سُورَةُ الوَاقِعَةِ
Surah Al-Waqi'ah (The Inevitable) – Arabic, Translation & Audio
Surah Al-Waqi'ah is the 56th surah (chapter) of the Quran. Its name means “The Inevitable”. It has 96 ayahs (verses), is a Meccan surah (revealed in Makkah) and is found in Juz 27 of the Quran. Below you can read the full Arabic text with English translation and transliteration, and listen to each ayah.
| Surah number | 56 of 114 |
|---|---|
| Arabic name | الواقعة |
| English meaning | The Inevitable |
| Number of ayahs | 96 |
| Revelation | Meccan (Makkah) |
| Order of revelation | 46 (traditional chronology) |
| Juz (part) | 27 |
| Mushaf pages | 534–537 (604-page Madinah mushaf) |
| Verses of prostration | None |
| Begins with Bismillah | Yes – recited before ayah 1 (not numbered) |
About Surah Al-Waqi'ah
Al-Waqi‘ah, "The Inevitable", is a Makkan surah of 96 verses about the Day of Resurrection. It describes how people will be sorted into three groups — the foremost (as-sabiqun) who are brought nearest to Allah, the companions of the right, and the companions of the left — and the outcome of each.
It then points to everyday signs of Allah’s power: the creation of human life, the crops people sow, the water they drink and the fire they kindle. A widely quoted narration links reciting this surah each night with protection from poverty; many hadith scholars consider its chain weak.
Read Surah Al-Waqi'ah in Arabic with English translation
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلْوَاقِعَةُ ﴿١﴾
Izaa waqa'atil waaqi'ah
When the event befalleth -
لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ ﴿٢﴾
Laisa liwaq'atihaa kaazibah
There is no denying that it will befall -
خَافِضَةٌۭ رَّافِعَةٌ ﴿٣﴾
Khafidatur raafi'ah
Abasing (some), exalting (others);
إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ رَجًّۭا ﴿٤﴾
Izaa rujjatil ardu rajjaa
When the earth is shaken with a shock
وَبُسَّتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ بَسًّۭا ﴿٥﴾
Wa bussatil jibaalu bassaa
And the hills are ground to powder
فَكَانَتْ هَبَآءًۭ مُّنۢبَثًّۭا ﴿٦﴾
Fakaanat habaaa'am mumbassaa
So that they become a scattered dust,
وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا ثَلَٰثَةًۭ ﴿٧﴾
Wa kuntum azwaajan salaasah
And ye will be three kinds:
فَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ ﴿٨﴾
Fa as haabul maimanati maaa as haabul maimanah
(First) those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand?
وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ ﴿٩﴾
Wa as haabul mash'amati maaa as haabul mash'amah
And (then) those on the left hand; what of those on the left hand?
وَٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ﴿١٠﴾
Wassaabiqoonas saabiqoon
And the foremost in the race, the foremost in the race:
أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبُونَ ﴿١١﴾
Ulaaa'ikal muqarraboon
Those are they who will be brought nigh
فِى جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ ﴿١٢﴾
Fee Jannaatin Na'eem
In gardens of delight;
ثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿١٣﴾
Sullatum minal awwaleen
A multitude of those of old
وَقَلِيلٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ ﴿١٤﴾
Wa qaleelum minal aa khireen
And a few of those of later time.
عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍۢ مَّوْضُونَةٍۢ ﴿١٥﴾
'Alaa sururim mawdoonah
On lined couches,
مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَٰبِلِينَ ﴿١٦﴾
Muttaki'eena 'alaihaa mutaqabileen
Reclining therein face to face.
يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَٰنٌۭ مُّخَلَّدُونَ ﴿١٧﴾
Yatoofu 'alaihim wildaa num mukkhalladoon
There wait on them immortal youths
بِأَكْوَابٍۢ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍۢ مِّن مَّعِينٍۢ ﴿١٨﴾
Bi akwaabinw wa abaareeq, wa kaasim mim ma'een
With bowls and ewers and a cup from a pure spring
لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ ﴿١٩﴾
Laa yusadda'oona 'anhaa wa laa yunzifoon
Wherefrom they get no aching of the head nor any madness,
وَفَٰكِهَةٍۢ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ ﴿٢٠﴾
Wa faakihatim mimmaa yatakhaiyaroon
And fruit that they prefer
وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍۢ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ ﴿٢١﴾
Wa lahmi tairim mimmaa yashtahoon
And flesh of fowls that they desire.
وَحُورٌ عِينٌۭ ﴿٢٢﴾
Wa hoorun'een
And (there are) fair ones with wide, lovely eyes,
كَأَمْثَٰلِ ٱللُّؤْلُؤِ ٱلْمَكْنُونِ ﴿٢٣﴾
Ka amsaalil lu'lu'il maknoon
Like unto hidden pearls,
جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٢٤﴾
Jazaaa'am bimaa kaanoo ya'maloon
Reward for what they used to do.
لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًۭا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا ﴿٢٥﴾
Laa yasma'oona feehaa laghwanw wa laa taaseemaa
There hear they no vain speaking nor recrimination
إِلَّا قِيلًۭا سَلَٰمًۭا سَلَٰمًۭا ﴿٢٦﴾
Illaa qeelan salaaman salaamaa
(Naught) but the saying: Peace, (and again) Peace.
وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ ﴿٢٧﴾
Wa as haabul yameeni maaa as haabul Yameen
And those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand?
فِى سِدْرٍۢ مَّخْضُودٍۢ ﴿٢٨﴾
Fee sidrim makhdood
Among thornless lote-trees
وَطَلْحٍۢ مَّنضُودٍۢ ﴿٢٩﴾
Wa talhim mandood
And clustered plantains,
وَظِلٍّۢ مَّمْدُودٍۢ ﴿٣٠﴾
Wa zillim mamdood
And spreading shade,
وَمَآءٍۢ مَّسْكُوبٍۢ ﴿٣١﴾
Wa maaa'im maskoob
And water gushing,
وَفَٰكِهَةٍۢ كَثِيرَةٍۢ ﴿٣٢﴾
Wa faakihatin kaseerah
And fruit in plenty
لَّا مَقْطُوعَةٍۢ وَلَا مَمْنُوعَةٍۢ ﴿٣٣﴾
Laa maqtoo'atinw wa laa mamnoo'ah
Neither out of reach nor yet forbidden,
وَفُرُشٍۢ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ ﴿٣٤﴾
Wa furushim marfoo'ah
And raised couches;
إِنَّآ أَنشَأْنَٰهُنَّ إِنشَآءًۭ ﴿٣٥﴾
Innaaa anshaanaahunna inshaaa'aa
Lo! We have created them a (new) creation
فَجَعَلْنَٰهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا ﴿٣٦﴾
Faja'alnaahunna abkaaraa
And made them virgins,
عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًۭا ﴿٣٧﴾
'Uruban atraabaa
Lovers, friends,
لِّأَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ ﴿٣٨﴾
Li as haabil yameen
For those on the right hand;
ثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿٣٩﴾
Sullatum minal awwa leen
A multitude of those of old
وَثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ ﴿٤٠﴾
Wa sullatum minal aakhireen
And a multitude of those of later time.
وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ ﴿٤١﴾
Wa as haabush shimaali maaa as haabush shimaal
And those on the left hand: What of those on the left hand?
فِى سَمُومٍۢ وَحَمِيمٍۢ ﴿٤٢﴾
Fee samoominw wa hameem
In scorching wind and scalding water
وَظِلٍّۢ مِّن يَحْمُومٍۢ ﴿٤٣﴾
Wa zillim miny yahmoom
And shadow of black smoke,
لَّا بَارِدٍۢ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ ﴿٤٤﴾
Laa baaridinw wa laa kareem
Neither cool nor refreshing.
إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتْرَفِينَ ﴿٤٥﴾
Innaahum kaanoo qabla zaalika mutrafeen
Lo! heretofore they were effete with luxury
وَكَانُوا۟ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلْحِنثِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ﴿٤٦﴾
Wa kaanoo yusirroona 'alal hinsil 'azeem
And used to persist in the awful sin.
وَكَانُوا۟ يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًۭا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ ﴿٤٧﴾
Wa kaanoo yaqooloona a'izaa mitnaa wa kunnaa turaabanw wa izaaman'ainnaa lamab'oosoon
And they used to say: When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised again,
أَوَءَابَآؤُنَا ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ ﴿٤٨﴾
Awa aabaaa'unal awwaloon
And also our forefathers?
Surah Al-Waqi'ah, continued from ayah 49
قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلْءَاخِرِينَ ﴿٤٩﴾
Qul innal awwaleena wal aakhireen
Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Lo! those of old and those of later time
لَمَجْمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَٰتِ يَوْمٍۢ مَّعْلُومٍۢ ﴿٥٠﴾
Lamajmoo'oona ilaa meeqaati yawmim ma'loon
Will all be brought together to the tryst of an appointed day.
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبُونَ ﴿٥١﴾
summa innakum ayyuhad daaalloonal mukazziboon
Then lo! ye, the erring, the deniers,
لَءَاكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍۢ مِّن زَقُّومٍۢ ﴿٥٢﴾
La aakiloona min shaja rim min zaqqoom
Ye verily will eat of a tree called Zaqqum
فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنْهَا ٱلْبُطُونَ ﴿٥٣﴾
Famaali'oona minhal butoon
And will fill your bellies therewith;
فَشَٰرِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَمِيمِ ﴿٥٤﴾
Fashaariboona 'alaihi minal hameem
And thereon ye will drink of boiling water,
فَشَٰرِبُونَ شُرْبَ ٱلْهِيمِ ﴿٥٥﴾
Fashaariboona shurbal heem
Drinking even as the camel drinketh.
هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ ﴿٥٦﴾
Haazaa nuzuluhum yawmad deen
This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgment.
نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَٰكُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ ﴿٥٧﴾
Nahnu khalaqnaakum falaw laa tusaddiqoon
We created you. Will ye then admit the truth?
أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تُمْنُونَ ﴿٥٨﴾
Afara'aytum maa tumnoon
Have ye seen that which ye emit?
ءَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْخَٰلِقُونَ ﴿٥٩﴾
'A-antum takhluqoo nahooo am nahnul khaaliqoon
Do ye create it or are We the Creator?
نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ ﴿٦٠﴾
Nahnu qaddarnaa baina kumul mawta wa maa nahnu bimasbooqeen
We mete out death among you, and We are not to be outrun,
عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَٰلَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِى مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٦١﴾
'Alaaa an nubaddila amsaalakum wa nunshi'akum fee maa laa ta'lamoon
That We may transfigure you and make you what ye know not.
وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ ٱلنَّشْأَةَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ فَلَوْلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾
Wa laqad 'alimtumun nash atal oolaa falaw laa tazakkaroon
And verily ye know the first creation. Why, then, do ye not reflect?
أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ ﴿٦٣﴾
Afara'aytum maa tahrusoon
Have ye seen that which ye cultivate?
ءَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ ﴿٦٤﴾
'A-antum tazra'oonahooo am nahnuz zaari'ooon
Is it ye who foster it, or are We the Fosterer?
لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَٰهُ حُطَٰمًۭا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ ﴿٦٥﴾
Law nashaaa'u laja'al naahu hutaaman fazaltum tafakkahoon
If We willed, We verily could make it chaff, then would ye cease not to exclaim:
إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ ﴿٦٦﴾
Innaa lamughramoon
Lo! we are laden with debt!
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ ﴿٦٧﴾
Bal nahnu mahroomoon
Nay, but we are deprived!
أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلْمَآءَ ٱلَّذِى تَشْرَبُونَ ﴿٦٨﴾
Afara'aytumul maaa'allazee tashraboon
Have ye observed the water which ye drink?
ءَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنزِلُونَ ﴿٦٩﴾
'A-antum anzaltumoohu minal muzni am nahnul munziloon
Is it ye who shed it from the raincloud, or are We the Shedder?
لَوْ نَشَآءُ جَعَلْنَٰهُ أُجَاجًۭا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٧٠﴾
Law nashaaa'u ja'alnaahu ujaajan falaw laa tashkuroon
If We willed We verily could make it bitter. Why then, give ye not thanks?
أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِى تُورُونَ ﴿٧١﴾
Afara'aytumun naaral latee tooroon
Have ye observed the fire which ye strike out;
ءَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنشِـُٔونَ ﴿٧٢﴾
'A-antum anshaatum shajaratahaaa am nahnul munshi'oon
Was it ye who made the tree thereof to grow, or were We the grower?
نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَٰهَا تَذْكِرَةًۭ وَمَتَٰعًۭا لِّلْمُقْوِينَ ﴿٧٣﴾
Nahnu ja'alnaahaa tazkira tanw wa mataa'al lilmuqween
We, even We, appointed it a memorial and a comfort for the dwellers in the wilderness.
فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ﴿٧٤﴾
Fasabbih bismi Rabbikal 'azeem
Therefor (O Muhammad), praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
۞ فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ ﴿٧٥﴾
Falaa uqsimu bimaawaa qi'innujoom
Nay, I swear by the places of the stars -
وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٌۭ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٧٦﴾
Wa innahoo laqasamul lawta'lamoona'azeem
And lo! that verily is a tremendous oath, if ye but knew -
إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرْءَانٌۭ كَرِيمٌۭ ﴿٧٧﴾
Innahoo la quraanun kareem
That (this) is indeed a noble Qur'an
فِى كِتَٰبٍۢ مَّكْنُونٍۢ ﴿٧٨﴾
Fee kitaabim maknoon
In a Book kept hidden
لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْمُطَهَّرُونَ ﴿٧٩﴾
Laa yamassuhooo illal mutahharoon
Which none toucheth save the purified,
تَنزِيلٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٨٠﴾
Tanzeelum mir Rabbil'aalameen
A revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.
أَفَبِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ ﴿٨١﴾
Afabihaazal hadeesi antum mudhinoon
Is it this Statement that ye scorn,
وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ ﴿٨٢﴾
Wa taj'aloona rizqakum annakum tukazziboon
And make denial thereof your livelihood?
فَلَوْلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلْحُلْقُومَ ﴿٨٣﴾
Falaw laaa izaa balaghatil hulqoom
Why, then, when (the soul) cometh up to the throat (of the dying)
وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍۢ تَنظُرُونَ ﴿٨٤﴾
Wa antum heena'izin tanzuroon
And ye are at that moment looking
وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٨٥﴾
Wa nahnu aqrabu ilaihi minkum wa laakil laa tubsiroon
- And We are nearer unto him than ye are, but ye see not -
فَلَوْلَآ إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ ﴿٨٦﴾
Falaw laaa in kuntum ghira madeeneen
Why then, if ye are not in bondage (unto Us),
تَرْجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ ﴿٨٧﴾
Tarji'oonahaaa in kuntum saadiqeen
Do ye not force it back, if ye are truthful?
فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ ﴿٨٨﴾
Fa ammaaa in kaana minal muqarrabeen
Thus if he is of those brought nigh,
فَرَوْحٌۭ وَرَيْحَانٌۭ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍۢ ﴿٨٩﴾
Farawhunw wa raihaa nunw wa jannatu na'eem
Then breath of life, and plenty, and a Garden of delight.
وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ ﴿٩٠﴾
Wa ammaaa in kaana min as haabil yameen
And if he is of those on the right hand,
فَسَلَٰمٌۭ لَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ ﴿٩١﴾
Fasalaamul laka min as haabil yameen
Then (the greeting) "Peace be unto thee" from those on the right hand.
وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴿٩٢﴾
Wa ammaaa in kaana minal mukazzibeenad daaalleen
But if he is of the rejecters, the erring,
فَنُزُلٌۭ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍۢ ﴿٩٣﴾
Fanuzulum min hameem
Then the welcome will be boiling water
وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ ﴿٩٤﴾
Wa tasliyatu jaheem
And roasting at hell-fire.
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلْيَقِينِ ﴿٩٥﴾
Inna haaza lahuwa haqqul yaqeen
Lo! this is certain truth.
فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ﴿٩٦﴾
Fasabbih bismi rabbikal 'azeem
Therefor (O Muhammad) praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
Arabic text: Uthmani script (Tanzil). English translation: Marmaduke Pickthall (1930, public domain). Transliteration: English transliteration from the Al Quran Cloud API, in a simple English spelling (it writes the Arabic letter dhal as “z”, while the duas on this site write it as “dh”). Audio: Mishary Rashid Alafasy. A translation conveys the meaning of the Quran; it is not the Quran itself.
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