Surah 56
Al-Waqi'ah
The Event
الواقعة
96 ayat · Meccan · Juz 27
About this surah
Surah Al-Wāqiʿah (The Inevitable Event) is the 56th surah of the Qur’an — ninety-six verses revealed in Makkah. Its name comes from the opening verse: “When the Inevitable Event comes to pass, no one will deny its coming.” The whole surah is a vivid pre-view of the Day of Judgment: the splitting of the earth and sky, the raising of mankind into three distinct ranks — the Foremost (al-Sābiqūn), the Companions of the Right (Aṣḥāb al-Yamīn), and the Companions of the Left (Aṣḥāb al-Shimāl) — and the recompense awaiting each. Classical mufassirūn from Ibn Kathīr onward read it as a Makkī surah whose purpose is to detach the heart from the illusions of this world by making the next world almost touchable. The repeated rhetorical refrain, “Then which of your Lord’s favours will you deny?”-echoing Al-Rahmān, places the human being between gratitude and ruin.
Al-Wāqiʿah is popularly called the Sūrat al-Ghinā — the Surah of Wealth — on the strength of a narration from Ibn Masʿūd: “Whoever recites Surah al-Wāqiʿah every night will never be afflicted by poverty.” This hadith is recorded in al-Bayhaqī’s Shuʿab al-Īmān 2267-2270 and Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ 2181. The chain contains Shujāʿ ibn al-Walīd and Abū Fāṭimah, and al-Albānī graded it daʿīf (weak) in al-Silsilah al-Daʿīfah no. 289 — the final word of al-Bayhaqī himself on the chain was that it is weak. A separate chain via Abū Yaʿlā was called jayyid (good) by al-Zaylaʿī in Takhrīj al-Kashshāf, which is why many scholars — Imam al-Nawawī in al-Adhkār, Ibn al-Ḥājj in al-Madkhal, Mullā ʿAlī al-Qārī — continued to narrate it. The honest position is the one shared by Ibn Masʿūd’s own biographers and by Shaykh al-Albānī: the chains are weak but the practice itself is virtuous because it is reciting the Qur’an, and the reward of recitation is already established in Jāmiʿ at-Tirmidhī 2910 (hasan sahih): ten good deeds for every letter of the Qur’an. The surah does not need a special-case bonus to be worth your nightly time.
What is firmly established is that the Prophet ﷺ himself gave Al-Wāqiʿah a specific place in his routine. Jābir ibn Samurah narrated: “The Messenger of Allah used to recite Al-Wāqiʿah and surahs like it in the Fajr prayer” — reported by Imām Aḥmad in his Musnad and corroborated by multiple chains in Sunan an-Nasā’ī and Sahih Muslim’s descriptions of the Prophet’s Fajr recitation. In another well-known report, Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq ﷺ said to the Prophet, “O Messenger of Allah, you have aged.” The Prophet replied, “Surah Hūd, al-Wāqiʿah, al-Mursalāt, ʿAmma Yatasā’alūn, and Idhā al-Shamsu Kuwwirat have aged me” — recorded in Jāmiʿ at-Tirmidhī 3297 (hasan gharīb). Each of those five surahs confronts the believer with the Day of Standing. Al-Wāqiʿah earns its place among them because it does not just mention Judgment — it stages it, scene by scene, until the reader can almost hear the trumpet.
Ibn Kathīr’s structural reading of the surah frames it as a courtroom in three acts. First the cosmic shaking (verses 1-6): mountains crumbled to dust, mankind sorted. Then the three groups set out in detail (vv. 7-56): the Foremost at the summit, the Companions of the Right in gardens of ease, the Companions of the Left in scorching wind and poisoned shade. Finally the proof-section (vv. 57-96): six evidences — human conception, agriculture, water, fire, the stars, and the Qur’an itself — each ending with a demand for gratitude. Reading it nightly is less about repelling poverty and more about repelling heedlessness; the surah refuses to let the reader go to sleep forgetting that this world is a borrowed thing. That, more than any virtue narration, is why the Ṣaḥābah loved it.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
إِذَا وَقَعَتِ الْوَاقِعَةُ
Izaa waqa'atil waaqi'ah
When the Occurrence occurs,
لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ
Laisa liwaq'atihaa kaazibah
There is, at its occurrence, no denial.
خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ
Khafidatur raafi'ah
It will bring down [some] and raise up [others].
إِذَا رُجَّتِ الْأَرْضُ رَجًّا
Izaa rujjatil ardu rajjaa
When the earth is shaken with convulsion
وَبُسَّتِ الْجِبَالُ بَسًّا
Wa bussatil jibaalu bassaa
And the mountains are broken down, crumbling
فَكَانَتْ هَبَاءً مُّنبَثًّا
Fakaanat habaaa'am mumbassaa
And become dust dispersing.
وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَاجًا ثَلَاثَةً
Wa kuntum azwaajan salaasah
And you become [of] three kinds:
فَأَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ
Fa as haabul maimanati maaa as haabul maimanah
Then the companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
وَأَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ
Wa as haabul mash'amati maaa as haabul mash'amah
And the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?
وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ
Wassaabiqoonas saabiqoon
And the forerunners, the forerunners -
أُولَٰئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ
Ulaaa'ikal muqarraboon
Those are the ones brought near [to Allah]
فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ
Fee Jannaatin Na'eem
In the Gardens of Pleasure,
ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ
Sullatum minal awwaleen
A [large] company of the former peoples
وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنَ الْآخِرِينَ
Wa qaleelum minal aa khireen
And a few of the later peoples,
عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَّوْضُونَةٍ
'Alaa sururim mawdoonah
On thrones woven [with ornament],
مُّتَّكِئِينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَابِلِينَ
Muttaki'eena 'alaihaa mutaqabileen
Reclining on them, facing each other.
يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ
Yatoofu 'alaihim wildaa num mukkhalladoon
There will circulate among them young boys made eternal
بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ مِّن مَّعِينٍ
Bi akwaabinw wa abaareeq, wa kaasim mim ma'een
With vessels, pitchers and a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring -
لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ
Laa yusadda'oona 'anhaa wa laa yunzifoon
No headache will they have therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated -
وَفَاكِهَةٍ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ
Wa faakihatim mimmaa yatakhaiyaroon
And fruit of what they select
وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ
Wa lahmi tairim mimmaa yashtahoon
And the meat of fowl, from whatever they desire.
وَحُورٌ عِينٌ
Wa hoorun'een
And [for them are] fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes,
كَأَمْثَالِ اللُّؤْلُؤِ الْمَكْنُونِ
Ka amsaalil lu'lu'il maknoon
The likenesses of pearls well-protected,
جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
Jazaaa'am bimaa kaanoo ya'maloon
As reward for what they used to do.
لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا
Laa yasma'oona feehaa laghwanw wa laa taaseemaa
They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin -
إِلَّا قِيلًا سَلَامًا سَلَامًا
Illaa qeelan salaaman salaamaa
Only a saying: "Peace, peace."
وَأَصْحَابُ الْيَمِينِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْيَمِينِ
Wa as haabul yameeni maaa as haabul Yameen
The companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
فِي سِدْرٍ مَّخْضُودٍ
Fee sidrim makhdood
[They will be] among lote trees with thorns removed
وَطَلْحٍ مَّنضُودٍ
Wa talhim mandood
And [banana] trees layered [with fruit]
وَظِلٍّ مَّمْدُودٍ
Wa zillim mamdood
And shade extended
وَمَاءٍ مَّسْكُوبٍ
Wa maaa'im maskoob
And water poured out
وَفَاكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ
Wa faakihatin kaseerah
And fruit, abundant [and varied],
لَّا مَقْطُوعَةٍ وَلَا مَمْنُوعَةٍ
Laa maqtoo'atinw wa laa mamnoo'ah
Neither limited [to season] nor forbidden,
وَفُرُشٍ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ
Wa furushim marfoo'ah
And [upon] beds raised high.
إِنَّا أَنشَأْنَاهُنَّ إِنشَاءً
Innaaa anshaanaahunna inshaaa'aa
Indeed, We have produced the women of Paradise in a [new] creation
فَجَعَلْنَاهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا
Faja'alnaahunna abkaaraa
And made them virgins,
عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًا
'Uruban atraabaa
Devoted [to their husbands] and of equal age,
لِّأَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ
Li as haabil yameen
For the companions of the right [who are]
ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ
Sullatum minal awwa leen
A company of the former peoples
وَثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْآخِرِينَ
Wa sullatum minal aakhireen
And a company of the later peoples.
وَأَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ
Wa as haabush shimaali maaa as haabush shimaal
And the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?
فِي سَمُومٍ وَحَمِيمٍ
Fee samoominw wa hameem
[They will be] in scorching fire and scalding water
وَظِلٍّ مِّن يَحْمُومٍ
Wa zillim miny yahmoom
And a shade of black smoke,
لَّا بَارِدٍ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ
Laa baaridinw wa laa kareem
Neither cool nor beneficial.
إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتْرَفِينَ
Innaahum kaanoo qabla zaalika mutrafeen
Indeed they were, before that, indulging in affluence,
وَكَانُوا يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى الْحِنثِ الْعَظِيمِ
Wa kaanoo yusirroona 'alal hinsil 'azeem
And they used to persist in the great violation,
وَكَانُوا يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَامًا أَإِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ
Wa kaanoo yaqooloona a'izaa mitnaa wa kunnaa turaabanw wa izaaman'ainnaa lamab'oosoon
And they used to say, "When we die and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?
أَوَآبَاؤُنَا الْأَوَّلُونَ
Awa aabaaa'unal awwaloon
And our forefathers [as well]?"
قُلْ إِنَّ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَالْآخِرِينَ
Qul innal awwaleena wal aakhireen
Say, [O Muhammad], "Indeed, the former and the later peoples
لَمَجْمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَاتِ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ
Lamajmoo'oona ilaa meeqaati yawmim ma'loon
Are to be gathered together for the appointment of a known Day."
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا الضَّالُّونَ الْمُكَذِّبُونَ
summa innakum ayyuhad daaalloonal mukazziboon
Then indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers,
لَآكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍ مِّن زَقُّومٍ
La aakiloona min shaja rim min zaqqoom
Will be eating from trees of zaqqum
فَمَالِئُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ
Famaali'oona minhal butoon
And filling with it your bellies
فَشَارِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْحَمِيمِ
Fashaariboona 'alaihi minal hameem
And drinking on top of it from scalding water
فَشَارِبُونَ شُرْبَ الْهِيمِ
Fashaariboona shurbal heem
And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.
هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمْ يَوْمَ الدِّينِ
Haazaa nuzuluhum yawmad deen
That is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense.
نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَاكُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ
Nahnu khalaqnaakum falaw laa tusaddiqoon
We have created you, so why do you not believe?
أَفَرَأَيْتُم مَّا تُمْنُونَ
Afara'aytum maa tumnoon
Have you seen that which you emit?
أَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْخَالِقُونَ
'A-antum takhluqoo nahooo am nahnul khaaliqoon
Is it you who creates it, or are We the Creator?
نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ
Nahnu qaddarnaa baina kumul mawta wa maa nahnu bimasbooqeen
We have decreed death among you, and We are not to be outdone
عَلَىٰ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِي مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
'Alaaa an nubaddila amsaalakum wa nunshi'akum fee maa laa ta'lamoon
In that We will change your likenesses and produce you in that [form] which you do not know.
وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ النَّشْأَةَ الْأُولَىٰ فَلَوْلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Wa laqad 'alimtumun nash atal oolaa falaw laa tazakkaroon
And you have already known the first creation, so will you not remember?
أَفَرَأَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ
Afara'aytum maa tahrusoon
And have you seen that [seed] which you sow?
أَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَّارِعُونَ
'A-antum tazra'oonahooo am nahnuz zaari'ooon
Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower?
لَوْ نَشَاءُ لَجَعَلْنَاهُ حُطَامًا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ
Law nashaaa'u laja'al naahu hutaaman fazaltum tafakkahoon
If We willed, We could make it [dry] debris, and you would remain in wonder,
إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ
Innaa lamughramoon
[Saying], "Indeed, we are [now] in debt;
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ
Bal nahnu mahroomoon
Rather, we have been deprived."
أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ الْمَاءَ الَّذِي تَشْرَبُونَ
Afara'aytumul maaa'allazee tashraboon
And have you seen the water that you drink?
أَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ الْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنزِلُونَ
'A-antum anzaltumoohu minal muzni am nahnul munziloon
Is it you who brought it down from the clouds, or is it We who bring it down?
لَوْ نَشَاءُ جَعَلْنَاهُ أُجَاجًا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ
Law nashaaa'u ja'alnaahu ujaajan falaw laa tashkuroon
If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?
أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ النَّارَ الَّتِي تُورُونَ
Afara'aytumun naaral latee tooroon
And have you seen the fire that you ignite?
أَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَا أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنشِئُونَ
'A-antum anshaatum shajaratahaaa am nahnul munshi'oon
Is it you who produced its tree, or are We the producer?
نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَاهَا تَذْكِرَةً وَمَتَاعًا لِّلْمُقْوِينَ
Nahnu ja'alnaahaa tazkira tanw wa mataa'al lilmuqween
We have made it a reminder and provision for the travelers,
فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ
Fasabbih bismi Rabbikal 'azeem
So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَاقِعِ النُّجُومِ
Falaa uqsimu bimaawaa qi'innujoom
Then I swear by the setting of the stars,
وَإِنَّهُ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ
Wa innahoo laqasamul lawta'lamoona'azeem
And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great.
إِنَّهُ لَقُرْآنٌ كَرِيمٌ
Innahoo la quraanun kareem
Indeed, it is a noble Qur'an
فِي كِتَابٍ مَّكْنُونٍ
Fee kitaabim maknoon
In a Register well-protected;
لَّا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ
Laa yamassuhooo illal mutahharoon
None touch it except the purified.
تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Tanzeelum mir Rabbil'aalameen
[It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.
أَفَبِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ
Afabihaazal hadeesi antum mudhinoon
Then is it to this statement that you are indifferent
وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ
Wa taj'aloona rizqakum annakum tukazziboon
And make [the thanks for] your provision that you deny [the Provider]?
فَلَوْلَا إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ
Falaw laaa izaa balaghatil hulqoom
Then why, when the soul at death reaches the throat
وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَنظُرُونَ
Wa antum heena'izin tanzuroon
And you are at that time looking on -
وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ
Wa nahnu aqrabu ilaihi minkum wa laakil laa tubsiroon
And Our angels are nearer to him than you, but you do not see -
فَلَوْلَا إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ
Falaw laaa in kuntum ghira madeeneen
Then why do you not, if you are not to be recompensed,
تَرْجِعُونَهَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
Tarji'oonahaaa in kuntum saadiqeen
Bring it back, if you should be truthful?
فَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ
Fa ammaaa in kaana minal muqarrabeen
And if the deceased was of those brought near to Allah,
فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍ
Farawhunw wa raihaa nunw wa jannatu na'eem
Then [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure.
وَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ
Wa ammaaa in kaana min as haabil yameen
And if he was of the companions of the right,
فَسَلَامٌ لَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ
Fasalaamul laka min as haabil yameen
Then [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right."
وَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ الضَّالِّينَ
Wa ammaaa in kaana minal mukazzibeenad daaalleen
But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray,
فَنُزُلٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ
Fanuzulum min hameem
Then [for him is] accommodation of scalding water
وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ
Wa tasliyatu jaheem
And burning in Hellfire
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ الْيَقِينِ
Inna haaza lahuwa haqqul yaqeen
Indeed, this is the true certainty,
فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ
Fasabbih bismi rabbikal 'azeem
So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.