Surah Al-Waqia - English Translation by Muhammad Asad
إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلۡوَاقِعَةُ
WHEN THAT which must come to pass [at last] comes to pass
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 1
لَيۡسَ لِوَقۡعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ
there will be nought that could give the lie to its having come to pass
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 2
خَافِضَةٞ رَّافِعَةٌ
abasing [some], exalting [others]
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 3
إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ رَجّٗا
When the earth is shaken with a shaking [severe]
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 4
وَبُسَّتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ بَسّٗا
and the mountains are shattered into [countless] shards
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 5
فَكَانَتۡ هَبَآءٗ مُّنۢبَثّٗا
so that they become as scattered dust –
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 6
وَكُنتُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا ثَلَٰثَةٗ
[on that Day,] then, shall you be [divided into] three kinds
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 7
فَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ
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
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 8
وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ
And there shall be such as will have lost themselves in evil: oh, how [unhappy] will be they who have lost themselves in evil
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 9
وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ
But the foremost shall be [they who in life were] the foremost [in faith and good works]
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 10
أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبُونَ
they who were [always] drawn close unto God
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 11
فِي جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
In gardens of bliss [will they dwell]
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 12
ثُلَّةٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ
a good many of those of olden times
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 13
وَقَلِيلٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأٓخِرِينَ
but [only] a few of later times
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 14
عَلَىٰ سُرُرٖ مَّوۡضُونَةٖ
[They will be seated] on gold-encrusted thrones of happiness
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 15
مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَيۡهَا مُتَقَٰبِلِينَ
reclining upon them, facing one another [in love]
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 16
يَطُوفُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وِلۡدَٰنٞ مُّخَلَّدُونَ
Immortal youths will wait upon them
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 17
بِأَكۡوَابٖ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأۡسٖ مِّن مَّعِينٖ
with goblets, and ewers, and cups filled with water from unsullied springs
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 18
لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنۡهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ
by which their minds will not be clouded and which will not make them drunk
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 19
وَفَٰكِهَةٖ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ
and with fruit of any kind that they may choose
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 20
وَلَحۡمِ طَيۡرٖ مِّمَّا يَشۡتَهُونَ
and with the flesh of any fowl that they may desire
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 21
وَحُورٌ عِينٞ
And [with them will be their] companions pure, most beautiful of eye
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 22
كَأَمۡثَٰلِ ٱللُّؤۡلُوِٕ ٱلۡمَكۡنُونِ
like unto pearls [still] hidden in their shells
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 23
جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ
[And this will be] a reward for what they did [in life]
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 24
لَا يَسۡمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغۡوٗا وَلَا تَأۡثِيمًا
No empty talk will they hear there, nor any call to sin
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 25
إِلَّا قِيلٗا سَلَٰمٗا سَلَٰمٗا
but only the tiding of inner soundness and peace
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 26
وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِ
NOW AS FOR those who have attained to righteousness - what of those who have attained to righteousness
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 27
فِي سِدۡرٖ مَّخۡضُودٖ
[They, too, will find themselves] amidst fruit- laden lote-trees
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 28
وَطَلۡحٖ مَّنضُودٖ
and acacias flower-clad
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 29
وَظِلّٖ مَّمۡدُودٖ
and shade extended
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 30
وَمَآءٖ مَّسۡكُوبٖ
and waters gushing
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 31
وَفَٰكِهَةٖ كَثِيرَةٖ
and fruit abounding
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 32
لَّا مَقۡطُوعَةٖ وَلَا مَمۡنُوعَةٖ
never-failing and never out of reach
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 33
وَفُرُشٖ مَّرۡفُوعَةٍ
And [with them will be their] spouses, raised high
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 34
إِنَّآ أَنشَأۡنَٰهُنَّ إِنشَآءٗ
for, behold, We shall have brought them into being in a life renewed
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 35
فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُنَّ أَبۡكَارًا
having resurrected them as virgins
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 36
عُرُبًا أَتۡرَابٗا
full of love, well-matched
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 37
لِّأَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ
with those who have attained to righteousness
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 38
ثُلَّةٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ
a good many of olden times
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 39
وَثُلَّةٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأٓخِرِينَ
and a good many of later times
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 40
وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ
BUT AS FOR those who have persevered in evil - what of those who have persevered in evil
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 41
فِي سَمُومٖ وَحَمِيمٖ
[They will find themselves] in the midst of scorching winds, and burning despair
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 42
وَظِلّٖ مِّن يَحۡمُومٖ
and the shadows of black smoke
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 43
لَّا بَارِدٖ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ
[shadows] neither cooling nor soothing
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 44
إِنَّهُمۡ كَانُواْ قَبۡلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتۡرَفِينَ
For, behold, in times gone by they were wont to abandon themselves wholly to the pursuit of pleasures
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 45
وَكَانُواْ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلۡحِنثِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ
and would persist in heinous sinning
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 46
وَكَانُواْ يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتۡنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابٗا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوثُونَ
and would say, “What! After we have died and become mere dust and bones, shall we, forsooth, be raised from the dead
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 47
أَوَءَابَآؤُنَا ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ
and perhaps, too, our forebears of old?”
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 48
قُلۡ إِنَّ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلۡأٓخِرِينَ
Say: “Verily, those of olden times and those of later times
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 49
لَمَجۡمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَٰتِ يَوۡمٖ مَّعۡلُومٖ
will indeed be gathered together at an appointed time on a Day known [only to God]
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 50
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمۡ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبُونَ
and then, verily, O you who have gone astray and called the truth a lie
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 51
لَأٓكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٖ مِّن زَقُّومٖ
you will indeed have to taste of the tree of deadly fruit
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 52
فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنۡهَا ٱلۡبُطُونَ
and will have to fill your bellies therewith
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 53
فَشَٰرِبُونَ عَلَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلۡحَمِيمِ
and will thereupon have to drink [many a draught] of burning despair
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 54
فَشَٰرِبُونَ شُرۡبَ ٱلۡهِيمِ
drink it as the most insatiably thirsty camels drink!”
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 55
هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلدِّينِ
Such will be their welcome on Judgment Day
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 56
نَحۡنُ خَلَقۡنَٰكُمۡ فَلَوۡلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ
WE who have created you, [O men:] why, then, do you not accept the truth
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 57
أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تُمۡنُونَ
Have you ever considered that [seed] which you emit
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 58
ءَأَنتُمۡ تَخۡلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقُونَ
Is it you who create it - or are We the source of its creation
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 59
نَحۡنُ قَدَّرۡنَا بَيۡنَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَسۡبُوقِينَ
We have [indeed] decreed that death shall be [ever-present] among you: but there is nothing to prevent Us
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 60
عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمۡثَٰلَكُمۡ وَنُنشِئَكُمۡ فِي مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ
from changing the nature of your existence and bringing you into being [anew] in a manner [as yet] unknown to you
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 61
وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُمُ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ فَلَوۡلَا 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]
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 62
أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تَحۡرُثُونَ
Have you ever considered the seed which you cast upon the soil
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 63
ءَأَنتُمۡ تَزۡرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلزَّـٰرِعُونَ
Is it you who cause it to grow - or are We the cause of its growth
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 64
لَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلۡنَٰهُ حُطَٰمٗا فَظَلۡتُمۡ تَفَكَّهُونَ
[For,] were it Our will, We could indeed turn it into chaff, and you would be left to wonder [and to lament]
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 65
إِنَّا لَمُغۡرَمُونَ
“Verily, we are ruined
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 66
بَلۡ نَحۡنُ مَحۡرُومُونَ
Nay, but we have been deprived [of our livelihood]!”
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 67
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱلَّذِي تَشۡرَبُونَ
Have you ever considered the water which you drink
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 68
ءَأَنتُمۡ أَنزَلۡتُمُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُزۡنِ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡمُنزِلُونَ
Is it you who cause it to come down from the clouds - or are We the cause of its coming down
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 69
لَوۡ نَشَآءُ جَعَلۡنَٰهُ أُجَاجٗا فَلَوۡلَا تَشۡكُرُونَ
[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]
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 70
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِي تُورُونَ
Have you ever considered the fire which you kindle
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 71
ءَأَنتُمۡ أَنشَأۡتُمۡ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡمُنشِـُٔونَ
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
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 72
نَحۡنُ جَعَلۡنَٰهَا تَذۡكِرَةٗ وَمَتَٰعٗا لِّلۡمُقۡوِينَ
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]
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 73
فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ
Extol, then, the limitless glory of thy Sustainer’s mighty name
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 74
۞فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ
NAY, I call to witness the coming-down in parts [of this Qur’an]
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 75
وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٞ لَّوۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ
and, behold, this is indeed a most solemn affirmation, if you but knew it
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 76
إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرۡءَانٞ كَرِيمٞ
Behold, it is a truly noble discourse
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 77
فِي كِتَٰبٖ مَّكۡنُونٖ
[conveyed unto man] in a well-guarded divine writ
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 78
لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلۡمُطَهَّرُونَ
which none but the pure [of heart] can touch
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 79
تَنزِيلٞ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ
a revelation from the Sustainer of all the worlds
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 80
أَفَبِهَٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدۡهِنُونَ
Would you, now, look down with disdain on a tiding like this
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 81
وَتَجۡعَلُونَ رِزۡقَكُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ تُكَذِّبُونَ
and make it your daily bread [as it were] to call the truth a lie
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 82
فَلَوۡلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلۡحُلۡقُومَ
Why, then, when [the last breath] comes up to the throat [of a dying man]
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 83
وَأَنتُمۡ حِينَئِذٖ تَنظُرُونَ
the while you are [helplessly] looking on
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 84
وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنكُمۡ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبۡصِرُونَ
and while We are closer to him than you, although you see [Us] not
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 85
فَلَوۡلَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ غَيۡرَ مَدِينِينَ
why, then, if [you think that] you are not truly dependent [on Us]
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 86
تَرۡجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ
can you not cause that [ebbing life] to return - if what you claim is true
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 87
فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبِينَ
[ALL OF YOU are destined to die.] Now if one happens to be of those who are drawn close unto God
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 88
فَرَوۡحٞ وَرَيۡحَانٞ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٖ
happiness [awaits him in the life to come], and inner fulfillment, and a garden of bliss
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 89
وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ
And if one happens to be of those who have attained to righteousness
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 90
فَسَلَٰمٞ لَّكَ مِنۡ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ
[he, too, will be welcomed into paradise with the words,] “Peace be unto thee [that art] of those who have attained to righteousness!”
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 91
وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
But if one happens to be of those who are wont to call the truth a lie, and [thus] go astray
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 92
فَنُزُلٞ مِّنۡ حَمِيمٖ
a welcome of burning despair [awaits him in the life to come]
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 93
وَتَصۡلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ
and the heat of a blazing fire
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 94
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلۡيَقِينِ
Verily, this is indeed the truth of truths
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 95
فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ
Extol, then, the limitless glory of thy Sustainer’s mighty name
Surah Al-Waqia, Verse 96