Surah Waqiah: A Simple Explanation

Surah Waqiah is a beautiful Meccan Surah in the Holy Quran, made up of 96 short and meaningful verses. It mainly talks about the Day of Judgment, how people will be divided on that great day, and it reminds us that Allah is the One True Creator. Surah Al Waqiah gives clear messages to those who doubt the resurrection, telling them that it is definitely real.

Surah Waqiah 1
Surah Waqiah 2
Surah Waqiah 3
Surah Waqiah 4

how to memorize surah Waqiah?

Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem

1. Idha waqa’atil waaqi’ah ۝
2. Laysa liwaq’atihaa kaadhibah ۝
3. Khaafidatun raafi’ah ۝
4. Idha rujjatil ardu rajjaa ۝
5. Wa bussatil jibaalu bassaa ۝
6. Fakaanat habaaan munbathaa ۝
7. Wa kuntum azwaajan thalaathah ۝
8. Fa-ashaabul maymanati maa as-haabul maymanah ۝
9. Wa as-haabul mash’amati maa as-haabul mash’amah ۝
10. Was-saabiqoonas saabiqoon ۝
11. Ulaa-ikal muqarraboon ۝
12. Fee jannaatin na’eem ۝
13. Thullatun minal awwaleen ۝
14. Wa qaleelun minal aakhireen ۝
15. Alaa sururim mawdoonah ۝
16. Muttaki’eena ‘alaihaa mutaqaabileen ۝
17. Yatoofu ‘alaihim wildaanum mukhalladun ۝
18. Bi-akwabin wa abareeqa wa kaasim min ma’een ۝
19. Laa yusadda’oona ‘anhaa wa laa yunzifoon ۝
20. Wa faakihatin mimmaa yatakhayyaroon ۝
21. Wa lahmi tayrin mimmaa yashtahoon ۝
22. Wa hoorun ‘een ۝
23. Ka-amthaalil lu’lu’il maknoon ۝
24. Jazaa’am bimaa kanoo ya’maloon ۝
25. Laa yasma’oona feehaa laghwan wa laa taatheema ۝
26. Illaa qeelan salaaman salaama ۝
27. Wa as-haabul yameeni maa as-haabul yameen ۝
28. Fee sidrim makhdood ۝
29. Wa talhim mandood ۝
30. Wa zillin mamdood ۝
31. Wa maa-im maskoob ۝
32. Wa faakihatin katheera ۝
33. Laa maqtoo’atin wa laa mamnoo’ah ۝
34. Wa furushim marfoo’ah ۝
35. Innaa ansha’naahunna inshaa’a ۝
36. Faja’alnaahunna abkaara ۝
37. Uruban atraaba ۝
38. Li-as-haabil yameen ۝
39. Thullatun minal awwaleen ۝
40. Wa thullatun minal aakhireen ۝
41. Wa as-haabus shimaali maa as-haabus shimaal ۝
42. Fee samoomin wa hameem ۝
43. Wa zillin min yahmoom ۝
44. Laa baaridin wa laa kareem ۝
45. Innahum kanoo qabla thaalika mutrafeen ۝
46. Wa kanoo yusirroona ‘alal hinthil ‘azeem ۝
47. Wa kaanoo yaqooloona a-itha mitnaa wakunna turaaban wa ‘izaaman a-innaa lamab’oothoon ۝
48. Awa aabaaoonal awwaloon ۝
49. Qul innal awwaleena wal aakhireen ۝
50. Lamajmoo’oona ilaa meeqaati yawmin ma’loom ۝

Explanation of Surah Waqiah

Verses 1 -3

إِذَا وَقَعَتِ الْوَاقِعَةُ ۝ لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ ۝ خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ ۝

“When the Inevitable occurs ۝
There is no denial of its happening ۝
It will bring some (people) low and raise others high ۝.”

These verses tell us about the Day of Judgment, also called Al-Waqiah, which will definitely happen:

  • Al-Waqiah is one of the names of the Day of Judgment, when the trumpet will be blown to announce the end of the world.
  • This day is certain and nobody can deny it.
  • On that day, some people will be sent to Hell for their disbelief, while others will be raised to Paradise for their faith in Allah.

Verses 4 -14

إِذَا رُجَّتِ الْأَرْضُ رَجًّا ۝ وَبُسَّتِ الْجِبَالُ بَسًّا ۝ فَكَانَتْ هَبَاءً مُّنبَثًّا ۝ وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَاجًا ثَلَاثَةً ۝

“When the earth is shaken with a mighty shake ۝
And the mountains crumble into scattered dust ۝
And you become divided into three groups ۝.”

On the Day of Judgment, Allah will shake the earth, and the mountains will turn to dust. People will be divided into three groups:

  • People of the Right Hand (Ashab Al-Maymanah): These are the good people who will receive their Book of deeds in their right hand and will go to Jannah (Paradise).
  • People of the Left Hand (Ashab Al-Mash’amah): These are the ones who will get their Book of deeds in their left hand and will face punishment.
  • The Foremost (As-Sabiqoon): These are the closest to Allah, like the Prophets, the truthful, and the best of believers.

Verses 15 -26

عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَّوْضُونَةٍ ۝ مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَابِلِينَ ۝ يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ ۝ بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ مِّن مَّعِينٍ ۝

“They will be reclining on adorned couches ۝
Facing each other in joy ۝
Eternal youths will serve them with cups, pitchers, and pure drink ۝.”

These verses tell us about the amazing rewards in Jannah for those closest to Allah:

  • They will sit on beautiful couches, happily facing each other.
  • Young servants will bring them pure drinks that do not cause headaches or make them lose their senses.
  • They will have all the tasty fruits they wish for and beautiful companions called Hoor Al-Ayn.

Verses 27 -40

وَأَصْحَابُ الْيَمِينِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْيَمِينِ ۝ فِي سِدْرٍ مَّخْضُودٍ ۝ وَطَلْحٍ مَّنضُودٍ ۝ وَظِلٍّ مَّمْدُودٍ ۝

“And the People of the Right Hand—how blessed are they ۝
They will be among lote trees without thorns ۝
And clustered banana trees ۝
And in continuous shade ۝.”

These verses describe the beautiful blessings for the People of the Right Hand:

  • They will enjoy the shade of trees like the lote and banana trees.
  • They will have delicious fruits, flowing rivers, and beautiful gardens.
  • Allah has created the women of Jannah to be loving and youthful, always bringing joy to their spouses.

Verses 41 – 56

وَأَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ ۝ فِي سَمُومٍ وَحَمِيمٍ ۝ وَظِلٍّ مِّن يَحْمُومٍ ۝ لَا بَارِدٍ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ ۝

“And the People of the Left Hand—how miserable are they ۝
They will be in scorching winds and boiling water ۝
And in the shade of black smoke ۝
Neither cool nor refreshing ۝.”

These verses describe the beautiful blessings for the People of the Right Hand:

  • They will enjoy the shade of trees like the lote and banana trees.
  • They will have delicious fruits, flowing rivers, and beautiful gardens.
  • Allah has created the women of Jannah to be loving and youthful, always bringing joy to their spouses.

Signs of Allah’s Power in Surah Waqiah

Surah Waqiah also highlights the incredible signs of Allah’s power in creation:

  • The miracle of human creation: From a tiny drop of fluid, Allah forms a human being in the womb.
  • The growth of crops and plants: Allah brings forth life from the soil and provides us with sustenance.
  • The gift of water and fire: Allah gives us fresh water to drink and fire to use for warmth and cooking.

 

Prophetic Guidance on Surah Waqiah

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of Surah Waqiah by saying, “شَيَّبَتْنِي (هودُ) وأخواتُها، (الواقعةُ) و(الحاقةُ) و(إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ)”, highlighting how these Surahs serve as powerful reminders of the Hereafter.

Preparing for the Hereafter

Reflecting on Surah Al Waqiah helps us stay focused on our purpose as Muslims: preparing for the Day of Judgment. It encourages us to be among the People of the Right Hand and to work sincerely for Allah’s pleasure in all our actions. Remembering the reality of life and death instills in us the desire to seek Allah’s mercy and strive for Jannah.

Surah Waqiah is a powerful reminder that this world is temporary and that our real journey begins in the Hereafter. Let us hold onto its teachings, live a life of faith, and aim to be among those who earn Allah’s everlasting blessings.