Commentary · Quran
Surah 56: The EventThe Event
If you don’t know me, my name is Rachel, and these are my scripture notes on the Quran. The ayat are presented sequentially in English and Arabic, followed by my commentary. Think of it as a living midrash: whenever I learn something new, I add a note. My notes draw from an eclectic range of ancient sources, both Jewish and Gentile. See my about page for more.
I’ve used Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall’s 1930 translation of the Quran’s meanings since it’s both public domain and very pretty.
Surah 56: The Event, The Inevitable, That Which is Comingسُورَةُ الوَاقِعَةِ
1When the event befalleth - 2There is no denying that it will befall - 3Abasing (some), exalting (others); 4When the earth is shaken with a shock 5And the hills are ground to powder 6So that they become a scattered dust, 7And ye will be three kinds: 8(First) those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand? 9And (then) those on the left hand; what of those on the left hand? 10And the foremost in the race, the foremost in the race: 11Those are they who will be brought nigh 12In gardens of delight; 13A multitude of those of old 14And a few of those of later time. 15On lined couches, 16Reclining therein face to face. 17There wait on them immortal youths 18With bowls and ewers and a cup from a pure spring 19Wherefrom they get no aching of the head nor any madness, 20And fruit that they prefer 21And flesh of fowls that they desire. 22And (there are) fair ones with wide, lovely eyes, 23Like unto hidden pearls, 24Reward for what they used to do. 25There hear they no vain speaking nor recrimination 26(Naught) but the saying: Peace, (and again) Peace. 27And those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand? 28Among thornless lote-trees 29And clustered plantains, 30And spreading shade, 31And water gushing, 32And fruit in plenty 33Neither out of reach nor yet forbidden, 34And raised couches; 35Lo! We have created them a (new) creation 36And made them virgins, 37Lovers, friends, 38For those on the right hand; 39A multitude of those of old 40And a multitude of those of later time. 41And those on the left hand: What of those on the left hand? 42In scorching wind and scalding water 43And shadow of black smoke, 44Neither cool nor refreshing. 45Lo! heretofore they were effete with luxury 46And used to persist in the awful sin. 47And they used to say: When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised again, 48And also our forefathers? 49Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Lo! those of old and those of later time 50Will all be brought together to the tryst of an appointed day. 51Then lo! ye, the erring, the deniers, 52Ye verily will eat of a tree called Zaqqum 53And will fill your bellies therewith; 54And thereon ye will drink of boiling water, 55Drinking even as the camel drinketh. 56This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgment. 57We created you. Will ye then admit the truth? 58Have ye seen that which ye emit? 59Do ye create it or are We the Creator? 60We mete out death among you, and We are not to be outrun, 61That We may transfigure you and make you what ye know not. 62And verily ye know the first creation. Why, then, do ye not reflect? 63Have ye seen that which ye cultivate? 64Is it ye who foster it, or are We the Fosterer? 65If We willed, We verily could make it chaff, then would ye cease not to exclaim: 66Lo! we are laden with debt! 67Nay, but we are deprived! 68Have ye observed the water which ye drink? 69Is it ye who shed it from the raincloud, or are We the Shedder? 70If We willed We verily could make it bitter. Why then, give ye not thanks? 71Have ye observed the fire which ye strike out; 72Was it ye who made the tree thereof to grow, or were We the grower? 73We, even We, appointed it a memorial and a comfort for the dwellers in the wilderness. 74Therefor (O Muhammad), praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous. 75Nay, I swear by the places of the stars - 76And lo! that verily is a tremendous oath, if ye but knew - 77That (this) is indeed a noble Qur'an 78In a Book kept hidden 79Which none toucheth save the purified, 80A revelation from the Lord of the Worlds. 81Is it this Statement that ye scorn, 82And make denial thereof your livelihood? 83Why, then, when (the soul) cometh up to the throat (of the dying) 84And ye are at that moment looking 85- And We are nearer unto him than ye are, but ye see not - 86Why then, if ye are not in bondage (unto Us), 87Do ye not force it back, if ye are truthful? 88Thus if he is of those brought nigh, 89Then breath of life, and plenty, and a Garden of delight. 90And if he is of those on the right hand, 91Then (the greeting) “Peace be unto thee” from those on the right hand. 92But if he is of the rejecters, the erring, 93Then the welcome will be boiling water 94And roasting at hell-fire. 95Lo! this is certain truth. 96Therefor (O Muhammad) praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
1بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلْوَاقِعَةُ 2لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ 3خَافِضَةٌۭ رَّافِعَةٌ 4إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ رَجًّۭا 5وَبُسَّتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ بَسًّۭا 6فَكَانَتْ هَبَآءًۭ مُّنۢبَثًّۭا 7وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا ثَلَٰثَةًۭ 8فَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ 9وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ 10وَٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ 11أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبُونَ 12فِى جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ 13ثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ 14وَقَلِيلٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ 15عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍۢ مَّوْضُونَةٍۢ 16مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَٰبِلِينَ 17يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَٰنٌۭ مُّخَلَّدُونَ 18بِأَكْوَابٍۢ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍۢ مِّن مَّعِينٍۢ 19لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ 20وَفَٰكِهَةٍۢ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ 21وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍۢ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ 22وَحُورٌ عِينٌۭ 23كَأَمْثَٰلِ ٱللُّؤْلُؤِ ٱلْمَكْنُونِ 24جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ 25لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًۭا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا 26إِلَّا قِيلًۭا سَلَٰمًۭا سَلَٰمًۭا 27وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ 28فِى سِدْرٍۢ مَّخْضُودٍۢ 29وَطَلْحٍۢ مَّنضُودٍۢ 30وَظِلٍّۢ مَّمْدُودٍۢ 31وَمَآءٍۢ مَّسْكُوبٍۢ 32وَفَٰكِهَةٍۢ كَثِيرَةٍۢ 33لَّا مَقْطُوعَةٍۢ وَلَا مَمْنُوعَةٍۢ 34وَفُرُشٍۢ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ 35إِنَّآ أَنشَأْنَٰهُنَّ إِنشَآءًۭ 36فَجَعَلْنَٰهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا 37عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًۭا 38لِّأَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ 39ثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ 40وَثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ 41وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ 42فِى سَمُومٍۢ وَحَمِيمٍۢ 43وَظِلٍّۢ مِّن يَحْمُومٍۢ 44لَّا بَارِدٍۢ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ 45إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتْرَفِينَ 46وَكَانُوا۟ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلْحِنثِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ 47وَكَانُوا۟ يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًۭا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ 48أَوَءَابَآؤُنَا ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ 49قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلْءَاخِرِينَ 50لَمَجْمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَٰتِ يَوْمٍۢ مَّعْلُومٍۢ 51ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبُونَ 52لَءَاكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍۢ مِّن زَقُّومٍۢ 53فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنْهَا ٱلْبُطُونَ 54فَشَٰرِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَمِيمِ 55فَشَٰرِبُونَ شُرْبَ ٱلْهِيمِ 56هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ 57نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَٰكُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ 58أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تُمْنُونَ 59ءَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْخَٰلِقُونَ 60نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ 61عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَٰلَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِى مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ 62وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ ٱلنَّشْأَةَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ فَلَوْلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ 63أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ 64ءَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ 65لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَٰهُ حُطَٰمًۭا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ 66إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ 67بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ 68أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلْمَآءَ ٱلَّذِى تَشْرَبُونَ 69ءَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنزِلُونَ 70لَوْ نَشَآءُ جَعَلْنَٰهُ أُجَاجًۭا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ 71أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِى تُورُونَ 72ءَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنشِـُٔونَ 73نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَٰهَا تَذْكِرَةًۭ وَمَتَٰعًۭا لِّلْمُقْوِينَ 74فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ 75۞ فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ 76وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٌۭ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ 77إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرْءَانٌۭ كَرِيمٌۭ 78فِى كِتَٰبٍۢ مَّكْنُونٍۢ 79لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْمُطَهَّرُونَ 80تَنزِيلٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ 81أَفَبِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ 82وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ 83فَلَوْلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلْحُلْقُومَ 84وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍۢ تَنظُرُونَ 85وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ 86فَلَوْلَآ إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ 87تَرْجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ 88فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ 89فَرَوْحٌۭ وَرَيْحَانٌۭ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍۢ 90وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ 91فَسَلَٰمٌۭ لَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ 92وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ 93فَنُزُلٌۭ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍۢ 94وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ 95إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلْيَقِينِ 96فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ