English Translation and Commentary of the Holy Quran (1951/2002)
by Maulana Muhammad Ali
سُوۡرَۃُ الۡوَاقِعَۃِ مَکِّیَّۃٌ
Chapter 56
Al-Waqiah
The Event
Revealed at Makkah
(3 sections; 96 verses)
Introductory Note by Translator: The Event referred to, from which the title of this chapter is taken, is the time of the meting out of reward and punishment to the faithful and the opponents respectively. This chapter speaks of three classes of men, the foremost among the faithful being indicated as a separate class, while the other two are the believers and their opponents. The first section, after stating that men will be divided into three classes, speaks of the two classes of the faithful; the second refers to the guilty opponents, while the third states that judgment is inevitable and the three classes will receive what they deserve.
It is an early Makkan revelation.
بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Section 1: Three Classes of Men
رکوع ۱
اِذَا وَقَعَتِ الۡوَاقِعَۃُ ۙ﴿۱﴾
56:1 When the Event comes to passa —
1a (Commentary on 56:1) Note that the Holy 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.
لَیۡسَ لِوَقۡعَتِہَا کَاذِبَۃٌ ۘ﴿۲﴾
56:2 There is no belying its coming to pass —
خَافِضَۃٌ رَّافِعَۃٌ ۙ﴿۳﴾
56:3 Abasing (some), exalting (others) —
اِذَا رُجَّتِ الۡاَرۡضُ رَجًّا ۙ﴿۴﴾
56:4 When the earth is shaken with a (severe) shaking,
وَّ بُسَّتِ الۡجِبَالُ بَسًّا ۙ﴿۵﴾
56:5 And the mountains are crumbled to pieces,a
5a (Commentary on 56:5) The crumbling of the mountains signifies the fall of great opponents; see 20:105a.
فَکَانَتۡ ہَبَآءً مُّنۡۢبَثًّا ۙ﴿۶﴾
56:6 So they are as scattered dust,
وَّ کُنۡتُمۡ اَزۡوَاجًا ثَلٰثَۃً ؕ﴿۷﴾
56:7 And you are three sorts.
فَاَصۡحٰبُ الۡمَیۡمَنَۃِ ۬ۙ مَاۤ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡمَیۡمَنَۃِ ؕ﴿۸﴾
56:8 So those on the right-hand; how (happy) are those on the right-hand!
وَ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡمَشۡـَٔمَۃِ ۬ۙ مَاۤ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡمَشۡـَٔمَۃِ ؕ﴿۹﴾
56:9 And those on the left; how (wretched) are those on the left!
وَ السّٰبِقُوۡنَ السّٰبِقُوۡنَ ﴿ۚۙ۱۰﴾
56:10 And the foremost are the foremosta —
10a (Commentary on 56:10) Those foremost in doing good are foremost in reaping their reward.
اُولٰٓئِکَ الۡمُقَرَّبُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۱۱﴾
56:11 These are drawn nigh (to Allah).
فِیۡ جَنّٰتِ النَّعِیۡمِ ﴿۱۲﴾
56:12 In Gardens of bliss.
ثُلَّۃٌ مِّنَ الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۳﴾
56:13 A multitude from among the first,
وَ قَلِیۡلٌ مِّنَ الۡاٰخِرِیۡنَ ﴿ؕ۱۴﴾
56:14 And a few from among those of later times,a
14a (Commentary on 56:14) 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. Compare 57:10; 57:10a.
عَلٰی سُرُرٍ مَّوۡضُوۡنَۃٍ ﴿ۙ۱۵﴾
56:15 On thrones inwrought,
مُّتَّکِـِٕیۡنَ عَلَیۡہَا مُتَقٰبِلِیۡنَ ﴿۱۶﴾
56:16 Reclining on them, facing each other.
یَطُوۡفُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ وِلۡدَانٌ مُّخَلَّدُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۷﴾
56:17 Round about them will go youths never altering in age,a
17a (Commentary on 56:17) Khallada means he remained or continued forever, and mukhalladūn signifies that never become decrepit, or never altering in age, because there is no decay in the life after death.
بِاَکۡوَابٍ وَّ اَبَارِیۡقَ ۬ۙ وَ کَاۡسٍ مِّنۡ مَّعِیۡنٍ ﴿ۙ۱۸﴾
56:18 With goblets and ewers, and a cup of pure drink —
لَّا یُصَدَّعُوۡنَ عَنۡہَا وَ لَا یُنۡزِفُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۹﴾
56:19 They are not affected with headache thereby, nor are they intoxicated,
وَ فَاکِہَۃٍ مِّمَّا یَتَخَیَّرُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۲۰﴾
56:20 And fruits that they choose,
وَ لَحۡمِ طَیۡرٍ مِّمَّا یَشۡتَہُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۲۱﴾
56:21 And flesh of fowl that they desire,
وَ حُوۡرٌ عِیۡنٌ ﴿ۙ۲۲﴾
56:22 And pure, beautiful ones,
کَاَمۡثَالِ اللُّؤۡلُؤَ الۡمَکۡنُوۡنِ ﴿ۚ۲۳﴾
56:23 Like hidden pearls.
جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۲۴﴾
56:24 A reward for what they did.
لَا یَسۡمَعُوۡنَ فِیۡہَا لَغۡوًا وَّ لَا تَاۡثِیۡمًا ﴿ۙ۲۵﴾
56:25 They hear therein no vain or sinful talk —
اِلَّا قِیۡلًا سَلٰمًا سَلٰمًا ﴿۲۶﴾
56:26 But only the saying, Peace! Peace!a
26a (Commentary on 56:26) This description of the paradise in early revelation does not differ from that of later revelation. 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.
وَ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡیَمِیۡنِ ۬ۙ مَاۤ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡیَمِیۡنِ ﴿ؕ۲۷﴾
56:27 And those on the right hand; how (happy) are those on the right hand!
فِیۡ سِدۡرٍ مَّخۡضُوۡدٍ ﴿ۙ۲۸﴾
56:28 Amid thornless lote-trees,
وَّ طَلۡحٍ مَّنۡضُوۡدٍ ﴿ۙ۲۹﴾
56:29 And clustered banana-trees,
وَّ ظِلٍّ مَّمۡدُوۡدٍ ﴿ۙ۳۰﴾
56:30 And extensive shade,
وَّ مَآءٍ مَّسۡکُوۡبٍ ﴿ۙ۳۱﴾
56:31 And water gushing,
وَّ فَاکِہَۃٍ کَثِیۡرَۃٍ ﴿ۙ۳۲﴾
56:32 And abundant fruit,
لَّا مَقۡطُوۡعَۃٍ وَّ لَا مَمۡنُوۡعَۃٍ ﴿ۙ۳۳﴾
56:33 Neither intercepted, nor forbidden,
وَّ فُرُشٍ مَّرۡفُوۡعَۃٍ ﴿ؕ۳۴﴾
56:34 And exalted couches.
اِنَّاۤ اَنۡشَاۡنٰہُنَّ اِنۡشَآءً ﴿ۙ۳۵﴾
56:35 Su vrely We have created them a (new) creation,
فَجَعَلۡنٰہُنَّ اَبۡکَارًا ﴿ۙ۳۶﴾
56:36 So We have made them virgins,
عُرُبًا اَتۡرَابًا ﴿ۙ۳۷﴾
56:37 Loving, equals in age,
لِّاَصۡحٰبِ الۡیَمِیۡنِ ﴿ؕ٪۳۸﴾
56:38 For those on the right hand.a
38a (Commentary on 56:38) It is noteworthy that the blessings granted to the righteous are first spoken of as shades, water, fruits and resting-places; and then, as it were to dispel all doubts as to what these blessings of the next life are, it is said in v. 35, We have created them a new creation. These words settle conclusively that, whatever these blessings are, whether shades or trees or water or fruits, they are all the fruits of deeds, which have been made to grow into a new growth. The words that follow this statement are no doubt primarily applicable to women, but, as shown in 52:20a, it is only because womanhood stands as a symbol of purity and beauty. Thus abkār, plural of bikr, means a virgin, and also an action that has not been preceded by its like (LL). Similarly, atrāb, or equals in age, as already shown in 38:52a, signifies that the growth of those blessings begins with the growth of spiritual life in man. ‘Urub (“loving”) is plural of both ‘urūb and ‘arīb, the former signifying a woman that manifests love to her husband.
Section 2: The Guilty
رکوع ۲
ثُلَّۃٌ مِّنَ الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳۹﴾
56:39 A multitude from among the first,
وَ ثُلَّۃٌ مِّنَ الۡاٰخِرِیۡنَ ﴿ؕ۴۰﴾
56:40 And a multitude from among those of later times.a
40a (Commentary on 56:40) Note that these verses do not contradict vv. 13 and 14, as imagined by some Christian critics, for the latter speak only of those who were foremost in accepting the Holy Prophet.
وَ اَصۡحٰبُ الشِّمَالِ ۬ۙ مَاۤ اَصۡحٰبُ الشِّمَالِ ﴿ؕ۴۱﴾
56:41 And those on the left hand; how (wretched) are those on the left hand!
فِیۡ سَمُوۡمٍ وَّ حَمِیۡمٍ ﴿ۙ۴۲﴾
56:42 In hot wind and boiling water,
وَّ ظِلٍّ مِّنۡ یَّحۡمُوۡمٍ ﴿ۙ۴۳﴾
56:43 And shadow of black smoke,
لَّا بَارِدٍ وَّ لَا کَرِیۡمٍ ﴿۴۴﴾
56:44 Neither cool nor refreshing.a
44a (Commentary on 56:44) These verses draw a picture of the distress and abasement which were in store for the opponents of truth in this life as well as in the Hereafter.
اِنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا قَبۡلَ ذٰلِکَ مُتۡرَفِیۡنَ ﴿ۚۖ۴۵﴾
56:45 Surely they lived before that in ease.
وَ کَانُوۡا یُصِرُّوۡنَ عَلَی الۡحِنۡثِ الۡعَظِیۡمِ ﴿ۚ۴۶﴾
56:46 And they persisted in the great violation.a
46a (Commentary on 56:46) That is, the violation of Divine commandments.
وَ کَانُوۡا یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ ۬ۙ اَئِذَا مِتۡنَا وَ کُنَّا تُرَابًا وَّ عِظَامًا ءَاِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوۡثُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۴۷﴾
56:47 And they used to say: When we die and become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be raised?
اَوَ اٰبَآؤُنَا الۡاَوَّلُوۡنَ ﴿۴۸﴾
56:48 Or our fathers of yore?
قُلۡ اِنَّ الۡاَوَّلِیۡنَ وَ الۡاٰخِرِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۴۹﴾
56:49 Say: The ancients and those of later times
لَمَجۡمُوۡعُوۡنَ ۬ۙ اِلٰی مِیۡقَاتِ یَوۡمٍ مَّعۡلُوۡمٍ ﴿۵۰﴾
56:50 Will surely be gathered together for the appointed hour of a known day.
ثُمَّ اِنَّکُمۡ اَیُّہَا الضَّآلُّوۡنَ الۡمُکَذِّبُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۵۱﴾
56:51 Then shall you, O you who err and deny,
لَاٰکِلُوۡنَ مِنۡ شَجَرٍ مِّنۡ زَقُّوۡمٍ ﴿ۙ۵۲﴾
56:52 Eat of the tree of Zaqqūm,
فَمَالِـُٔوۡنَ مِنۡہَا الۡبُطُوۡنَ ﴿ۚ۵۳﴾
56:53 And fill (your) bellies with it;
فَشٰرِبُوۡنَ عَلَیۡہِ مِنَ الۡحَمِیۡمِ ﴿ۚ۵۴﴾
56:54 Then drink after it of boiling water;
فَشٰرِبُوۡنَ شُرۡبَ الۡہِیۡمِ ﴿ؕ۵۵﴾
56:55 And drink as drinks the thirsty camel.
ہٰذَا نُزُلُہُمۡ یَوۡمَ الدِّیۡنِ ﴿ؕ۵۶﴾
56:56 This is their entertainment on the day of Requital.
نَحۡنُ خَلَقۡنٰکُمۡ فَلَوۡ لَا تُصَدِّقُوۡنَ ﴿۵۷﴾
56:57 We have created you, why do you not then accept?
اَفَرَءَیۡتُمۡ مَّا تُمۡنُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۵۸﴾
56:58 See you that which you emit?
ءَاَنۡتُمۡ تَخۡلُقُوۡنَہٗۤ اَمۡ نَحۡنُ الۡخٰلِقُوۡنَ ﴿۵۹﴾
56:59 Is it you that create it or are We the Creator?
نَحۡنُ قَدَّرۡنَا بَیۡنَکُمُ الۡمَوۡتَ وَ مَا نَحۡنُ بِمَسۡبُوۡقِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۶۰﴾
56:60 We have ordained death among you and We are not to be overcome,
عَلٰۤی اَنۡ نُّبَدِّلَ اَمۡثَالَکُمۡ وَ نُنۡشِئَکُمۡ فِیۡ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۶۱﴾
56:61 That We may change your state and make you grow into what you know not.a
61a (Commentary on 56:61) It is the Resurrection that is spoken of here. The present state will be changed, we are told, and men will be made to grow into a new creation, which they do not know. Clearly it is not the material body of this life, but a new body which grows out of the deeds of men.
وَ لَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُمُ النَّشۡاَۃَ الۡاُوۡلٰی فَلَوۡ لَا تَذَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۶۲﴾
56:62 And certainly you know the first growth, why do you not then mind?
اَفَرَءَیۡتُمۡ مَّا تَحۡرُثُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۶۳﴾
56:63 See you what you sow?
ءَاَنۡتُمۡ تَزۡرَعُوۡنَہٗۤ اَمۡ نَحۡنُ الزّٰرِعُوۡنَ ﴿۶۴﴾
56:64 Is it you that cause it to grow, or are We the Causer of growth?
لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلۡنٰہُ حُطَامًا فَظَلۡتُمۡ تَفَکَّہُوۡنَ ﴿۶۵﴾
56:65 If We pleased, We would make it chaff, then would you lament:
اِنَّا لَمُغۡرَمُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۶۶﴾
56:66 Surely we are burdened with debt:
بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُوۡمُوۡنَ ﴿۶۷﴾
56:67 Nay, we are deprived.
اَفَرَءَیۡتُمُ الۡمَآءَ الَّذِیۡ تَشۡرَبُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۶۸﴾
56:68 See you the water which you drink?
ءَاَنۡتُمۡ اَنۡزَلۡتُمُوۡہُ مِنَ الۡمُزۡنِ اَمۡ نَحۡنُ الۡمُنۡزِلُوۡنَ ﴿۶۹﴾
56:69 Do you bring it down from the clouds, or are We the Bringer?
لَوۡ نَشَآءُ جَعَلۡنٰہُ اُجَاجًا فَلَوۡ لَا تَشۡکُرُوۡنَ ﴿۷۰﴾
56:70 If We pleased, We could make it saltish; why give you not thanks?
اَفَرَءَیۡتُمُ النَّارَ الَّتِیۡ تُوۡرُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۷۱﴾
56:71 See you the fire which you kindle?
ءَاَنۡتُمۡ اَنۡشَاۡتُمۡ شَجَرَتَہَاۤ اَمۡ نَحۡنُ الۡمُنۡشِـُٔوۡنَ ﴿۷۲﴾
56:72 Is it you that produce the trees for it, or are We the Producer?
نَحۡنُ جَعَلۡنٰہَا تَذۡکِرَۃً وَّ مَتَاعًا لِّلۡمُقۡوِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۷۳﴾
56:73 We have made it a reminder and an advantage for the wayfarers of the desert.a
73a (Commentary on 56:73) The fire burned at night points out to the desert wayfarer a habitation of men, where he will be welcome. It is called “a reminder” because it represents the reward of evil deeds in another life.
فَسَبِّحۡ بِاسۡمِ رَبِّکَ الۡعَظِیۡمِ ﴿٪ؓ۷۴﴾
56:74 So glorify the name of thy Lord, the Incomparably Great.
Section 3: Judgment is Inevitable
رکوع ۳
فَلَاۤ اُقۡسِمُ بِمَوٰقِعِ النُّجُوۡمِ ﴿ۙ۷۵﴾
56:75 But nay, I swear by revelation of portions (of the Quran)!—a
75a (Commentary on 56:75) The meaning adopted is in consonance with the context. As to nujūm, meaning portions of the Quran, see 53:1a, where this verse also is explained. Mawāqi‘ is the plural of mauqa‘, i.e., the time or place of the coming down of a thing, which is the revelation of the Quran in this case. V. 77 makes it clear that it is the revelation of the Quran, for it is to this that the personal pronoun it occurring there refers.
As already stated in 37:1a, the object of an oath in such cases is to draw attention to certain facts. The use of lā (“nay”) in such cases is explained in 75:2a. The significance is that every portion of the Quran bears evidence to its own truth.
وَ اِنَّہٗ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ عَظِیۡمٌ ﴿ۙ۷۶﴾
56:76 And it is a great oath indeed, if you knew —
اِنَّہٗ لَقُرۡاٰنٌ کَرِیۡمٌ ﴿ۙ۷۷﴾
56:77 Surely it is a bounteous Quran,
فِیۡ کِتٰبٍ مَّکۡنُوۡنٍ ﴿ۙ۷۸﴾
56:78 In a book that is protected,
لَّا یَمَسُّہٗۤ اِلَّا الۡمُطَہَّرُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۷۹﴾
56:79 Which none touches save the purified ones.a
79a (Commentary on 56:79) vv. 77, 78 and 79 contain three statements regarding the Quran. According to v. 77, it is bounteous. The word karīm used here about the Quran means generous, liberal, noble or honoured (LL); and you say of land as karumat, meaning it yielded increase of its seed-produce (LL). And karam (the root-word, inf.) means, when used about the Divine Being (and the same is true of His Word and His Prophet), iḥsān and in‘ām, i.e., doing of good or conferring of benefit (R). The Quran is called karīm on account of the benefit which it brought to humanity, and hence I render it as meaning bounteous or bountiful. 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 (B. 56:129). Both the verses and this report further show that the Quran existed in a written form from the first, otherwise such injunctions as not to touch or travel with it to the enemy’s country would have been meaningless.
تَنۡزِیۡلٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۸۰﴾
56:80 A revelation from the Lord of the worlds.
اَفَبِہٰذَا الۡحَدِیۡثِ اَنۡتُمۡ مُّدۡہِنُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۸۱﴾
56:81 Is it this announcement that you disdain?
وَ تَجۡعَلُوۡنَ رِزۡقَکُمۡ اَنَّکُمۡ تُکَذِّبُوۡنَ ﴿۸۲﴾
56:82 And make your denial your means of subsistence.a
82a (Commentary on 56:82) 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.
فَلَوۡ لَاۤ اِذَا بَلَغَتِ الۡحُلۡقُوۡمَ ﴿ۙ۸۳﴾
56:83 Why is it not then that when it comes up to the throat,
وَ اَنۡتُمۡ حِیۡنَئِذٍ تَنۡظُرُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۸۴﴾
56:84 And you at that time look on —
وَ نَحۡنُ اَقۡرَبُ اِلَیۡہِ مِنۡکُمۡ وَ لٰکِنۡ لَّا تُبۡصِرُوۡنَ ﴿۸۵﴾
56:85 And We are nearer to it than you, but you see not —
فَلَوۡ لَاۤ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ غَیۡرَ مَدِیۡنِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۸۶﴾
56:86 Why then, if you are not held under authority,
تَرۡجِعُوۡنَہَاۤ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۸۷﴾
56:87 Do you not send it back, if you are truthful?a
87a (Commentary on 56:87) Sale and others translate ghaira madīnīna (“not held under authority”) as meaning not to be rewarded or not to be judged, and call the passage obscure. But madīnīn means mamlūkīn, i.e., held under authority (LL). 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?
فَاَمَّاۤ اِنۡ کَانَ مِنَ الۡمُقَرَّبِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۸۸﴾
56:88 Then if he is one of those drawn nigh (to Allah),
فَرَوۡحٌ وَّ رَیۡحَانٌ ۬ۙ وَّ جَنَّتُ نَعِیۡمٍ ﴿۸۹﴾
56:89 Then happiness and bounty and a Garden of bliss.
وَ اَمَّاۤ اِنۡ کَانَ مِنۡ اَصۡحٰبِ الۡیَمِیۡنِ ﴿ۙ۹۰﴾
56:90 And if he is one of those on the right hand,
فَسَلٰمٌ لَّکَ مِنۡ اَصۡحٰبِ الۡیَمِیۡنِ ﴿ؕ۹۱﴾
56:91 Then peace to thee from those on the right hand.
وَ اَمَّاۤ اِنۡ کَانَ مِنَ الۡمُکَذِّبِیۡنَ الضَّآلِّیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۹۲﴾
56:92 And if he is one of the rejectors, the erring ones,
فَنُزُلٌ مِّنۡ حَمِیۡمٍ ﴿ۙ۹۳﴾
56:93 He has an entertainment of boiling water,
وَّ تَصۡلِیَۃُ جَحِیۡمٍ ﴿۹۴﴾
56:94 And burning in hell.
اِنَّ ہٰذَا لَہُوَ حَقُّ الۡیَقِیۡنِ ﴿ۚ۹۵﴾
56:95 Surely this is a certain truth.
فَسَبِّحۡ بِاسۡمِ رَبِّکَ الۡعَظِیۡمِ ﴿٪۹۶﴾
56:96 So glorify the name of thy Lord, the Incomparably Great.