Surah Al-Waqiah (The Inevitable) is the 56th surah of the Quran, 96 verses in juz 27. It describes the Day of Judgement and the three groups people will be sorted into. The full surah is below in Arabic with an English translation, verse by verse.
Jump to the full text ↓ · Benefits · When to read · FAQ
What is Surah Al-Waqiah about?
Al-Waqiah opens with the Event itself: “When the event befalleth, there is no denying that it will befall”. People are then divided into three: the foremost, brought near to Allah; the companions of the right; and the companions of the left.
The second part asks the reader to look at what they already depend on: the seed they plant, the water they drink, the fire they kindle. It closes with the Quran itself, “which none toucheth save the purified” (56:79), and the moment of death, when the soul reaches the throat.
Surah Al-Waqiah full text: Arabic and English
Arabic: Uthmani script. English: Marmaduke Pickthall's translation (1930), which uses older English (“ye”, “thee”).
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلْوَاقِعَةُ ﴿١﴾
56:1 When the event befalleth -
لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ ﴿٢﴾
56:2 There is no denying that it will befall -
خَافِضَةٌۭ رَّافِعَةٌ ﴿٣﴾
56:3 Abasing (some), exalting (others);
إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ رَجًّۭا ﴿٤﴾
56:4 When the earth is shaken with a shock
وَبُسَّتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ بَسًّۭا ﴿٥﴾
56:5 And the hills are ground to powder
فَكَانَتْ هَبَآءًۭ مُّنۢبَثًّۭا ﴿٦﴾
56:6 So that they become a scattered dust,
وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا ثَلَٰثَةًۭ ﴿٧﴾
56:7 And ye will be three kinds:
فَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ ﴿٨﴾
56:8 (First) those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand?
وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ ﴿٩﴾
56:9 And (then) those on the left hand; what of those on the left hand?
وَٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ﴿١٠﴾
56:10 And the foremost in the race, the foremost in the race:
أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبُونَ ﴿١١﴾
56:11 Those are they who will be brought nigh
فِى جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ ﴿١٢﴾
56:12 In gardens of delight;
ثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿١٣﴾
56:13 A multitude of those of old
وَقَلِيلٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ ﴿١٤﴾
56:14 And a few of those of later time.
عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍۢ مَّوْضُونَةٍۢ ﴿١٥﴾
56:15 On lined couches,
مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَٰبِلِينَ ﴿١٦﴾
56:16 Reclining therein face to face.
يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَٰنٌۭ مُّخَلَّدُونَ ﴿١٧﴾
56:17 There wait on them immortal youths
بِأَكْوَابٍۢ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍۢ مِّن مَّعِينٍۢ ﴿١٨﴾
56:18 With bowls and ewers and a cup from a pure spring
لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ ﴿١٩﴾
56:19 Wherefrom they get no aching of the head nor any madness,
وَفَٰكِهَةٍۢ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ ﴿٢٠﴾
56:20 And fruit that they prefer
وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍۢ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ ﴿٢١﴾
56:21 And flesh of fowls that they desire.
وَحُورٌ عِينٌۭ ﴿٢٢﴾
56:22 And (there are) fair ones with wide, lovely eyes,
كَأَمْثَٰلِ ٱللُّؤْلُؤِ ٱلْمَكْنُونِ ﴿٢٣﴾
56:23 Like unto hidden pearls,
جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٢٤﴾
56:24 Reward for what they used to do.
لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًۭا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا ﴿٢٥﴾
56:25 There hear they no vain speaking nor recrimination
إِلَّا قِيلًۭا سَلَٰمًۭا سَلَٰمًۭا ﴿٢٦﴾
56:26 (Naught) but the saying: Peace, (and again) Peace.
وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ ﴿٢٧﴾
56:27 And those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand?
فِى سِدْرٍۢ مَّخْضُودٍۢ ﴿٢٨﴾
56:28 Among thornless lote-trees
وَطَلْحٍۢ مَّنضُودٍۢ ﴿٢٩﴾
56:29 And clustered plantains,
وَظِلٍّۢ مَّمْدُودٍۢ ﴿٣٠﴾
56:30 And spreading shade,
وَمَآءٍۢ مَّسْكُوبٍۢ ﴿٣١﴾
56:31 And water gushing,
وَفَٰكِهَةٍۢ كَثِيرَةٍۢ ﴿٣٢﴾
56:32 And fruit in plenty
لَّا مَقْطُوعَةٍۢ وَلَا مَمْنُوعَةٍۢ ﴿٣٣﴾
56:33 Neither out of reach nor yet forbidden,
وَفُرُشٍۢ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ ﴿٣٤﴾
56:34 And raised couches;
إِنَّآ أَنشَأْنَٰهُنَّ إِنشَآءًۭ ﴿٣٥﴾
56:35 Lo! We have created them a (new) creation
فَجَعَلْنَٰهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا ﴿٣٦﴾
56:36 And made them virgins,
عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًۭا ﴿٣٧﴾
56:37 Lovers, friends,
لِّأَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ ﴿٣٨﴾
56:38 For those on the right hand;
ثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿٣٩﴾
56:39 A multitude of those of old
وَثُلَّةٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ ﴿٤٠﴾
56:40 And a multitude of those of later time.
وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ ﴿٤١﴾
56:41 And those on the left hand: What of those on the left hand?
فِى سَمُومٍۢ وَحَمِيمٍۢ ﴿٤٢﴾
56:42 In scorching wind and scalding water
وَظِلٍّۢ مِّن يَحْمُومٍۢ ﴿٤٣﴾
56:43 And shadow of black smoke,
لَّا بَارِدٍۢ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ ﴿٤٤﴾
56:44 Neither cool nor refreshing.
إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتْرَفِينَ ﴿٤٥﴾
56:45 Lo! heretofore they were effete with luxury
وَكَانُوا۟ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلْحِنثِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ﴿٤٦﴾
56:46 And used to persist in the awful sin.
وَكَانُوا۟ يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًۭا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ ﴿٤٧﴾
56:47 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﴾
56:48 And also our forefathers?
قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلْءَاخِرِينَ ﴿٤٩﴾
56:49 Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Lo! those of old and those of later time
لَمَجْمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَٰتِ يَوْمٍۢ مَّعْلُومٍۢ ﴿٥٠﴾
56:50 Will all be brought together to the tryst of an appointed day.
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبُونَ ﴿٥١﴾
56:51 Then lo! ye, the erring, the deniers,
لَءَاكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍۢ مِّن زَقُّومٍۢ ﴿٥٢﴾
56:52 Ye verily will eat of a tree called Zaqqum
فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنْهَا ٱلْبُطُونَ ﴿٥٣﴾
56:53 And will fill your bellies therewith;
فَشَٰرِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَمِيمِ ﴿٥٤﴾
56:54 And thereon ye will drink of boiling water,
فَشَٰرِبُونَ شُرْبَ ٱلْهِيمِ ﴿٥٥﴾
56:55 Drinking even as the camel drinketh.
هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ ﴿٥٦﴾
56:56 This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgment.
نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَٰكُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ ﴿٥٧﴾
56:57 We created you. Will ye then admit the truth?
أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تُمْنُونَ ﴿٥٨﴾
56:58 Have ye seen that which ye emit?
ءَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْخَٰلِقُونَ ﴿٥٩﴾
56:59 Do ye create it or are We the Creator?
نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ ﴿٦٠﴾
56:60 We mete out death among you, and We are not to be outrun,
عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَٰلَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِى مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٦١﴾
56:61 That We may transfigure you and make you what ye know not.
وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ ٱلنَّشْأَةَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ فَلَوْلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾
56:62 And verily ye know the first creation. Why, then, do ye not reflect?
أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ ﴿٦٣﴾
56:63 Have ye seen that which ye cultivate?
ءَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ ﴿٦٤﴾
56:64 Is it ye who foster it, or are We the Fosterer?
لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَٰهُ حُطَٰمًۭا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ ﴿٦٥﴾
56:65 If We willed, We verily could make it chaff, then would ye cease not to exclaim:
إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ ﴿٦٦﴾
56:66 Lo! we are laden with debt!
بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ ﴿٦٧﴾
56:67 Nay, but we are deprived!
أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلْمَآءَ ٱلَّذِى تَشْرَبُونَ ﴿٦٨﴾
56:68 Have ye observed the water which ye drink?
ءَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنزِلُونَ ﴿٦٩﴾
56:69 Is it ye who shed it from the raincloud, or are We the Shedder?
لَوْ نَشَآءُ جَعَلْنَٰهُ أُجَاجًۭا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٧٠﴾
56:70 If We willed We verily could make it bitter. Why then, give ye not thanks?
أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِى تُورُونَ ﴿٧١﴾
56:71 Have ye observed the fire which ye strike out;
ءَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنشِـُٔونَ ﴿٧٢﴾
56:72 Was it ye who made the tree thereof to grow, or were We the grower?
نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَٰهَا تَذْكِرَةًۭ وَمَتَٰعًۭا لِّلْمُقْوِينَ ﴿٧٣﴾
56:73 We, even We, appointed it a memorial and a comfort for the dwellers in the wilderness.
فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ﴿٧٤﴾
56:74 Therefor (O Muhammad), praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
۞ فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ ﴿٧٥﴾
56:75 Nay, I swear by the places of the stars -
وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٌۭ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٧٦﴾
56:76 And lo! that verily is a tremendous oath, if ye but knew -
إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرْءَانٌۭ كَرِيمٌۭ ﴿٧٧﴾
56:77 That (this) is indeed a noble Qur'an
فِى كِتَٰبٍۢ مَّكْنُونٍۢ ﴿٧٨﴾
56:78 In a Book kept hidden
لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْمُطَهَّرُونَ ﴿٧٩﴾
56:79 Which none toucheth save the purified,
تَنزِيلٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٨٠﴾
56:80 A revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.
أَفَبِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ ﴿٨١﴾
56:81 Is it this Statement that ye scorn,
وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ ﴿٨٢﴾
56:82 And make denial thereof your livelihood?
فَلَوْلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلْحُلْقُومَ ﴿٨٣﴾
56:83 Why, then, when (the soul) cometh up to the throat (of the dying)
وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍۢ تَنظُرُونَ ﴿٨٤﴾
56:84 And ye are at that moment looking
وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٨٥﴾
56:85 - And We are nearer unto him than ye are, but ye see not -
فَلَوْلَآ إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ ﴿٨٦﴾
56:86 Why then, if ye are not in bondage (unto Us),
تَرْجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ ﴿٨٧﴾
56:87 Do ye not force it back, if ye are truthful?
فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ ﴿٨٨﴾
56:88 Thus if he is of those brought nigh,
فَرَوْحٌۭ وَرَيْحَانٌۭ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍۢ ﴿٨٩﴾
56:89 Then breath of life, and plenty, and a Garden of delight.
وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ ﴿٩٠﴾
56:90 And if he is of those on the right hand,
فَسَلَٰمٌۭ لَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ ﴿٩١﴾
56:91 Then (the greeting) "Peace be unto thee" from those on the right hand.
وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴿٩٢﴾
56:92 But if he is of the rejecters, the erring,
فَنُزُلٌۭ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍۢ ﴿٩٣﴾
56:93 Then the welcome will be boiling water
وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ ﴿٩٤﴾
56:94 And roasting at hell-fire.
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلْيَقِينِ ﴿٩٥﴾
56:95 Lo! this is certain truth.
فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ﴿٩٦﴾
56:96 Therefor (O Muhammad) praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
When to read Surah Al-Waqiah
Any time; many Muslims read it at night. The custom comes from a narration graded weak (see below), but the surah's own message about the Hereafter is reason enough to read it often.
It takes about 10 minutes recited at a steady pace.
Benefits of Surah Al-Waqiah (with hadith references)
Abu Bakr said, “O Messenger of Allah, you have gone grey.” He ﷺ said: “Hud, Al-Waqi'ah, Al-Mursalat, 'Amma yatasa'alun and Idha ash-shamsu kuwwirat have made me grey.”
— Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3297
A note on weak narrations: The widely shared report that whoever reads Al-Waqiah every night will never suffer poverty is attributed to Ibn Mas'ud, and hadith scholars grade it weak.
Make Surah Al-Waqiah a habit
Al-Waqiah is ten minutes, which is easy to fit into a night routine if something reminds you. Quran Gate blocks Instagram, TikTok or YouTube until you read a few verses, and you can open Al-Waqiah from the surah list and follow a reciter word by word.
Planning a full khatm as well? The khatam calculator tells you how many pages a day it takes, and our guide to building a daily Quran reading habit covers the rest.
Surah Al-Waqiah: frequently asked questions
How many verses are in Surah Al-Waqiah?
Surah Al-Waqiah has 96 verses. It is the 56th surah, in juz 27.
Does reading Surah Waqiah prevent poverty?
The report that reading it every night prevents poverty is attributed to Ibn Mas'ud and graded weak by hadith scholars. Reading the Quran is rewarded regardless.
How long does it take to read Surah Al-Waqiah?
About 10 minutes recited aloud at a steady pace, and around 5 minutes read silently.
What is Surah Al-Waqiah about?
The Day of Judgement, the three groups of people (the foremost, the companions of the right and of the left), and the signs of Allah in seeds, water and fire.
Read more surahs
Quran text: Tanzil Quran Text (Uthmani), copied verbatim under the Tanzil licence. Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain. Arabic typeface: Amiri Quran (SIL Open Font License). Hadith references are given so you can check them in the collections.
