﴿ۚۖ۴۵﴾

Surely they lived before that in ease.

56:46

وَ کَانُوۡا یُصِرُّوۡنَ عَلَی الۡحِنۡثِ الۡعَظِیۡمِ ﴿ۚ۴۶﴾

And they persisted in the great violation.

That is, the violation of Divine commandments.

56:47

وَ کَانُوۡا یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ ۬ۙ اَئِذَا مِتۡنَا وَ کُنَّا تُرَابًا وَّ عِظَامًا ءَاِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوۡثُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۴۷﴾

And they used to say: When we die and become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be raised,

56:48

اَوَ اٰبَآؤُنَا الۡاَوَّلُوۡنَ ﴿۴۸﴾

or our forefathers?

56:49

قُلۡ اِنَّ الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ وَ الۡاٰخِرِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۴۹﴾

Say: The ancients and those of later times

56:50

لَمَجۡمُوۡعُوۡنَ ۬ۙ اِلٰی مِیۡقَاتِ یَوۡمٍ مَّعۡلُوۡمٍ ﴿۵۰﴾

will surely be gathered together for the appointed hour of a known day.

56:51

ثُمَّ اِنَّکُمۡ اَیُّہَا الضَّآلُّوۡنَ الۡمُکَذِّبُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۵۱﴾

Then shall you, O you who are in error and deny,

56:52

لَاٰکِلُوۡنَ مِنۡ شَجَرٍ مِّنۡ زَقُّوۡمٍ ﴿ۙ۵۲﴾

eat from the tree of Zaqqūm,

56:53

فَمَالِـُٔوۡنَ مِنۡہَا الۡبُطُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۵۳﴾

and fill (your) bellies with it;

56:54

فَشٰرِبُوۡنَ عَلَیۡہِ مِنَ الۡحَمِیۡمِ ﴿ۚ۵۴﴾

then drink after it boiling water;

56:55

فَشٰرِبُوۡنَ شُرۡبَ الۡہِیۡمِ ﴿ؕ۵۵﴾

and drink as drinks the thirsty camel.

56:56

ہٰذَا نُزُلُہُمۡ یَوۡمَ الدِّیۡنِ ﴿ؕ۵۶﴾

This is their entertainment on the day of Recompense.

56:57

نَحۡنُ خَلَقۡنٰکُمۡ فَلَوۡ لَا تُصَدِّقُوۡنَ ﴿۵۷﴾

We have created you, why do you not then accept?

56:58

اَفَرَءَیۡتُمۡ مَّا تُمۡنُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۵۸﴾

Do you see (the semen) which you emit?

56:59

ءَاَنۡتُمۡ تَخۡلُقُوۡنَہٗۤ اَمۡ نَحۡنُ الۡخٰلِقُوۡنَ ﴿۵۹﴾

Is it you that create it or are We the Creator?

56:60

نَحۡنُ قَدَّرۡنَا بَیۡنَکُمُ الۡمَوۡتَ وَ مَا نَحۡنُ بِمَسۡبُوۡقِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۶۰﴾

We have ordained death among you and We are not to be overcome,

56:61

عَلٰۤی اَنۡ نُّبَدِّلَ اَمۡثَالَکُمۡ وَ نُنۡشِئَکُمۡ فِیۡ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۶۱﴾

that We may change your state and make you grow into what you do not know.

In the next life, the present state will be changed, and people will be made to grow into a new creation, which they do not know. It is not the material body of this life, but a new body which grows out of the deeds of a person.

56:62

وَ لَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُمُ النَّشۡاَۃَ الۡاُوۡلٰی فَلَوۡ لَا تَذَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۶۲﴾

And certainly you know the first growth, why do you not then be mindful?

56:63

اَفَرَءَیۡتُمۡ مَّا تَحۡرُثُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۶۳﴾

Do you see what you sow?

56:64

ءَاَنۡتُمۡ تَزۡرَعُوۡنَہٗۤ اَمۡ نَحۡنُ الزّٰرِعُوۡنَ ﴿۶۴﴾

Is it you that cause it to grow, or are We the Causer of growth?

56:65

لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلۡنٰہُ حُطَامًا فَظَلۡتُمۡ تَفَکَّہُوۡنَ ﴿۶۵﴾

If We pleased, We would make it chaff, then would you lament:

56:66

اِنَّا لَمُغۡرَمُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۶۶﴾

Surely we are burdened with debt,

56:67

بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُوۡمُوۡنَ ﴿۶۷﴾

indeed, we are deprived.

56:68

اَفَرَءَیۡتُمُ الۡمَآءَ الَّذِیۡ تَشۡرَبُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۶۸﴾

Do you see the water which you drink?

56:69

ءَاَنۡتُمۡ اَنۡزَلۡتُمُوۡہُ مِنَ الۡمُزۡنِ اَمۡ نَحۡنُ الۡمُنۡزِلُوۡنَ ﴿۶۹﴾

Do you bring it down from the clouds, or are We the Bringer?

56:70

لَوۡ نَشَآءُ جَعَلۡنٰہُ اُجَاجًا فَلَوۡ لَا تَشۡکُرُوۡنَ ﴿۷۰﴾

If We pleased, We could make it saltish; why do you not then give thanks?

56:71

اَفَرَءَیۡتُمُ النَّارَ الَّتِیۡ تُوۡرُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۷۱﴾

Do you see the fire which you kindle?

56:72

ءَاَنۡتُمۡ اَنۡشَاۡتُمۡ شَجَرَتَہَاۤ اَمۡ نَحۡنُ الۡمُنۡشِـُٔوۡنَ ﴿۷۲﴾

Is it you that produce the trees for it, or are We the Producer?

56:73

نَحۡنُ جَعَلۡنٰہَا تَذۡکِرَۃً وَّ مَتَاعًا لِّلۡمُقۡوِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۷۳﴾

We have made it a reminder and an advantage for the travellers of the desert.

The fire burned at night points out to the desert traveller a habitation of people, where he will be welcome.

56:74

فَسَبِّحۡ بِاسۡمِ رَبِّکَ الۡعَظِیۡمِ ﴿٪ؓ۷۴﴾

So glorify the name of your Lord, the Incomparably Great.

Section 3 (Verses 56:75–56:96): Judgment is Inevitable

56:75

فَلَاۤ اُقۡسِمُ بِمَوٰقِعِ النُّجُوۡمِ ﴿ۙ۷۵﴾

But indeed, I swear by revelation of portions (of the Quran)! —

The meaning adopted suits the context. See 53:1 footnote, where it is shown that the word najm meaning star, used here as the plural nujūm, means also a portion of the Quran. The significance of the oath is that every portion of the Quran bears evidence to its own truth.

56:76

وَ اِنَّہٗ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ عَظِیۡمٌ ﴿ۙ۷۶﴾

and it is a great oath indeed, if you knew —

56:77

اِنَّہٗ لَقُرۡاٰنٌ کَرِیۡمٌ ﴿ۙ۷۷﴾

surely it is a bountiful Quran,

56:78

فِیۡ کِتٰبٍ مَّکۡنُوۡنٍ ﴿ۙ۷۸﴾

in a book that is protected,

56:79

لَّا یَمَسُّہٗۤ اِلَّا الۡمُطَہَّرُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۷۹﴾

which none touches but the purified ones.

The Quran is called karīm (bounteous or bountiful) on account of the benefit which it brought to humanity. V. 78 speaks of it as being protected, by which is meant not only that it will be protected against all attempts to destroy it, but also that it will be protected in all its purity in writing. V. 79 states that it can be touched only by those purified by God. This shows that an understanding of the Quran is granted only to those who are pure in heart. It also shows that the Quran should not be touched by one who is impure. Hence the companions were forbidden to carry the Quran to an enemy’s country (Bukhari, 56:129). This further shows that the Quran existed in a written form, as a book, from the first.

56:80

تَنۡزِیۡلٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۸۰﴾

A revelation from the Lord of the worlds.

56:81

اَفَبِہٰذَا الۡحَدِیۡثِ اَنۡتُمۡ مُّدۡہِنُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۸۱﴾

Is it this announcement that you disdain?

56:82

وَ تَجۡعَلُوۡنَ رِزۡقَکُمۡ اَنَّکُمۡ تُکَذِّبُوۡنَ ﴿۸۲﴾

And make your denial your means of subsistence.

The meaning is that you are bent upon giving the lie to the Quran to such an extent as if to give it the lie were your means of subsistence, without which you could not live.

56:83

فَلَوۡ لَاۤ اِذَا بَلَغَتِ الۡحُلۡقُوۡمَ ﴿ۙ۸۳﴾

Then why not, when (the soul) comes up to the throat,

56:84

وَ اَنۡتُمۡ حِیۡنَئِذٍ تَنۡظُرُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۸۴﴾

and you at that time look on —

56:85

وَ نَحۡنُ اَقۡرَبُ اِلَیۡہِ مِنۡکُمۡ وَ لٰکِنۡ لَّا تُبۡصِرُوۡنَ ﴿۸۵﴾

and We are nearer to it than you, but you do not see —

56:86

فَلَوۡ لَاۤ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ غَیۡرَ مَدِیۡنِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۸۶﴾

then why do you not, if you are not held under authority,

56:87

تَرۡجِعُوۡنَہَاۤ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۸۷﴾

send it back, if you are truthful?

The meaning is that if you are your own masters, and not subject to the authority of a Higher Power, why can you not resist death when it comes to you?

56:88

فَاَمَّاۤ اِنۡ کَانَ مِنَ الۡمُقَرَّبِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۸۸﴾

So if he is one of those drawn near (to Allah),

56:89

فَرَوۡحٌ وَّ رَیۡحَانٌ ۬ۙ وَّ جَنَّتُ نَعِیۡمٍ ﴿۸۹﴾

then (he has) happiness and bounty and a Garden of bliss.

56:90

وَ اَمَّاۤ اِنۡ کَانَ مِنۡ اَصۡحٰبِ الۡیَمِیۡنِ ﴿ۙ۹۰﴾

And if he is one of those on the right hand,

56:91

فَسَلٰمٌ لَّکَ مِنۡ اَصۡحٰبِ الۡیَمِیۡنِ ﴿ؕ۹۱﴾

then peace to you from those on the right hand.

56:92

وَ اَمَّاۤ اِنۡ کَانَ مِنَ الۡمُکَذِّبِیۡنَ الضَّآلِّیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۹۲﴾

But if he is one of the rejectors, the ones in error,

56:93

فَنُزُلٌ مِّنۡ حَمِیۡمٍ ﴿ۙ۹۳﴾

he has an entertainment of boiling water,

56:94

وَّ تَصۡلِیَۃُ جَحِیۡمٍ ﴿۹۴﴾

and burning in hell.

56:95

اِنَّ ہٰذَا لَہُوَ حَقُّ الۡیَقِیۡنِ ﴿ۚ۹۵﴾

Surely this is a certain truth.

56:96

فَسَبِّحۡ بِاسۡمِ رَبِّکَ الۡعَظِیۡمِ ﴿٪۹۶﴾

So glorify the name of your Lord, the Incomparably Great.

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