Surah Al-Waaqia (The Inevitable)

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلْوَاقِعَةُ

WHEN THAT which must come to pass [at last] comes to pass,

لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ

there will be nought that could give the lie to its having come to pass,

خَافِضَةٌۭ رَّافِعَةٌ

abasing [some], exalting [others]!

إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ رَجًّۭا

When the earth is shaken with a shaking [severe],

وَبُسَّتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ بَسًّۭا

and the mountains are shattered into [countless] shards,

فَكَانَتْ هَبَآءًۭ مُّنۢبَثًّۭا

so that they become as scattered dust –

وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا ثَلَٰثَةًۭ

[on that Day,] then, shall you be [divided into] three kinds.

فَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

Thus, there shall be such as will have attained to what is right: oh, how [happy] will be they who have attained to what is right!

وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

And there shall be such as will have lost themselves in evil: oh, how [unhappy] will be they who have lost themselves in evil!

وَٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ

But the foremost shall be [they who in life were] the foremost [in faith and good works]:

أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبُونَ

they who were [always] drawn close unto God!

فِى جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ

In gardens of bliss [will they dwell] -

ثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

a good many of those of olden times,

وَقَلِيلٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ

but [only] a few of later times.

عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍۢ مَّوْضُونَةٍۢ

[They will be seated] on gold-encrusted thrones of happiness,

مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَٰبِلِينَ

reclining upon them, facing one another [in love].

يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَٰنٌۭ مُّخَلَّدُونَ

Immortal youths will wait upon them

بِأَكْوَابٍۢ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍۢ مِّن مَّعِينٍۢ

with goblets, and ewers, and cups filled with water from unsullied springs

لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ

by which their minds will not be clouded and which will not make them drunk;

وَفَٰكِهَةٍۢ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ

and with fruit of any kind that they may choose,

وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍۢ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ

and with the flesh of any fowl that they may desire.

وَحُورٌ عِينٌۭ

And [with them will be their] companions pure, most beautiful of eye,

كَأَمْثَٰلِ ٱللُّؤْلُؤِ ٱلْمَكْنُونِ

like unto pearls [still] hidden in their shells.

جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

[And this will be] a reward for what they did [in life].

لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًۭا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا

No empty talk will they hear there, nor any call to sin,

إِلَّا قِيلًۭا سَلَٰمًۭا سَلَٰمًۭا

but only the tiding of inner soundness and peace.

وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ

NOW AS FOR those who have attained to righteousness - what of those who have attained to righteousness?

فِى سِدْرٍۢ مَّخْضُودٍۢ

[They, too, will find themselves] amidst fruit- laden lote-trees,

وَطَلْحٍۢ مَّنضُودٍۢ

and acacias flower-clad,

وَظِلٍّۢ مَّمْدُودٍۢ

and shade extended,

وَمَآءٍۢ مَّسْكُوبٍۢ

and waters gushing,

وَفَٰكِهَةٍۢ كَثِيرَةٍۢ

and fruit abounding,

لَّا مَقْطُوعَةٍۢ وَلَا مَمْنُوعَةٍۢ

never-failing and never out of reach.

وَفُرُشٍۢ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ

And [with them will be their] spouses, raised high:

إِنَّآ أَنشَأْنَٰهُنَّ إِنشَآءًۭ

for, behold, We shall have brought them into being in a life renewed,

فَجَعَلْنَٰهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا

having resurrected them as virgins,

عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًۭا

full of love, well-matched

لِّأَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ

with those who have attained to righteousness:

ثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

a good many of olden times,

وَثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ

and a good many of later times.

وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ

BUT AS FOR those who have persevered in evil - what of those who have persevered in evil?

فِى سَمُومٍۢ وَحَمِيمٍۢ

[They will find themselves] in the midst of scorching winds, and burning despair,

وَظِلٍّۢ مِّن يَحْمُومٍۢ

and the shadows of black smoke -

لَّا بَارِدٍۢ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ

[shadows] neither cooling nor soothing.

إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتْرَفِينَ

For, behold, in times gone by they were wont to abandon themselves wholly to the pursuit of pleasures,

وَكَانُوا۟ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلْحِنثِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

and would persist in heinous sinning,

وَكَانُوا۟ يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًۭا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ

and would say, “What! After we have died and become mere dust and bones, shall we, forsooth, be raised from the dead? -

أَوَءَابَآؤُنَا ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ

and perhaps, too, our forebears of old?”

قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلْءَاخِرِينَ

Say: “Verily, those of olden times and those of later times

لَمَجْمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَٰتِ يَوْمٍۢ مَّعْلُومٍۢ

will indeed be gathered together at an appointed time on a Day known [only to God]:

ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبُونَ

and then, verily, O you who have gone astray and called the truth a lie,

لَءَاكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍۢ مِّن زَقُّومٍۢ

you will indeed have to taste of the tree of deadly fruit,

فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنْهَا ٱلْبُطُونَ

and will have to fill your bellies therewith,

فَشَٰرِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَمِيمِ

and will thereupon have to drink [many a draught] of burning despair -

فَشَٰرِبُونَ شُرْبَ ٱلْهِيمِ

drink it as the most insatiably thirsty camels drink!”

هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ

Such will be their welcome on Judgment Day!

نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَٰكُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ

WE who have created you, [O men:] why, then, do you not accept the truth?

أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تُمْنُونَ

Have you ever considered that [seed] which you emit?

ءَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْخَٰلِقُونَ

Is it you who create it - or are We the source of its creation?

نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ

We have [indeed] decreed that death shall be [ever-present] among you: but there is nothing to prevent Us

عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَٰلَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِى مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

from changing the nature of your existence and bringing you into being [anew] in a manner [as yet] unknown to you.

وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ ٱلنَّشْأَةَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ فَلَوْلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

And [since] you are indeed aware of the [miracle of your] coming into being in the first instance - why, then, do you not bethink yourselves [of Us]?

أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ

Have you ever considered the seed which you cast upon the soil?

ءَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ

Is it you who cause it to grow - or are We the cause of its growth?

لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَٰهُ حُطَٰمًۭا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ

[For,] were it Our will, We could indeed turn it into chaff, and you would be left to wonder [and to lament],

إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ

“Verily, we are ruined!

بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ

Nay, but we have been deprived [of our livelihood]!”

أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلْمَآءَ ٱلَّذِى تَشْرَبُونَ

Have you ever considered the water which you drink?

ءَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنزِلُونَ

Is it you who cause it to come down from the clouds - or are We the cause of its coming down?

لَوْ نَشَآءُ جَعَلْنَٰهُ أُجَاجًۭا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ

[It comes down sweet - but] were it Our will, We could make it burningly salty and bitter: why, then, do you not give thanks [unto Us]?

أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِى تُورُونَ

Have you ever considered the fire which you kindle?

ءَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنشِـُٔونَ

Is it you who have brought into being the tree that serves as its fuel - or are We the cause of its coming into being?

نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَٰهَا تَذْكِرَةًۭ وَمَتَٰعًۭا لِّلْمُقْوِينَ

It is We who have made it a means to remind [you of Us], and a comfort for all who are lost and hungry in the wilderness [of their lives].

فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

Extol, then, the limitless glory of thy Sustainer’s mighty name!

۞ فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ

NAY, I call to witness the coming-down in parts [of this Qur’an]

وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٌۭ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ

and, behold, this is indeed a most solemn affirmation, if you but knew it!

إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرْءَانٌۭ كَرِيمٌۭ

Behold, it is a truly noble discourse,

فِى كِتَٰبٍۢ مَّكْنُونٍۢ

[conveyed unto man] in a well-guarded divine writ

لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْمُطَهَّرُونَ

which none but the pure [of heart] can touch:

تَنزِيلٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

a revelation from the Sustainer of all the worlds!

أَفَبِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ

Would you, now, look down with disdain on a tiding like this,

وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ

and make it your daily bread [as it were] to call the truth a lie?

فَلَوْلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلْحُلْقُومَ

Why, then, when [the last breath] comes up to the throat [of a dying man],

وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍۢ تَنظُرُونَ

the while you are [helplessly] looking on -

وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ

and while We are closer to him than you, although you see [Us] not -:

فَلَوْلَآ إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ

why, then, if [you think that] you are not truly dependent [on Us],

تَرْجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ

can you not cause that [ebbing life] to return - if what you claim is true?

فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ

[ALL OF YOU are destined to die.] Now if one happens to be of those who are drawn close unto God,

فَرَوْحٌۭ وَرَيْحَانٌۭ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍۢ

happiness [awaits him in the life to come], and inner fulfillment, and a garden of bliss.

وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ

And if one happens to be of those who have attained to righteousness,

فَسَلَٰمٌۭ لَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ

[he, too, will be welcomed into paradise with the words,] “Peace be unto thee [that art] of those who have attained to righteousness!”

وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

But if one happens to be of those who are wont to call the truth a lie, and [thus] go astray,

فَنُزُلٌۭ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍۢ

a welcome of burning despair [awaits him in the life to come,]

وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ

and the heat of a blazing fire!

إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلْيَقِينِ

Verily, this is indeed the truth of truths!

فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

Extol, then, the limitless glory of thy Sustainer’s mighty name!

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Surah Al-Waaqia