Surahs
1 - Al-Fatihah
2 - Al-Baqarah
3 - Aal-i-Imran
4 - An-Nisa
5 - Al-Ma'ida
6 - Al-An'am
7 - Al-A'raf
8 - Al-Anfal
9 - At-Taubah
10 - Yunus
11 - Hud
12 - Yusuf
13 - Ar-Ra'd
14 - Ibrahim
15 - Al-Hijr
16 - An-Nahl
17 - Al-Isra
18 - Al-Kahf
19 - Maryam
20 - Ta-Ha
21 - Al-Anbiya
22 - Al-Hajj
23 - Al-Mu'minun
24 - An-Nur
25 - Al-Furqan
26 - Ash-Shu'ara
27 - An-Naml
28 - Al-Qasas
29 - Al-Ankabut
30 - Ar-Rum
31 - Luqman
32 - As-Sajda
33 - Al-Ahzab
34 - Saba
35 - Fatir
36 - Ya-Sin
37 - As-Saffat
38 - Saad
39 - Az-Zumar
40 - Al-Mu'min | Ghafir
41 - Sajdah | Fussilat
42 - Ash-Shura
43 - Az-Zukhruf
44 - Ad-Dukhan
45 - Al-Jathiya
46 - Al-Ahqaf
47 - Muhammad
48 - Al-Fat-h
49 - Al-Hujurat
50 - Qaf
51 - Adh-Dhariyat
52 - At-Tur
53 - An-Najm
54 - Al-Qamar
55 - Ar-Rahman
56 - Al-Waqi'a
57 - Al-Hadid
58 - Al-Mujadila
59 - Al-Hashr
60 - Al-Mumtahana
61 - As-Saff
62 - Al-Jumu'a
63 - Al-Munafiqun
64 - At-Tagabun
65 - At-Talaq
66 - At-Tahrim
67 - Al-Mulk
68 - Al-Qalam
69 - Al-Haqqa
70 - Al-Ma'arij
71 - Nuh
72 - Al-Jinn
73 - Al-Muzzammil
74 - Al-Muddathir
75 - Al-Qiyamat
76 - Al-Insaan | Ad-Dahr
77 - Al-Mursalat
78 - An-Nabaa
79 - An-Nazi'at
80 - Abasa
81 - At-Takwir
82 - Al-Infitar
83 - Al-Mutaffifin
84 - Al-Inshiqaq
85 - Al-Buruj
86 - At-Tariq
87 - Al-A'la
88 - Al-Gashiya
89 - Al-Fajr
90 - Al-Balad
91 - Ash-Shams
92 - Al-Lail
93 - Adh-Dhuha
94 - Ash-Sharh
95 - At-Tin
96 - Al-Alaq
97 - Al-Qadr
98 - Al-Baiyina
99 - Al-Zalzalah
100 - Al-Adiyat
101 - Al-Qari'a
102 - At-Takathur
103 - Al-Asr
104 - Al-Humaza
105 - Al-Fil
106 - Quraish
107 - Al-Ma'un
108 - Al-Kauthar
109 - Al-Kafirun
110 - An-Nasr
111 - Al-Lahab
112 - Al-Ikhlas
113 - Al-Falaq
114 - Al-Nas
Outlook
The Meaning of the Qur'an - Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al Qur'an
______________________________________
56. Surah Al Waqia (The Inevitable Event)
Name
The Surah takes its name from the word al-waqi`ah of the very first verse.
Period of Revelation
According to the chronological order that Hadrat Abdullah bin Abbas has given of the Surahs, first Surah Ta Ha was sent down, then Al-Waqi'ah and then Ash-Shu`ara'(Suyuti: Al-Itqan). The same sequence has been reported from Ikrimah (Baihaqi: Dala'il an Nubuwwat).
This is supported also by the story that Ibn Hisham has related from Ibn Ishaq about the affirmation of the Faith by Hadrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). It says that when Hadarat Umar entered his sister's house, Surah Ta Ha was being recited. Hearing his voice the people of the house hid the pages of the Qur'an. Hadrat Umar first seized his brother-in-law and then his sister rose in defense of her husband, he hit her also and wounded her on the head. When Umar saw blood on his sister, he was sorry for what he had done, and said to her: "Show me the manuscript that you have concealed so that I may see what it contains." The sister said: "You are unclean because of your polytheism: wa anna-hu la yamassu-ha ill-at-tahir: "Only a clean person can touch it." So, Hadrat Umar rose and washed himself, and then took up the manuscript to read it. This shows that Sarah Al-Waqi'ah had been sent down by that time for it contains the verse: La yamassu hu ill al mutahharun; and it had been established historically that Hadrat Umar embraced Islam after the first migration to Habash, in the fifth year of the Prophethood.
Theme and Subject Matter
Its theme is the Hereafter, Tauhid and refutation of the Makkan disbelievers' suspicions about the Qur'an. What they regarded as utterly incredible was that Resurrection would ever take place, then the entire system of the earth and heavens would be upset, and when all the dead would be resurrected and called to account, after which the righteous would be admitted to Paradise and the wicked cast into Hell. They regarded all this as imaginary, which could not possibly happen in actual fact. In answer to this, it was said: "When the inevitable event will take place, there will be none to belie its happening, nor will anyone have the Power to avert it, nor prove it to, be an unreal happening. At that time all peoples will be divided into three classes: (1) The foremost in rank and position; (2) the common righteous people and (3) those who denied the Hereafter and persisted in disbelief and polytheism and major sins till the last." How these three classes of the people will be rewarded and punished has been described in detail in vv. 7-56.
Then, in vv. 57-74 arguments have been given, one after the other, to prove the truth of the two basic doctrines of Islam, which the disbelievers were refusing to accept, viz. the doctrines of Tauhid and the Hereafter. In these arguments, apart from every thing else that exists in the earth and heavens, man's attention has been drawn to his own body and to the food that he eats and to the water that he drinks and to the fire on which he cooks his food, and he has been invited to ponder the question : What right do you have to behave independently of, or serve any other than, the God Whose creative power has brought you into being, and Whose provisions sustain you And how can you entertain the idea that after having once brought you into existence He has become so helpless and powerless that He cannot recreate you once again even if he wills to?
Then, in vv. 75-82 their suspicions in respect of the Qur'an have been refuted and they have been made to realize how fortunate they are that instead of deriving any benefit from the great blessing that the Qur'an is, they are treating it with scant attention and have set only this share of theirs in it that they deny it. If one seriously considers this matchless argument that has been presented in two brief sentences about the truth of the Qur'an, one will find in it the same kind of firm and stable system as exists among the stars and planets of the Universe, and the same is the proof of the fact that its Author is the same Being Who has created the Universe. Then the disbelievers have been told that this Book is inscribed in that Writ of Destiny which is beyond the reach of the creatures, as if to say "You think it is brought down by the devils to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), whereas none but the pure angels has any access to the means by which it reaches Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) from the well guarded Tablet."
In conclusion, man has been warned, as if to say: "You may brad and boast as you like and may shut your eyes to the truths in your arrogance of independence, but death is enough to open your eyes. At death you become helpless: you cannot save your own parents; you cannot save your children; you cannot save your religious guided and beloved leaders. They all die in front of your vary eyes while you look on helplessly. If there is no supreme power ruling over you, and your this assumption is correct that you are all in all in the world, and there is no God, then why don't you restore to the dying person his soul?Just as you are helpless in this, so it is also beyond your power to stop Allah from calling the people to account and mete out rewards and punishments to them. You may or may not believe it, but every dying person will surely see his own end after death. If he belongs to those nearest to God, he will see the good end meant for them if he be from among the righteous, he will see the end prepared for the righteous; and if he be from among the deniers of the truth, he will see the end destined for the criminals.
Maududi: English
Al-Waqi'a
Juz 27
1
إِذَا وَقَعَتِ الْوَاقِعَةُ ﴿١﴾ لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ ﴿٢﴾ خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ ﴿٣﴾ إِذَا رُجَّتِ الْأَرْضُ رَجًّا ﴿٤﴾ وَبُسَّتِ الْجِبَالُ بَسًّا ﴿٥﴾ فَكَانَتْ هَبَاءً مُّنبَثًّا ﴿٦﴾ وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَاجًا ثَلَاثَةً ﴿٧﴾ فَأَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ ﴿٨﴾ وَأَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ ﴿٩﴾ وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ ﴿١٠﴾ أُولَٰئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ ﴿١١﴾ فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ ﴿١٢﴾ ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿١٣﴾ وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنَ الْآخِرِينَ ﴿١٤﴾ عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَّوْضُونَةٍ ﴿١٥﴾ مُّتَّكِئِينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَابِلِينَ ﴿١٦﴾
When the Event will come to pass (1) – and then there will be no one to deny its occurrence – (2) (a calamitous Event) that shall turn things upside down: (3) when the earth will suddenly shake with a terrible shaking, (4) and the mountains will crumble (5) and will scatter abroad into fine dust. (6) You shall then become three groups. (7) The People on the Right: and how fortunate will be the People on the Right! (8) And the People on the Left: and how miserable will be the People on the Left! (9) As for the Foremost, they will be the foremost! (10) They shall be near-stationed (to their Lord), (11) in the Gardens of Bliss. (12) A throng of the ancients, (13) and a few from later times. (14) They (will be seated) on gold-encrusted couches, (15) reclining on them, arrayed face to face; (16)
Maududi: English
Al-Waqi'a
Juz 27
2
يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ ﴿١٧﴾ بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ مِّن مَّعِينٍ ﴿١٨﴾ لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ ﴿١٩﴾ وَفَاكِهَةٍ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ ﴿٢٠﴾ وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ ﴿٢١﴾ وَحُورٌ عِينٌ ﴿٢٢﴾ كَأَمْثَالِ اللُّؤْلُؤِ الْمَكْنُونِ ﴿٢٣﴾ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٢٤﴾ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا ﴿٢٥﴾ إِلَّا قِيلًا سَلَامًا سَلَامًا ﴿٢٦﴾ وَأَصْحَابُ الْيَمِينِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْيَمِينِ ﴿٢٧﴾ فِي سِدْرٍ مَّخْضُودٍ ﴿٢٨﴾ وَطَلْحٍ مَّنضُودٍ ﴿٢٩﴾ وَظِلٍّ مَّمْدُودٍ ﴿٣٠﴾ وَمَاءٍ مَّسْكُوبٍ ﴿٣١﴾ وَفَاكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ ﴿٣٢﴾ لَّا مَقْطُوعَةٍ وَلَا مَمْنُوعَةٍ ﴿٣٣﴾ وَفُرُشٍ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ ﴿٣٤﴾ إِنَّا أَنشَأْنَاهُنَّ إِنشَاءً ﴿٣٥﴾ فَجَعَلْنَاهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا ﴿٣٦﴾ عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًا ﴿٣٧﴾ لِّأَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ ﴿٣٨﴾ ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿٣٩﴾ وَثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْآخِرِينَ ﴿٤٠﴾ وَأَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ ﴿٤١﴾ فِي سَمُومٍ وَحَمِيمٍ ﴿٤٢﴾ وَظِلٍّ مِّن يَحْمُومٍ ﴿٤٣﴾ لَّا بَارِدٍ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ ﴿٤٤﴾ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتْرَفِينَ ﴿٤٥﴾ وَكَانُوا يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى الْحِنثِ الْعَظِيمِ ﴿٤٦﴾ وَكَانُوا يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَامًا أَإِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ ﴿٤٧﴾ أَوَآبَاؤُنَا الْأَوَّلُونَ ﴿٤٨﴾ قُلْ إِنَّ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَالْآخِرِينَ ﴿٤٩﴾ لَمَجْمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَاتِ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ ﴿٥٠﴾
immortal youths shall go about them (17) with goblets and ewers and a cup filled with a drink drawn from a running spring, (18) a drink by which their minds will not be clouded nor will it cause drunkenness; (19) they will also go about them with the fruits of which they may choose, (20) and with the flesh of any fowl that they may desire to eat; (21) and there shall be wide-eyed maidens, (22) beautiful as pearls hidden in their shells. (23) All this shall be theirs as a reward for their deeds. (24) There they shall hear no idle talk nor any sinful speech. (25) All talk will be sound and upright. (26) As for the People on the Right, how fortunate shall be the people on the Right! (27) They shall be in the midst of thornless lote trees, (28) and flower-clad acacias, (29) and extended shade, (30) and gushing water, (31) and abundant fruit, (32) never-ending and unforbidden. (33) They shall be on upraised couches, (34) and their spouses We shall have brought them into being afresh, (35) and shall have made them virgins, (36) intensely loving and of matching age. (37) All this will be for the People on the Right; (38) a large throng from the ancients, (39) and also a large throng from those of later times. (40) As for the People on the Left: how miserable will be the People on the Left! (41) They will be in the midst of scorching wind and boiling water, (42) and a shade of thick, pitch-black smoke, (43) which will neither be cool nor soothing. (44) Surely they had lived before in luxury, (45) and had persisted in the Great Sin. (46) They used to say: “What! Once we are dead and are reduced to dust and bones, shall we still be raised to a new life from the dead? (47) (We) and our fore-fathers of yore?” (48) Tell them, (O Prophet): “The earlier ones and the later ones (49) shall all be brought together on an appointed Day. (50)
Maududi: English
Al-Waqi'a
Juz 27
3
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا الضَّالُّونَ الْمُكَذِّبُونَ ﴿٥١﴾ لَآكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍ مِّن زَقُّومٍ ﴿٥٢﴾ فَمَالِئُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ ﴿٥٣﴾ فَشَارِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْحَمِيمِ ﴿٥٤﴾ فَشَارِبُونَ شُرْبَ الْهِيمِ ﴿٥٥﴾ هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمْ يَوْمَ الدِّينِ ﴿٥٦﴾ نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَاكُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ ﴿٥٧﴾ أَفَرَأَيْتُم مَّا تُمْنُونَ ﴿٥٨﴾ أَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْخَالِقُونَ ﴿٥٩﴾ نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ ﴿٦٠﴾ عَلَىٰ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِي مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٦١﴾ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ النَّشْأَةَ الْأُولَىٰ فَلَوْلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾ أَفَرَأَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ ﴿٦٣﴾ أَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَّارِعُونَ ﴿٦٤﴾ لَوْ نَشَاءُ لَجَعَلْنَاهُ حُطَامًا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ ﴿٦٥﴾ إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ ﴿٦٦﴾ بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ ﴿٦٧﴾ أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ الْمَاءَ الَّذِي تَشْرَبُونَ ﴿٦٨﴾ أَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ الْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنزِلُونَ ﴿٦٩﴾ لَوْ نَشَاءُ جَعَلْنَاهُ أُجَاجًا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٧٠﴾ أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ النَّارَ الَّتِي تُورُونَ ﴿٧١﴾ أَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَا أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنشِئُونَ ﴿٧٢﴾ نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَاهَا تَذْكِرَةً وَمَتَاعًا لِّلْمُقْوِينَ ﴿٧٣﴾ فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ ﴿٧٤﴾ ۞ فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَاقِعِ النُّجُومِ ﴿٧٥﴾ وَإِنَّهُ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٧٦﴾
Then you, the erring ones and those that gave the lie to the Truth, (51) shall all eat from the Tree of al-Zaqqum, (52) filling your bellies with it; (53) and thereupon you shall drink boiling water, (54) drinking it as thirsty camels do.” (55) Thus shall they be entertained on the Day of Recompense. (56) We have created you, then why would you not confirm it? (57) Did you ever consider the sperm that you emit? (58) Do you create a child out of it, or are We its creators? (59) It is We Who ordained death upon you and We are not to be frustrated. (60) Had We so wished, nothing could have hindered Us from replacing you by others like yourselves, or transforming you into beings you know nothing about. (61) You are well aware of the first creation; then, do you learn no lesson from it? (62) Have you considered the seeds you till? (63) Is it you or We Who make them grow? (64) If We so wished, We could have reduced your harvest to rubble, and you would have been left wonder-struck to exclaim: (65) “We have been penalised; (66) nay; we have been undone!” (67) Did you cast a good look at the water that you drink? (68) Is it you who brought it down from the clouds or is it We Who brought it down? (69) If We had so pleased, We could have made it bitter. So why would you not give thanks? (70) Did you consider the fire which you kindle? (71) Did you make its tree grow or was it We Who made it grow? (72) We made it a reminder and a provision for the needy. (73) Glorify, then, (O Prophet), the name of your Great Lord. (74) No! I swear by the positions of the stars – (75) and this is indeed a mighty oath, if only you knew – (76)
Maududi: English
Al-Waqi'a
Juz 27
4
إِنَّهُ لَقُرْآنٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿٧٧﴾ فِي كِتَابٍ مَّكْنُونٍ ﴿٧٨﴾ لَّا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ ﴿٧٩﴾ تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٨٠﴾ أَفَبِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ ﴿٨١﴾ وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ ﴿٨٢﴾ فَلَوْلَا إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ ﴿٨٣﴾ وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَنظُرُونَ ﴿٨٤﴾ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٨٥﴾ فَلَوْلَا إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ ﴿٨٦﴾ تَرْجِعُونَهَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ﴿٨٧﴾ فَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ ﴿٨٨﴾ فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍ ﴿٨٩﴾ وَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ ﴿٩٠﴾ فَسَلَامٌ لَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ ﴿٩١﴾ وَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٩٢﴾ فَنُزُلٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ ﴿٩٣﴾ وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ ﴿٩٤﴾ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ الْيَقِينِ ﴿٩٥﴾ فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ ﴿٩٦﴾
that this indeed is a noble Qur'an, (77) inscribed in a well-guarded Book, (78) which none but the pure may touch; (79) a revelation from the Lord of the Universe. (80) Do you, then, take this discourse in light esteem, (81) and your portion in it is simply that you denounce it as false? (82) Why, then, when the soul leaps up to the throat, (83) the while you are helplessly watching that he is on the verge of death, (84) – at that moment when We are closer to him than you, although you do not see (Us) (85) if you are not subject to anyone's authority, (86) why are you then not able to bring them back to life if you are truthful? (87) So if he is one of those who are near-stationed (to Allah), (88) then happiness and delight and Gardens of Bliss are his. (89) And if he is one of the People on the Right, (90) he will be welcomed by the words: “Peace to you” from the People on the Right. (91) And if he is one of those who give the lie (to this Message) and go astray, (92) then he will be served boiling water, (93) and will be scorched by the Fire. (94) That indeed is the absolute truth. (95) So glorify the name of your Great Lord. (96)