56:1
إِذَا وَقَعَتِ الْوَاقِعَةُ
Itha waqaAAati alwaqiAAat
When the Occurrence occurs,
Surah 56 • Chapter of the Holy Qur'an
Editorial note: like Surah Yaseen, this page's search demand is driven almost entirely by a narration that is weak. Correct it openly. See Benefits.
Al-Waqi'ah (The Inevitable) — Makkah Revelation (Order: 46) • 96 Verses
سورة الواقعة
Quick Summary
Key Facts & Authentic Summary
- Surah Al-Waqi'ah is the 56th chapter of the Qur'an, with 96 verses (Quran.com).
- It is a Makki surah, 46th in the order of revelation.
- Its name means "The Inevitable" or "The Event" — the Day of Judgement, described in the opening verse as something that cannot be denied.
- The famous claim that reciting it nightly prevents poverty is a weak narration. It is recorded by al-Bayhaqi in Shuʿab al-Īmān from Ibn Mas'ud and graded weak by hadith scholars including al-Albani. See below.
- What IS authentic: the Prophet ﷺ named al-Waqi'ah among five surahs that "turned me grey" — Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3297, graded sahih.
- Its central subject is the division of humanity into three groups on the Day of Judgement: the foremost, the companions of the right, and the companions of the left.
- It is one of the surahs most associated with reflection on provision, gratitude and mortality — because of its content, not because of the poverty narration.
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56:2
لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ
Laysa liwaqAAatiha kathiba
There is, at its occurrence, no denial.
56:3
خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ
Khafidatun rafiAAa
It will bring down [some] and raise up [others].
56:4
إِذَا رُجَّتِ الْأَرْضُ رَجًّا
Itha rujjati al-ardu rajja
When the earth is shaken with convulsion
56:5
وَبُسَّتِ الْجِبَالُ بَسًّا
Wabussati aljibalu bassa
And the mountains are broken down, crumbling
56:6
فَكَانَتْ هَبَاءً مُّنبَثًّا
Fakanat habaan munbaththa
And become dust dispersing,
56:7
وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَاجًا ثَلَاثَةً
Wakuntum azwajan thalatha
And you become [of] three kinds:
56:8
فَأَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ
Faas-habu almaymanati maas-habu almaymanat
Then the companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
56:9
وَأَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ
Waas-habu almash-amati maas-habu almash-amat
And the companions of the left - what are companions of the left?
56:10
وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ
Wassabiqoona assabiqoon
And the forerunners, the forerunners -
56:11
أُولَٰئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ
Ola-ika almuqarraboon
Those are the ones brought near [to Allāh]
56:12
فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ
Fee jannati annaAAeem
In the Gardens of Pleasure,
56:13
ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ
Thullatun mina al-awwaleen
A [large] company of the former peoples
56:14
وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنَ الْآخِرِينَ
Waqaleelun mina al-akhireena
And a few of the later peoples,
56:15
عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَّوْضُونَةٍ
AAala sururin mawdoona
On thrones woven [with ornament],
56:16
مُّتَّكِئِينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَابِلِينَ
Muttaki-eena AAalayha mutaqabileen
Reclining on them, facing each other.
56:17
يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ
Yatoofu AAalayhim wildanunmukhalladoon
There will circulate among them young boys made eternal.
56:18
بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ مِّن مَّعِينٍ
Bi-akwabin waabareeqa waka/sinmin maAAeen
With vessels, pitchers and a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring -
56:19
لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ
La yusaddaAAoona AAanhawala yunzifoon
No headache will they have therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated -
56:20
وَفَاكِهَةٍ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ
Wafakihatin mimmayatakhayyaroon
And fruit of what they select
56:21
وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ
Walahmi tayrin mimmayashtahoon
And the meat of fowl, from whatever they desire.
56:22
وَحُورٌ عِينٌ
Wahoorun AAeen
And [for them are] fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes,
56:23
كَأَمْثَالِ اللُّؤْلُؤِ الْمَكْنُونِ
Kaamthali allu/lui almaknoon
The likenesses of pearls well-protected,
56:24
جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
Jazaan bima kanooyaAAmaloon
As reward for what they used to do.
56:25
لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا
La yasmaAAoona feeha laghwanwala ta/theema
They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin -
56:26
إِلَّا قِيلًا سَلَامًا سَلَامًا
Illa qeelan salaman salama
Only a saying [of] peace, peace.
56:27
وَأَصْحَابُ الْيَمِينِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْيَمِينِ
Waas-habu alyameeni maas-habu alyameen
The companions of the right - what are the companions of the right?
56:28
فِي سِدْرٍ مَّخْضُودٍ
Fee sidrin makhdood
[They will be] among lote trees with thorns removed.
56:29
وَطَلْحٍ مَّنضُودٍ
Watalhin mandood
And [banana] trees layered [with fruit].
56:30
وَظِلٍّ مَّمْدُودٍ
Wathillin mamdood
And shade extended.
56:31
وَمَاءٍ مَّسْكُوبٍ
Wama-in maskoob
And water poured out
56:32
وَفَاكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ
Wafakihatin katheera
And fruit, abundant [and varied],
56:33
لَّا مَقْطُوعَةٍ وَلَا مَمْنُوعَةٍ
La maqtooAAatin walamamnooAAa
Neither limited [to season] nor forbidden,
56:34
وَفُرُشٍ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ
Wafurushin marfooAAa
And [upon] beds raised high.
56:35
إِنَّا أَنشَأْنَاهُنَّ إِنشَاءً
Inna ansha/nahunna inshaa
Indeed, We have produced them [i.e., the women of Paradise] in a [new] creation
56:36
فَجَعَلْنَاهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا
FajaAAalnahunna abkara
And made them virgins,
56:37
عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًا
AAuruban atraba
Devoted [to their husbands] and of equal age,
56:38
لِّأَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ
Li-as-habi alyameen
For the companions of the right [who are]
56:39
ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ
Thullatun mina al-awwaleen
A company of the former peoples
56:40
وَثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْآخِرِينَ
Wathullatun mina al-akhireen
And a company of the later peoples.
56:41
وَأَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ
Waas-habu ashshimalima as-habu ashshimal
And the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left?
56:42
فِي سَمُومٍ وَحَمِيمٍ
Fee samoomin wahameem
[They will be] in scorching fire and scalding water
56:43
وَظِلٍّ مِّن يَحْمُومٍ
Wathillin min yahmoom
And a shade of black smoke,
56:44
لَّا بَارِدٍ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ
La baridin wala kareem
Neither cool nor beneficial.
56:45
إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتْرَفِينَ
Innahum kanoo qabla thalikamutrafeen
Indeed they were, before that, indulging in affluence,
56:46
وَكَانُوا يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى الْحِنثِ الْعَظِيمِ
Wakanoo yusirroona AAalaalhinthi alAAatheem
And they used to persist in the great violation,
56:47
وَكَانُوا يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَامًا أَإِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ
Wakanoo yaqooloona a-itha mitnawakunna turaban waAAithamana-inna lamabAAoothoon
And they used to say, "When we die and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected?
56:48
أَوَآبَاؤُنَا الْأَوَّلُونَ
Awa abaona al-awwaloon
And our forefathers [as well]?"
56:49
قُلْ إِنَّ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَالْآخِرِينَ
Qul inna al-awwaleena wal-akhireen
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Indeed, the former and later peoples
56:50
لَمَجْمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَاتِ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ
LamajmooAAoona ila meeqatiyawmin maAAloom
Are to be gathered together for the appointment of a known Day."
56:51
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا الضَّالُّونَ الْمُكَذِّبُونَ
Thumma innakum ayyuha addalloonaalmukaththiboon
Then indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers,
56:52
لَآكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍ مِّن زَقُّومٍ
Laakiloona min shajarin min zaqqoom
Will be eating from trees of zaqqūm
56:53
فَمَالِئُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ
Famali-oona minha albutoon
And filling with it your bellies
56:54
فَشَارِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْحَمِيمِ
Fashariboona AAalayhi mina alhameem
And drinking on top of it from scalding water.
56:55
فَشَارِبُونَ شُرْبَ الْهِيمِ
Fashariboona shurba alheem
And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.
56:56
هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمْ يَوْمَ الدِّينِ
Hatha nuzuluhum yawma addeen
That is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense.
56:57
نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَاكُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ
Nahnu khalaqnakum falawlatusaddiqoon
We have created you, so why do you not believe?
56:58
أَفَرَأَيْتُم مَّا تُمْنُونَ
Afaraaytum ma tumnoon
Have you seen that which you emit?
56:59
أَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْخَالِقُونَ
Aantum takhluqoonahu am nahnu alkhaliqoon
Is it you who creates it, or are We the Creator?
56:60
نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ
Nahnu qaddarna baynakumualmawta wama nahnu bimasbooqeen
We have decreed death among you, and We are not to be outdone
56:61
عَلَىٰ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِي مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
AAala an nubaddila amthalakumwanunshi-akum fee ma la taAAlamoon
In that We will change your likenesses and produce you in that [form] which you do not know.
56:62
وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ النَّشْأَةَ الْأُولَىٰ فَلَوْلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Walaqad AAalimtumu annash-ata al-oolafalawla tathakkaroon
And you have already known the first creation, so will you not remember?
56:63
أَفَرَأَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ
Afaraaytum ma tahruthoon
And have you seen that [seed] which you sow?
56:64
أَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَّارِعُونَ
Aantum tazraAAoonahu am nahnu azzariAAoon
Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower?
56:65
لَوْ نَشَاءُ لَجَعَلْنَاهُ حُطَامًا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ
Law nashao lajaAAalnahu hutamanfathaltum tafakkahoon
If We willed, We could make it [dry] debris, and you would remain in wonder,
56:66
إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ
Inna lamughramoon
[Saying], "Indeed, we are [now] in debt;
56:67
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ
Bal nahnu mahroomoon
Rather, we have been deprived."
56:68
أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ الْمَاءَ الَّذِي تَشْرَبُونَ
Afaraaytumu almaa allatheetashraboon
And have you seen the water that you drink?
56:69
أَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ الْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنزِلُونَ
Aantum anzaltumoohu mina almuzni am nahnualmunziloon
Is it you who brought it down from the clouds, or is it We who bring it down?
56:70
لَوْ نَشَاءُ جَعَلْنَاهُ أُجَاجًا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ
Law nashao jaAAalnahu ojajanfalawla tashkuroon
If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?
56:71
أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ النَّارَ الَّتِي تُورُونَ
Afaraaytumu annara allateetooroon
And have you seen the fire that you ignite?
56:72
أَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَا أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنشِئُونَ
Aantum ansha/tum shajarataha am nahnualmunshi-oon
Is it you who produced its tree, or are We the producer?
56:73
نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَاهَا تَذْكِرَةً وَمَتَاعًا لِّلْمُقْوِينَ
Nahnu jaAAalnaha tathkiratanwamataAAan lilmuqween
We have made it a reminder and provision for the travelers,
56:74
فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ
Fasabbih bismi rabbika alAAatheem
So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
56:75
فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَاقِعِ النُّجُومِ
Fala oqsimu bimawaqiAAi annujoom
Then I swear by the setting of the stars,
56:76
وَإِنَّهُ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ
Wa-innahu laqasamun law taAAlamoona AAatheem
And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great.
56:77
إِنَّهُ لَقُرْآنٌ كَرِيمٌ
Innahu laqur-anun kareem
Indeed, it is a noble Qur’ān.
56:78
فِي كِتَابٍ مَّكْنُونٍ
Fee kitabin maknoon
In a Register well-protected;.
56:79
لَّا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ
La yamassuhu illa almutahharoon
None touch it except the purified [i.e., the angels].
56:80
تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Tanzeelun min rabbi alAAalameen
[It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.
56:81
أَفَبِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ
Afabihatha alhadeethi antummudhinoon
Then is it to this statement that you are indifferent
56:82
وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ
WatajAAaloona rizqakum annakum tukaththiboon
And make [the thanks for] your provision that you deny [the Provider]?
56:83
فَلَوْلَا إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ
Falawla itha balaghati alhulqoom
Then why, when it [i.e., the soul at death] reaches the throat
56:84
وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَنظُرُونَ
Waantum heena-ithin tanthuroona
And you are at that time looking on -
56:85
وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ
Wanahnu aqrabu ilayhi minkum walakinla tubsiroon
And We [i.e., Our angels] are nearer to him than you, but you do not see -
56:86
فَلَوْلَا إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ
Falawla in kuntum ghayra madeeneen
Then why do you not, if you are not to be recompensed,
56:87
تَرْجِعُونَهَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
TarjiAAoonaha in kuntum sadiqeen
Bring it back, if you should be truthful?
56:88
فَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ
Faamma in kana minaalmuqarrabeen
And if he [i.e., the deceased] was of those brought near [to Allāh],
56:89
فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍ
Farawhun warayhanun wajannatunaAAeem
Then [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure.
56:90
وَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ
Waamma in kana min as-habialyameen
And if he was of the companions of the right,
56:91
فَسَلَامٌ لَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ
Fasalamun laka min as-habialyameen
Then [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right."
56:92
وَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ الضَّالِّينَ
Waamma in kana mina almukaththibeenaaddalleen
But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray,
56:93
فَنُزُلٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ
Fanuzulun min hameem
Then [for him is] accommodation of scalding water
56:94
وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ
Watasliyatu jaheem
And burning in Hellfire.
56:95
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ الْيَقِينِ
Inna hatha lahuwa haqqualyaqeen
Indeed, this is the true certainty,
56:96
فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ
Fasabbih bismi rabbika alAAatheem
So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
✨ Benefits and Virtues of Surah Al-Waqi'ah
Search results for this surah are dominated by one claim. Here is what it is and what its status is.
"Whoever recites Surah al-Waqi'ah every night, poverty will never afflict him" — weak
The narration is reported from Ibn Mas'ud and recorded by al-Bayhaqi in Shuʿab al-Īmān, and cited by commentators including al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir.
Grade: Weak
It is graded weak (ḍaʿīf) by hadith scholars, including al-Albani. Reports also attribute criticism of it to Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
Both Islamweb and Darul Ifta Deoband — institutions from different scholarly orientations — treat it as weak. That agreement is significant.
So it should not be published as an authentic promise from the Prophet ﷺ.
But scholars differ on what to do with it
This is where an honest page has to be more careful than a simple "it's weak, ignore it."
Because the claim concerns faḍāʾil al-aʿmāl — the virtues of deeds, rather than a legal ruling or a matter of creed — many scholars permit acting on it, subject to conditions: that the weakness is not severe, that the practice falls under an established general principle (reciting Qur'an is good), and that one does not believe the specific promise to be firmly established.
Other scholars, including al-Albani, reject this concession entirely and hold that weak narrations should not be acted upon at all.
What this means practically: if you recite Surah al-Waqi'ah nightly, you are doing something good — reciting the Qur'an. You should not do it believing the Prophet ﷺ guaranteed you freedom from poverty, because that attribution is not established. Which of the two scholarly positions to follow is a question for your teacher.
The authentic narration nobody quotes
There is a sound hadith naming Surah al-Waqi'ah — and it says something very different from the poverty report.
Grade: Sahih
Abu Bakr said: "O Messenger of Allah, you have become grey." He ﷺ said: "Hud, al-Waqi'ah, al-Mursalat, ʿAmma yatasāʾalūn and Idhā'sh-shamsu kuwwirat have turned me grey." — Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3297 · Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
The Arabic:
شَيَّبَتْنِي هُودٌ وَالْوَاقِعَةُ وَالْمُرْسَلاَتُ وَعَمَّ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ وَإِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ
This is the strongest authenticated statement about Surah al-Waqi'ah, and it points in the opposite direction from the wealth narration. The common thread among the five surahs named is that each depicts the Day of Judgement in unflinching detail. Al-Waqi'ah is grouped with them because of its weight, not its worldly benefit.
So the sound tradition remembers this surah as one that aged the Prophet ﷺ — not as a means of avoiding poverty. That is a far more arresting fact than the claim most pages lead with, and it is authentic.
What the surah actually offers
Al-Waqi'ah is one of the Qur'an's most vivid treatments of where you will stand when everything is decided. It sorts humanity into three groups and describes each. Reading it regularly is a practice of self-location: which of these am I?
It also contains a sustained passage on provision (verses 57–74) directly relevant to anyone anxious about sustenance — the seed you plant, the water you drink, the fire you kindle. The surah's answer to worry about rizq is not a formula. It is a reminder of who actually provides.
📖 Themes and Key Lessons
Theme 01
1. The Event that cannot be denied (verses 1–7). The Day arrives, lowering some and raising others, and humanity separates into three ranks.
Theme 02
2. The three groups (verses 8–56). As-sābiqūn — the foremost, brought near. Aṣḥāb al-yamīn — the companions of the right. Aṣḥāb ash-shimāl — the companions of the left. Each is described in turn, at length.
Theme 03
3. The argument from provision (verses 57–74). A sequence of challenges: Do you create the sperm-drop, or do We? Do you cause the seed to grow, or do We? Did you send down the water from the clouds, or did We? (56:58–70).
Theme 04
4. The oath and the Qur'an (verses 75–82). A great oath by the positions of the stars, affirming the Qur'an's noble origin.
Theme 05
5. The moment of death (verses 83–96). The soul reaching the throat, and the helplessness of everyone watching.
📄 Download Surah Al-Waqi'ah Printable PDF
Complete Arabic text, English transliteration, and Saheeh translation formatted for mobile and print. No registration or email required.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q Is the hadith about Surah Waqiah and poverty authentic?
No. It is reported from Ibn Mas'ud, recorded by al-Bayhaqi in Shuʿab al-Īmān, and graded weak by hadith scholars including al-Albani. Islamweb and Darul Ifta Deoband both treat it as weak.
Q Should I stop reciting Surah Waqiah at night?
Not necessarily. Reciting the Qur'an is rewarded on general, firmly established grounds. Many scholars also permit acting on weak narrations in matters of virtues, under conditions; others do not. What you should avoid is believing the specific guarantee is established prophetic speech. Ask your teacher which position to follow.
Q What is Surah Waqiah about?
The Day of Judgement and the division of humanity into three groups — the foremost, the companions of the right, and the companions of the left — followed by a powerful argument from provision and a description of the moment of death.
Q How many verses are in Surah Waqiah?
96 verses. It is the 56th surah, revealed in Makkah.
Q Why is Surah Waqiah associated with wealth?
Almost entirely because of the weak narration above, reinforced by the surah's long passage on provision (verses 57–74). The passage is real; the guarantee is not established.
Q Is there any authentic hadith about Surah Waqiah?
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Hud, al-Waqi'ah, al-Mursalat, ʿAmma yatasāʾalūn and Idhā'sh-shamsu kuwwirat have turned me grey" — Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3297, graded sahih. All five depict the Day of Judgement, so the surah is remembered in the sound tradition for its weight rather than for worldly benefit.
Q What does "Al-Waqi'ah" mean?
"The Inevitable" or "The Event" — from a root meaning to fall or occur. The opening verse presents it as something whose occurrence cannot be denied.