logo
episode-header-image
May 2023
10m 39s

Al-Waqi'a الواقعة

Qahramon
About this episode

Al-Waqi'a الواقعة; "The Inevitable" or "The Event") is the 56 chapter of the Quran. Muslims believe it was revealed in Mecca (see Meccan surah), specifically around 7 years before the (622), the migration of Muhammad to Medina

The total number of verses in this surah is 96. It mainly discusses the afterlife according to Islam, and the different fates people will face in it


The afterlife (akhirah) is the main topic discussed in the chapter. Picking up from the preceding chapter, Ar-Rahman, which discusses the rewards of Paradise (jannah), this chapter also mentions them and then contrasts them with the punishment of hell. The chapter also distinguishes the three classes of people in the afterlife, "the foremost", "the companions of the right" and "the companions of the left": the first two groups will enter paradise while the companions of the left will go to hell.[3] Here, "the right" is associated with goodness, the righteous will be seated to the right of God's throne and receive their records of deeds in their right hand.[5] The "foremost" refers to a special group of people who will have an even better fate than the companions of the right in the afterlife. Quranic commentators differ on understanding who the foremost is. They variously identify the foremost with the prophets, the saints, the truthful, the martyrs, the first to accept Islam, and others.[6]

Ayat (verses)

  • 1-2 The coming of the judgment-day inevitable
  • 3-7 Its terrors described
  • 8-11 Its coming shall separate men into three classes
  • 12-39 Joys of the Muslim heaven described
  • 40-56 The punishment of the wicked in hell depicted
  • 57-73 Arguments for the resurrection of the dead drawn from God’s work in creation and providence
  • 74-81 Oath by the stars that the Qurán is divinely-inspired
  • 82-96 Men should believe in God since they cannot save the dying from death [7]


    Theme and Subject Matter

    Then, in vv. 57-74 arguments have been given, one after the other, to prove the truth of the two basic doctrines of Islam, which the disbelievers were refusing to accept, viz. the doctrines of Tauhid and the Hereafter. In these arguments, apart from every thing else that exists in the earth and heavens, man's attention has been drawn to his own body and to the food that he eats and to the water that he drinks and to the fire on which he cooks his food, and he has been invited to ponder the question : What right do you have to behave independently of, or serve any other than, the God Whose creative power has brought you into being, and Whose provisions sustain you And how can you entertain the idea that after having once brought you into existence He has become so helpless and powerless that He cannot recreate you once again even if he wills to?

    Then, in vv. 75-82 their suspicions in respect of the Qur'an have been refuted and they have been made to realize how fortunate they are that instead of deriving any benefit from the great blessing that the Qur'an is, they are treating it with scant attention and have set only this share of theirs in it that they deny it. If one seriously considers this matchless argument that has been presented in two brief sentences about the truth of the Qur'an, one will find in it the same kind of firm and stable system as exists among the stars and planets of the Universe, and the same is the proof of the fact that its Author is the same Being Who has created the Universe. Then the disbelievers have been told that this Book is inscribed in that Writ of Destiny which is beyond the reach of the creatures, as if to say "You think it is brought down by the devils to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), whereas none but the pure angels has any access to the means by which it reaches Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) from the well guarded Tablet."


    Up next
    Apr 2024
    Sūrat al-Layl  الليل "The Night"
    ‏Sūrat al-Layl الليل "The Night" is the ninety-second sūrah (chapter) of the Qur'an, containing twenty-one āyāt (verses). This sūrah is one of the first ten to be revealed in Mecca. It contrasts two types of people, the charitable and the miserly, and describes each of their char ... Show More
    1m 51s
    Apr 2024
    Ash-Shams الشمس "The Sun"
    ‏Ash-Shams الشمس "The Sun" is the 91st surah of the Qur'an, with 15 ayat or verses. It opens with a series of solemn oaths sworn on various astronomical phenomena, the first of which, "by the sun", gives the sura its name, then on the human soul itself. It then describes the fate ... Show More
    1m 24s
    Apr 2024
    Al-Balad  البلد "The City"
    ‏Al-Balad البلد, "The City" is the 90th Surah or chapter of the Qur'an. It is composed of 20 verses Summary 1-7 Man, though created in misery, yet boasts of his riches 8-16 Captives to be freed and the poor and orphan to be fed 17-20 Description of the companions of the right and ... Show More
    2 m
    Recommended Episodes
    Jan 2021
    74. Surah al-Muddather | سورة المدثر
    ‏There is much scholarly discussion about this chapter and the one before it, The One Wrapped in Garments.  This is a fifty-six verse chapter that begins by addressing Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, directly and goes on to remind the disbeliever ... Show More
    5m 55s
    Jan 2021
    72. Surah al-Jinn | سورة الجن
    ‏This twenty eight verses chapter was revealed in Mecca.  Meccan chapters tend to concentrate on teaching the basics of Islam.  They focus on the Oneness of God and the consequences of ignoring the message.  The first 15 verses give an account of a discussion by a group of jinn a ... Show More
    5m 52s
    Nov 2020
    36. Surah Yaseen | سورة يس
    ‏The 36th chapter of the Quran is entitled Ya Sin.  It is named after the first two letters of the chapter which are "ya" and "sin" (pronounced seen).  Thus it cannot be translation into English and is always left untranslated.  This chapter of 83 verses was revealed in Mecca and ... Show More
    14m 27s
    Nov 2020
    37. Surah al-Safat | سورة الصافات
    ‏Those Ranged in Rows was revealed in Mecca.  Those chapters revealed before the migration to Medina tended to concentrate on monotheism; the Oneness of God.  This one is no exception and thus establishing a firm faith is its aim.  In 182 short verses this chapter also covers oth ... Show More
    16m 37s
    Jan 2021
    56. Surah al-Waqi'ah | سورة الواقعة
    ‏The 56th chapter of Quran was revealed in Mecca and has 96 verses.  Its name, The Coming Event is taken from the opening verse and is also the central theme of the chapter.  The event about which there is no doubt, the Day of Judgment, when the people will be divided into three ... Show More
    11m 46s
    Oct 2020
    25. Surah al-Furqan | سورة الفرقان
    ‏As with many other chapters of Quran this one takes its name from the first verse as well.  Al-Furqan means the Criterion and the chapter comprises of seventy-seven verses.  It refers to the Quran being the book that differentiates between right and wrong.  It is from the pages ... Show More
    18m 21s
    Jan 2021
    78. Surah al-Naba | سورة النبأ
    ‏The main division of the Quran is into chapters and verses, however it is also divided into 30 roughly equal parts.  Each part is known in Arabic as a juz.  Because each juz is not usually divided along chapter lines, each one is sometimes referred to by its first word.  The thi ... Show More
    4m 53s
    Jan 2021
    95. Surah al-Teen | سورة التين
    ‏The Fig is a concise chapter of eight verses.  Its name comes from the first words of the first verse.  The majority of scholars agree that this chapter was revealed in Mecca and Mecca is mentioned in the chapter giving credence to this assumption.  Meccan chapters, especially t ... Show More
    48s
    May 2022
    Recitation of Holy Quran-Juz’ 30-Hashem Nabil | تلاوة القران الكريم- الجزء الثلاثون-هاشم نبيل
    ‏The main division of the Quran is into chapters and verses, however it is also divided into 30 roughly equal parts.  Each part is known in Arabic as a juz.  Because each juz is not usually divided along chapter lines, each one is sometimes referred to by its first word.  The thi ... Show More
    48m 57s
    Oct 2013
    Tafseer Surah Al Kahf Part 03 Speaking False Of Allah
    ‏This lecture sees Shaykh Yasir Qadhi discussing verses 4 to 8 which majorly mentions the purpose of the Qur’an and the Prophet ﷺ concern for mankind. It is binding upon us to negate false accusations about Allah and affirm what we must believe about Allah. Whatever is to be know ... Show More
    16m 25s