Surah Al-Waqiah is a very eye-opening Surah in the Quran. It is the 56th chapter in the Holy Book and comprises 96 versus. It is believed that it was revealed around 615-616 AD in Makkah approximately seven years before the Holy Prophet (PBUH) migrated to Madina.

Surah Al-Waqiah is the next chapter after Surah Rahman. While the preceding chapter discusses the great rewards to be found in Heaven, Surah Al-Waqiah also gives insight into the contrasting punishments of Hell. This Surah also goes into detail about the division of people in the hereafter into ‘The Foremost’, ‘The Companions of the Right Hand’ and ‘The Companions of the Left Hand’; detailing what place they receive in the afterlife. 

Surah Al-Waqiah is also known as the Surah of Wealth. It is said that reciting this surah every night can save one from a life of poverty; a Hadith of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) states, “The one who reads / recites Surah Waqiah every night, poverty will not befall him.”

Surah Al-Waqiah

Transliteration and Meaning

Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

1. Izaa waqa’atil waaqi’ah

When the Event inevitable cometh to pass,

2. Laisa liwaq’atihaa kaazibah

Then will no (soul) entertain falsehood concerning its coming.

3. Khafidatur raafi’ah

(Many) will it bring low; (many) will it exalt;

4. Izaa rujjatil ardu rajjaa

When the earth shall be shaken to its depths,

5. Wa bussatil jibaalu bassaa

And the mountains shall be crumbled to atoms,

6. Fakaanat habaaa’am mumbassaa

Becoming dust scattered abroad,

7. Wa kuntum azwaajan salaasah

And ye shall be sorted out into three classes.

8. Fa as haabul maimanati maaa as haabul maimanah

Then (there will be) the Companions of the Right Hand;- What will be the Companions of the Right Hand?

9. Wa as haabul mash’amati maaa as haabul mash’amah

And the Companions of the Left Hand,- what will be the Companions of the Left Hand?

10. Wassaabiqoonas saabiqoon

And those Foremost (in Faith) will be Foremost (in the Hereafter).

11. Ulaaa’ikal muqarraboon

These will be those Nearest to Allah:

12. Fee Jannaatin Na’eem

In Gardens of Bliss:

13. Sullatum minal awwaleen

A number of people from those of old,

14. Wa qaleelum minal akhirin

And a few from those of later times.

15. ‘Alaa sururim mawdoonah

(They will be) on Thrones encrusted (with gold and precious stones),

16. Muttaki’eena ‘alaihaa mutaqabileen

Reclining on them, facing each other.

17. Yatoofu ‘alaihim wildaa num mukhalladoon

Round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness),

18. Bi akwaabinw wa abaareeq, wa kaasim mim ma’een

With goblets, (shining) beakers, and cups (filled) out of clear-flowing fountains

19. Laa yusadda’oona ‘anhaa wa laa yunzifoon

No after-ache will they receive therefrom, nor will they suffer intoxication:

20. Wa faakihatim mimmaa yatakhaiyaroon

And with fruits, any that they may select:

21. Wa lahmi tairim mimmaa yashtahoon

And the flesh of fowls, any that they may desire.

22. Wa hoorun’een

And (there will be) Companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes,-

23. Ka amsaalil lu’lu’il maknoon

Like unto Pearls well-guarded.

24. Jazaaa’am bimaa kaanoo ya’maloon

A Reward for the deeds of their past (life).

25. Laa yasma’oona feehaa laghwanw wa laa taaseemaa

Not frivolity will they hear therein, nor any taint of ill,-

26. Illaa qeelan salaaman salaamaa

Only the saying, “Peace! Peace”.

27. Wa as haabul yameeni maaa as haabul Yameen

The Companions of the Right Hand,- what will be the Companions of the Right Hand?

28. Fee sidrim makhdood

(They will be) among Lote-trees without thorns,

29. Wa talhim mandood

Among Talh trees with flowers (or fruits) piled one above another,-

30. Wa zillim mamdood

In shade long-extended,

31. Wa maaa’im maskoob

By water flowing constantly,

32. Wa faakihatin kaseerah

And fruit in abundance.

33. Laa maqtoo’atinw wa laa mamnoo’ah

Whose season is not limited, nor (supply) forbidden,

34. Wa furushim marfoo’ah

And on Thrones (of Dignity), raised high.

35. Innaaa anshaanaahunna inshaaa’aa

We have created (their Companions) of special creation.

36. Faja’alnaahunna abkaaraa

And made them virgin – pure (and undefiled), –

37. ‘Uruban atraabaa

Beloved (by nature), equal in age,-

38. Li as haabil yameen

For the Companions of the Right Hand.

39. Sullatum minal awwa leen

A (goodly) number from those of old,

40. Wa sullatum minal aakhireen

And a (goodly) number from those of later times.

41. Wa as haabush shimaali maaa as haabush shimaal

The Companions of the Left Hand,- what will be the Companions of the Left Hand?

42. Fee samoominw wa hameem

(They will be) in the midst of a Fierce Blast of Fire and in Boiling Water,

43. Wa zillim miny yahmoom

And in the shades of Black Smoke:

44. Laa baaridinw wa laa kareem

Nothing (will there be) to refresh, nor to please:

45. Innaahum kaanoo qabla zaalika mutrafeen

For that they were wont to be indulged, before that, in wealth (and luxury),

46. Wa kaanoo yusirroona ‘alal hinsil ‘azeem

And persisted obstinately in wickedness supreme!

47. Wa kaanoo yaqooloona a’izaa mitnaa wa kunnaa turaabanw wa izaaman’ainnaa lamab’oosoon

And they used to say, “What! when we die and become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be raised up again?-

48. Awa aabaaa’unal awwaloon

“(We) and our fathers of old?”

49. Qul innal awwaleena wal aakhireen

Say: “Yea, those of old and those of later times,

50. Lamajmoo’oona ilaa meeqaati yawmim ma’loom

“All will certainly be gathered together for the meeting appointed for a Day well-known.

51. summa innakum ayyuhad daaalloonal mukazziboon

“Then will ye truly,- O ye that go wrong, and treat (Truth) as Falsehood!-

52. La aakiloona min shaja rim min zaqqoom

“Ye will surely taste of the Tree of Zaqqum.

53. Famaali’oona minhal butoon

“Then will ye fill your insides therewith,

54. Fashaariboona ‘alaihi minal hameem

“And drink Boiling Water on top of it:

55. Fashaariboona shurbal heem

“Indeed ye shall drink like diseased camels raging with thirst!”

56. Haazaa nuzuluhum yawmad deen

Such will be their entertainment on the Day of Requital!

57. Nahnu khalaqnaakum falaw laa tusaddiqoon

It is We Who have created you: why will ye not witness the Truth?

58. Afara’aytum maa tumnoon

Do ye then see?- The (human Seed) that ye throw out,-

59. ‘A-antum takhluqoo nahooo am nahnul khaaliqoon

Is it ye who created it, or are We the Creators?

60. Nahnu qaddarnaa baina kumul mawta wa maa nahnu bimasbooqeen

We have decreed Death to be your common lot, and We are not to be frustrated

61. ‘Alaaa an nubaddila amsaalakum wa nunshi’akum fee maa laa ta’lamoon

from changing your Forms and creating you (again) in (forms) that ye know not.

62. Wa laqad ‘alimtumun nash atal oolaa falaw laa tazakkaroon

And ye certainly know already the first form of creation: why then do ye not celebrate His praises?

63. Afara’aytum maa tahrusoon

See ye the seed that ye sow in the ground?

64. ‘A-antum tazra’oonahooo am nahnuz zaari’ooon

Is it ye that cause it to grow, or are We the Cause?

65. Law nashaaa’u laja’al naahu hutaaman fazaltum tafakkahoon

Were it Our Will, We could crumble it to dry powder, and ye would be left in wonderment,

66. Innaa lamughramoon

(Saying), “We are indeed left with debts (for nothing):

67. Bal nahnu mahroomoon

“Indeed are we shut out (of the fruits of our labour)”

68. Afara’aytumul maaa’allazee tashraboon

See ye the water which ye drink?

69. ‘A-antum anzaltumoohu minal muzni am nahnul munziloon

Do ye bring it down (in rain) from the cloud or do We?

70. Law nashaaa’u ja’alnaahu ujaajan falaw laa tashkuroon

Were it Our Will, We could make it salt (and unpalatable): then why do ye not give thanks?

71. Afara’aytumun naaral latee tooroon

See ye the Fire which ye kindle?

72. ‘A-antum anshaatum shajaratahaaa am nahnul munshi’oon

Is it ye who grows the tree which feeds the fire, or do We grow it?

73. Nahnu ja’alnaahaa tazkira tanw wa mataa’al lilmuqween

We have made it a memorial (of Our handiwork), and an article of comfort and convenience for the denizens of deserts.

74. Fasabbih bismi Rabbikal ‘azeem

Then celebrate with praises the name of thy Lord, the Supreme!

75. Falaa uqsimu bimaawaa qi’innujoom

Furthermore I call to witness the setting of the Stars,-

76. Wa innahoo laqasamul lawta’lamoona’azeem

And that is indeed a mighty adjuration if ye but knew,-

77. Innahoo la quraanun kareem

That this is indeed a qur´an Most Honourable,

78. Fee kitaabim maknoon

In Book well-guarded,

79. Laa yamassuhooo illal mutahharoon

Which none shall touch but those who are clean:

80. Tanzeelum mir Rabbil’aalameen

A Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.

81. Afabihaazal hadeesi antum mudhinoon

Is it such a Message that ye would hold in light esteem?

82. Wa taj’aloona rizqakum annakum tukazziboon

And have ye made it your livelihood that ye should declare it false?

83. Falaw laaa izaa balaghatil hulqoom

Then why do ye not (intervene) when (the soul of the dying man) reaches the throat,-

84. Wa antum heena’izin tanzuroon

And ye the while (sit) looking on,-

85. Wa nahnu aqrabu ilaihi minkum wa laakil laa tubsiroon

But We are nearer to him than ye, and yet see not,-

86. Falaw laaa in kuntum ghaira madeeneen

Then why do ye not,- If you are exempt from (future) account,-

87. Tarji’oonahaaa in kuntum saadiqeen

Call back the soul, if ye are true (in the claim of independence)?

88. Fa ammaaa in kaana minal muqarrabeen

Thus, then, if he be of those Nearest to Allah,

89. Farawhunw wa raihaa nunw wa jannatu na’eem

(There is for him) Rest and Satisfaction, and a Garden of Delights.

90. Wa ammaaa in kaana min as haabil yameen

And if he be of the Companions of the Right Hand,

91. Fasalaamul laka min as haabil yameen

(For him is the salutation), “Peace be unto thee”, from the Companions of the Right Hand.

92. Wa ammaaa in kaana minal mukazzibeenad daaalleen

And if he be of those who treat (Truth) as Falsehood, who go wrong,

93. Fanuzulum min hameem

For him is Entertainment with Boiling Water.

94. Wa tasliyatu jaheem

And burning in Hell-Fire.

95. Inna haaza lahuwa haqqul yaqeen

Verily, this is the Very Truth and Certainly.

96. Fasabbih bismi rabbikal ‘azeem

So celebrate with praises the name of thy Lord, the Supreme.

Download the WUZU app onto your smartphone to hear a beautiful recitation of Surah Al-Waqiah as you explore the Masjid Al Haram area in Makkah in stunningly detailed 3D imagery.