56. Al-Waqi'ah

When the Occurrence occurs,

When the inevitable event takes place

When the Inevitable Episode unfolds

There is, at its occurrence, no denial.

and there can be no denying its happening

None could, then, deny its unfolding

It will bring down [some] and raise up [others].1

some shall be abased and others exalted

Lowering some, raising others, the Great Equalizer

When the earth is shaken with convulsion

When the earth is shaken violently

When the land is shaken with a shaking (popular uprising)

And the mountains are broken down, crumbling

and the mountains are totally shattered and crumble to pieces

And the tyrannical powers crumble

And become dust dispersing,

and become like scattered dust particles

So that they scatter like sand in a sandstorm. (20:105), (28:20), (

And you become [of] three kinds:

[on that Day] you shall be divided into three groups

Then, you shall be three kinds

Then the companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?1

Those on the Right -- how blessed are those on the Right

So, (firstly) the blessed ones. Oh, how wonderful are the blessed ones! ('Yumn' = Blessing = Bliss = Grace = Right side = Right action (19:52), (28)

And the companions of the left - what are companions of the left?1

Those on the Left -- how unlucky are those on the Left

And (secondly) the unblessed ones. Ah, how unfortunate are the unblessed ones! ('Mash'amah, from 'Shimal' = Unblessed = Left side = Wrong action (18:17), (56)

And the forerunners, the forerunners1 -

The third to the fore shall be the foremost

And (thirdly) the foremost are the foremost! (Those who led the race in doing good (55)

Those are the ones brought near [to Allāh]

They shall be the nearest to God

They are the ones near (to their Lord), in both lives

In the Gardens of Pleasure,

They will dwell in the Gardens of Bliss

In Gardens of Delight

A [large] company of the former peoples

a large group of the early believers

A good many of those who led in goodness

And a few of the later peoples,

and a lesser number from the later generations

And some of those who trailed after them

On thrones woven [with ornament],

Seated on couches wrought in gold and encrusted with precious stones

On decorated thrones

Reclining on them, facing each other.

reclining on them facing each other

Reclining thereon, socializing

There will circulate among them young boys made eternal.

they will be waited on by ageless youths

Their children immortal, playful around them. (13:23), (52:2)

With vessels, pitchers and a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring -

carrying goblets and ewers and cups filled with the purest wine

With goblets, glistening beakers, and sparkling drinks

No headache will they have therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated -

neither causing headaches, nor intoxication

Wherefrom they get no headache nor beclouding of mind

And fruit of what they select

along with fruits of their choice

And fruit of their choice

And the meat of fowl, from whatever they desire.

and the meat of any bird that they may desire

The supreme delicacies of life

And [for them are] fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes,

and fair maidens with large, lustrous eyes

And lovely, intelligent spouses of vision

The likenesses of pearls well-protected,

like the pearls in their shells

Like unto pearls well-guarded, far from vice

As reward for what they used to do.

shall be their recompense for their deeds

A reward for what they used to do

They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin -

They will not hear therein any vain or sinful talk

No vain talk will they hear therein, nor any call restraining from further development. ('Ithm' = Word or action that restrains, drags down or hurts human potential)

Only a saying [of] peace, peace.

only the words of peace and tranquillity

Nothing but the greeting and tiding of Peace! (And in the earthly paradise individuals contribute toward peace and security of the society)

The companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?

Those on the Right, how fortunate are those on the Right

And the blessed ones. Oh, how wonderful are the blessed ones

[They will be] among lote trees with thorns removed.

They shall recline on high amidst lote trees without thorns

Among orchards of life without thorns

And [banana] trees layered [with fruit].

and clustered bananas

And trees laden with fruit and flower

And shade extended.

and spreading shade

And cool expanded shades of abundant delight

And water poured out

and flowing water

And water falls

And fruit, abundant [and varied],

and fruits in abundance

And fruit abounding

Neither limited [to season] nor forbidden,

never-ending and unrestricted

Never interrupted, never too far

And [upon] beds raised high.

on raised couches

And on thrones, raised in honor

Indeed, We have produced them [i.e., the women of Paradise] in a [new] creation

We have created maidens perfectly

Behold, We have given these women a new being (wholly different from the Age of Ignorance)

And made them virgins,

and made them virgins

And made them of unparalleled virtue

Devoted [to their husbands] and of equal age,

loving companions, matching in age

Eloquent, made of the same mettle, harmonious, blending well in the society. ('Urub' from 'Arabi' = Eloquent. 'Turab' = Dust = Harmonious = Of the same mettle = Well-blended (43)

For the companions of the right [who are]

for those on the Right

They deserve the most blessed people

A company of the former peoples

a large group of the earlier people

A good many of those who led in goodness

And a company of the later peoples.

and a large group of those of later times

And a good many of those who trailed after them

And the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?

Those on the Left: how unfortunate are those on the Left

Then, the unblessed ones. Ah, how unfortunate are the unblessed ones

[They will be] in scorching fire and scalding water

They will find themselves in scorching wind and scalding water

In scorching wind, smoldering anguish

And a shade of black smoke,

and under the shadow of black smoke

Enshrouded in smoke, opaque

Neither cool nor beneficial.

neither cool nor refreshing

Neither coolness of contentment nor honor of accomplishment

Indeed they were, before that, indulging in affluence,

They had been affluent before

Behold, before this, they were sunk in luxury, exploiting the poor

And they used to persist in the great violation,1

and they persisted obstinately in awful sin

And stubbornly persisted in their violations

And they used to say, "When we die and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?

and they used to say, "What! After we have died and become dust and bones, shall we indeed be raised up again

And they used to say, "What! When we die and become dust and bones, shall we possibly be raised

And our forefathers [as well]?"

And also our forefathers

And also our forefathers

Say, [O Muḥammad], "Indeed, the former and later peoples

Say, "Indeed, the earlier ones and the later ones

Tell them, "Verily, those of old, and those of later generations

Are to be gathered together for the appointment of a known Day."

will indeed be gathered together at a fixed time on an appointed Day

All will be brought together on a Day assigned at an appointed time

Then indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers,

Then you, you misguided ones, who deny the truth

Then, behold, O You the straying deniers

Will be eating from trees of zaqqūm

shall eat the fruit of the tree of Zaqqum

You will eat the bitter fruit of the tree of your deeds. (37:62), (4)

And filling with it your bellies

and fill your bellies with it

And fill your bellies with it

And drinking on top of it from scalding water.

and shall drink boiling water on top of that

And drink of burning anguish (that you gave to others)

And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.

You shall drink it as the thirsty camels drink

And indeed drink as the camel with false thirst drinks." (Greed could never give you inner contentment (26:2)

That is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense.

This shall be their entertainment on the Day of Judgement

Such will be their welcome on the Day of Judgment

We have created you, so why do you not believe?

We have created you: why then do you not accept the truth

It is We Who have created you. Will you not, then, admit the Truth

Have you seen that which you emit?1

Have you thought about [the semen] that you discharge

Have you ever considered the male and female seed

Is it you who creates it, or are We the Creator?

did you create it or did We

Is it you who create it or are We the Creator

We have decreed death among you, and We are not to be outdone

It is We who have ordained death for all of you; and We cannot be prevented

We have designed the Laws of death among you and We are not unable

In that We will change your likenesses and produce you in that [form] which you do not know.1

from replacing you by others like yourselves or changing your forms and re-creating you in forms that you know nothing of

That We may change your existence and coming into being in a manner and in an environ you know not

And you have already known the first creation, so will you not remember?

You have certainly known the first creation. Why, then, do you not take heed

And indeed you know the first coming into being. Why, then, do you not reflect

And have you seen that [seed] which you sow?

Have you thought about what crops you plant

Have you thought of the crops that you cultivate

Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower?

Is it you who cause them to grow or do We

Is it you who grow it or are We the Grower

If We willed, We could make it [dry] debris, and you would remain in wonder,1

If We so pleased, We could turn your harvest into chaff. Then you would start lamenting

If We willed, We surely could turn it into chaff, then you would be left to exclaim

[Saying], "Indeed, we are [now] in debt;

We are ruined

Behold, we are now under debt

Rather, we have been deprived."

nay, we are deprived [altogether]

Nay, but we are deprived

And have you seen the water that you drink?

Have you considered the water that you drink

Have you thought of the water you drink

Is it you who brought it down from the clouds, or is it We who bring it down?

Is it you who cause it to descend from the clouds, or do We

Do you bring it down from the rain-cloud or do We

If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?

If We so pleased, We certainly could make it salty. Why, then, are you not grateful

If We willed, We surely could make it salty. Why, then, do you not show gratitude? (By devising an equitable system of provision for all)

And have you seen the fire that you ignite?

Have you thought about the fire that you kindle

Did you consider the fire you strike out

Is it you who produced its tree, or are We the producer?

Did you produce the tree that serves as fuel or do We

Is it you who grow the tree as its fuel, or do We grow it

We have made it a reminder1 and provision for the travelers,2

We have made it to be a reminder and a benefit for the wayfarers

We, yes, We have made this (fire) a reminder, and a gift for all of you who surely need it. (The use of fire is one of the Divine gifts that distinguishes mankind from the Animal Kingdom)

So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.

So glorify the name of your Lord, the Supreme

Work hard, then, to establish the Glory of your Lord's Supreme Name

Then I swear by the setting of the stars,1

Nay, I swear by the setting of the stars

Nay, I present the stellar orbits as witness. ('Mawaqi' = Different locations in the orbits)

And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great.

and, indeed, that is a most mighty oath, if you only knew

And behold! This, indeed, is a great witness if your knowledge can encompass it

Indeed, it is a noble Qur’ān.

that this is indeed a noble Quran

That this Qur'an is, indeed, a Noble Monograph

In a Register well-protected;1.

in a well-guarded preserved Book

In a well-guarded Book. (As conveyed to you)

None touch it except the purified [i.e., the angels].

which none can touch except the purified

The Book which none but the pure of mind can touch. (Those who approach the Qur'an with minds contaminated with preconceived notions and extrinsic material, will never understand it)

[It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.

It is a revelation sent down from the Lord of the worlds

A Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds

Then is it to this statement that you are indifferent

How can you regard this discourse with disdain

Now, is it this Hadith that you would hold in low esteem? (To uphold some other hadith)

And make [the thanks for] your provision that you deny [the Provider]?

Do you make its denial your means of livelihood

And make its denial your daily bread? (Peddling conjecture as a means of minting money)

Then why, when it [i.e., the soul at death] reaches the throat

Why, then, when the soul of the dying man reaches the throat

Why, then, as the last breath comes up to the throat

And you are at that time looking on -

and you are [at that moment] looking on [helplessly]

And as you look on

And We [i.e., Our angels] are nearer to him than you, but you do not see -

and We are nearer to him than you, although you cannot see Us

And We are closer unto him (the dying person) than you are, although you see not

Then why do you not, if you are not to be recompensed,

why, then, if you are not subject to Our command

Why not, then, if you owe nothing to Us

Bring it back,1 if you should be truthful?

do you not cause the soul to return to him if you are truthful in your claim

Make the departing return, if you are men of truth? (Denying the Fact that Allah alone is the Giver of life and death, and man owes his abilities, limited or abundant, to Him)

And if he [i.e., the deceased] was of those brought near [to Allāh],

But if he [the dying person] is one of those brought near to God

Now, if he is of those drawn near (for having walked aright)

Then [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure.

then for him there shall be comfort and plenty and a Garden of Bliss

(For him) Jubilation, and inner fulfillment, and a Garden of Bliss

And if he was of the companions of the right,

and if he is of those who are on the Right

And thus he is of the blessed ones

Then [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right."

he will be greeted with, "Peace be to you," by those on the Right

So, "Salutation of Peace be upon you!" - from the blessed ones

But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray,

But if he is one of those who rejected [the truth] and went astray

But if he is of the rejecters, the straying

Then [for him is] accommodation of scalding water

he will be welcomed with boiling water

Then the welcome will be smoldering anguish

And burning in Hellfire.

He will burn in Hell

And scorching heat before the Insurmountable Barrier

Indeed, this is the true certainty,

This is indeed the indubitable truth

Verily, this is the most Certain Truth

So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.

So glorify the name of your Lord, the Supreme

Work hard, then, to establish the Glory of your Lord's Supreme Name