Surah Al Waqiah in English: Translation, Meaning and Key Verses

Surah Al Waqiah is the 56th chapter of the Quran. It reminds us that the Day of Judgment is certain, that people will be sorted into three groups, and that everything we depend on every day, from grain to water to fire, comes from Allah. This guide gives the Arabic, transliteration, and meaning of its key verses, followed by the lessons and a careful look at the benefits people attribute to it.

Surah Al Waqiah at a Glance

• Arabic name: سورة الواقعة
• Meaning: The Inevitable, or The Event
• Chapter number: 56
• Verses: 96
• Juz: 27
• Revelation: Meccan
• Main themes: The Day of Judgment, the three groups of people, and the signs of Allah in creation

The Event and the Three Groups (Verses 1–14)

The surah opens with the Event nobody can deny, then sorts humanity into three groups. Read each verse while listening to a reciter, since transliteration only approximates Arabic sounds.

1. إِذَا وَقَعَتِ الْوَاقِعَةُ Izaa waqa’atil-waaqi’ah. Meaning: When the inevitable Event takes place,

2. لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ Laisa liwaq’atihaa kaazibah. Meaning: no one will be able to deny that it has come.

3. خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ Khaafidatur-raafi’ah. Meaning: It will bring some low and raise others high.

4. إِذَا رُجَّتِ الْأَرْضُ رَجًّا Izaa rujjatil-ardu rajjaa. Meaning: When the earth is shaken violently,

5. وَبُسَّتِ الْجِبَالُ بَسًّا Wa bussatil-jibaalu bassaa. Meaning: and the mountains are crushed to pieces,

6. فَكَانَتْ هَبَاءً مُّنبَثًّا Fakaanat habaaa’am-munbaththaa. Meaning: and become scattered dust,

7. وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَاجًا ثَلَاثَةً Wa kuntum azwaajan thalaathah. Meaning: you will be divided into three groups:

8. فَأَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ Fa-ashaabul-maimanati maaa ashaabul-maimanah. Meaning: First, the people of the right. What are the people of the right? [A rhetorical question that stresses how honoured they are.]

9. وَأَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ Wa ashaabul-mash’amati maaa ashaabul-mash’amah. Meaning: Second, the people of the left. What are the people of the left? [A rhetorical question that stresses how wretched their state is.]

10. وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ Was-saabiqoonas-saabiqoon. Meaning: And third, the foremost, who raced ahead in faith and good deeds.

11. أُولَٰئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ Ulaaa’ikal-muqarraboon. Meaning: They are the ones brought near to Allah,

12. فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ Fee jannaatin-na’eem. Meaning: in the Gardens of Bliss.

13. ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ Thullatum minal-awwaleen. Meaning: Many of them from the earlier generations

14. وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنَ الْآخِرِينَ Wa qaleelum minal-aakhireen. Meaning: and a few from the later generations.

The rest of the passage describes where each group ends up. The foremost enjoy Paradise (verses 15–26). The people of the right are among thornless lote trees, extended shade, flowing water, and abundant fruit (verses 27–40). The people of the left face scorching heat, scalding water, and black smoke (verses 41–56), because they lived in luxury, persisted in great wrongdoing, and denied the resurrection.

Reflection: Everyone ends up in one of these three groups, which is a good reason to ask which one you are working towards.

Signs in Creation: Seeds, Water and Fire (Verses 63–74)

In this passage Allah asks a series of questions about things we use daily without a second thought.

63. أَفَرَأَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ Afara’aytum maa tahruthoon. Meaning: Have you considered the seed you sow?

64. أَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَّارِعُونَ A-antum tazra’oonahoo am nahnuz-zaari’oon. Meaning: Is it you who make it grow, or are We the One who grows it?

65. لَوْ نَشَاءُ لَجَعَلْنَاهُ حُطَامًا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ Law nashaaa’u laja’alnaahu hutaaman fazaltum tafakkahoon. Meaning: If We willed, We could turn it into dry debris, and you would be left in astonishment,

66. إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ Innaa lamughramoon. Meaning: saying, “We are burdened with loss!”

67. بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ Bal nahnu mahroomoon. Meaning: “No, we have been deprived altogether.”

68. أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ الْمَاءَ الَّذِي تَشْرَبُونَ Afara’aytumul-maaa’al-lazee tashraboon. Meaning: Have you considered the water you drink?

69. أَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ الْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنزِلُونَ A-antum anzaltumoohu minal-muzni am nahnul-munziloon. Meaning: Is it you who send it down from the clouds, or are We the One who sends it down?

70. لَوْ نَشَاءُ جَعَلْنَاهُ أُجَاجًا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ Law nashaaa’u ja’alnaahu ujaajan falawlaa tashkuroon. Meaning: If We willed, We could make it bitter. So why do you not give thanks?

71. أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ النَّارَ الَّتِي تُورُونَ Afara’aytumun-naaral-latee toroon. Meaning: Have you considered the fire you kindle?

72. أَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَا أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنشِئُونَ A-antum anshaatum shajaratahaaa am nahnul-munshi’oon. Meaning: Is it you who produced its tree, or are We the One who produces it?

73. نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَاهَا تَذْكِرَةً وَمَتَاعًا لِّلْمُقْوِينَ Nahnu ja’alnaahaa tazkiratanw wa mataa’al lil-muqween. Meaning: We made it a reminder, and a benefit for travellers.

74. فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ Fasabbih bismi rabbikal-‘azeem. Meaning: So glorify the name of your Lord, the Most Great.

Reflection: Seeds, rain, and fire are ordinary. The surah asks us to notice who provides them, and to answer with gratitude (verse 70) and with glorifying Allah (verse 74).

The Noble Quran (Verses 75–82)

After the signs in creation, Allah swears an oath by the setting of the stars to affirm the Quran’s honour.

75. فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَاقِعِ النُّجُومِ Falaaa uqsimu bimawaaqi’in-nujoom. Meaning: So I swear by the setting of the stars,

76. وَإِنَّهُ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ Wa innahoo laqasamul-law ta’lamoona ‘azeem. Meaning: and it is indeed a mighty oath, if only you knew,

77. إِنَّهُ لَقُرْآنٌ كَرِيمٌ Innahoo laqur’aanun kareem. Meaning: that this is a noble Quran,

78. فِي كِتَابٍ مَّكْنُونٍ Fee kitaabim-maknoon. Meaning: in a well-protected Book.

79. لَّا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ Laa yamassuhooo illal-mutahharoon. Meaning: None touch it except the purified.

80. تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ Tanzeelum-mir-rabbil-‘aalameen. Meaning: It is a revelation from the Lord of all worlds.

81. أَفَبِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ Afabihaazal-hadeethi antum mudhinoon. Meaning: Is it this message that you take lightly,

82. وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ Wa taj’aloona rizqakum annakum tukazziboon. Meaning: and make denial your way of thanking [Allah] for the provision you receive?

Verse 82 ends this passage with a warning against answering Allah’s provision with denial.

The Closing Verses (83–96)

The surah ends at the moment of death, when the soul reaches the throat and each person is met with the outcome they have earned.

83. فَلَوْلَا إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ Falawlaaa izaa balaghatil-hulqoom. Meaning: Then why, when the soul reaches the throat at death,

84. وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَنظُرُونَ Wa antum heena’izin tanzuroon. Meaning: and you are looking on at that moment,

85. وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ Wa nahnu aqrabu ilaihi minkum wa laakil-laa tubsiroon. Meaning: and We are nearer to the dying person than you are, though you do not see,

86. فَلَوْلَا إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ Falawlaaa in kuntum ghaira madeeneen. Meaning: why do you not, if you are not to be held accountable,

87. تَرْجِعُونَهَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ Tarji’oonahaaa in kuntum saadiqeen. Meaning: bring the soul back, if what you say is true?

88. فَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ Fa-ammaaa in kaana minal-muqarrabeen. Meaning: Then, if the deceased was among those brought near,

89. فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍ Fa-rawhunw wa raihaanunw wa jannatu na’eem. Meaning: there is rest, bounty, and a garden of bliss.

90. وَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ Wa ammaaa in kaana min ashaabil-yameen. Meaning: And if he was among the people of the right,

91. فَسَلَامٌ لَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ Fasalaamul-laka min ashaabil-yameen. Meaning: [he will be told], “Peace be upon you, from the people of the right.”

92. وَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ الضَّالِّينَ Wa ammaaa in kaana minal-mukazzibeenad-daaalleen. Meaning: But if he was among the deniers who went astray,

93. فَنُزُلٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ Fanuzulum-min hameem. Meaning: then his welcome is scalding water,

94. وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ Wa tasliyatu jaheem. Meaning: and burning in Hellfire.

The surah then closes with two verses:

95. إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ الْيَقِينِ Inna haazaa lahuwa haqqul-yaqeen. Meaning: This is the certain truth.

96. فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ Fasabbih bismi rabbikal-‘azeem. Meaning: So glorify the name of your Lord, the Most Great.

Reflection: The same command, to glorify the name of the Lord, appears in verse 74 and again as the final verse of the surah.

Benefits of Reading Surah Al Waqiah

Many people search for the benefits of Surah Al Waqiah, usually about wealth and provision. It is worth knowing what is and isn’t established.

A report from Ibn Mas’ud says that whoever recites Surah Al Waqiah every night will never be afflicted by poverty. It is recorded by Al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Iman, but hadith scholars have graded its chain weak. Some scholars allow acting on weak reports for the virtue of good deeds, while others do not, so it shouldn’t be presented as a guaranteed promise of wealth.

What the surah itself clearly offers is a reminder that provision comes from Allah, that we will be held accountable, and that gratitude is the right response to His blessings. Verses 63 to 74 and verse 82 make this point directly.

Main Lessons of Surah Al Waqiah

• The Hereafter is certain. Nothing in the surah leaves room to deny it, so live with it in mind.
• Status doesn’t last. The Event brings some low and raises others, whatever their position in this world.
• Everything is a gift. Food, water, and fire all come from Allah, and gratitude is the response He asks for.

Conclusion

Surah Al Waqiah is short to read but heavy in meaning. Read its key verses slowly, with the Arabic beside you, and let its questions about seeds, water, and fire turn into gratitude.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read next: Surah Ya-Sin in English, Surah Ar-Rahman in English, Surah Al-Mulk Transliteration in English, and Surah Al-Kahf in English.