Surah Al-Waqiah (The Event) is the 56th surah of the Quran, 96 ayat revealed in Makkah, named after the Day of Resurrection itself. It divides everyone into three groups: those brought nearest to God, the people of the right, and the people of the left, then describes what meets each of them, first at the moment of death and then in the next life. Below is the surah's full Arabic text with an English translation, grouped by theme and explained briefly from Ibn Kathir's tafsir, followed by a plain note on the popular but unreliable claim that reciting it wards off poverty.
Themes of Surah Al-Waqiah
The surah opens with the shaking of the earth on the Last Day, then names three kinds of people everyone will belong to: the foremost (as-sabiqun), the people of the right (ashab al-yamin), and the people of the left (ashab al-shimal). It gives the fate of each group in detail, then turns to signs in creation, human creation, crops, water and fire, as evidence for the resurrection it has just described. It swears by the setting of the stars that the Quran itself is a noble, well-guarded revelation, and closes with the scene of death: the soul reaching the throat, and the three fates restated one more time. If you already listen to Quran daily, see our guide to a daily Quran listening habit.
The Event
Surah Al-Waqiah takes its name from its opening word, al-waqi'ah, the Event, one of the names of the Day of Resurrection. Ibn Kathir explains that it is called this because that day is certain: nothing can hold it back or bring it forward. The surah opens with what happens to the earth and the mountains when it comes.
إِذَا وَقَعَتِ الْوَاقِعَةُ ﴿١﴾ لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ ﴿٢﴾ خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ ﴿٣﴾
الواقعة: 1-3"When the Occurrence occurs, There is, at its occurrence, no denial. It will bring down [some] and raise up [others]."
Al-Waqiah 56:1-3, Saheeh International
إِذَا رُجَّتِ الْأَرْضُ رَجًّا ﴿٤﴾ وَبُسَّتِ الْجِبَالُ بَسًّا ﴿٥﴾ فَكَانَتْ هَبَاءً مُّنبَثًّا ﴿٦﴾ وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَاجًا ثَلَاثَةً ﴿٧﴾
الواقعة: 4-7"When the earth is shaken with convulsion And the mountains are broken down, crumbling And become dust dispersing, And you become [of] three kinds:"
Al-Waqiah 56:4-7, Saheeh International
Three Kinds of People
Everyone is then placed in one of three groups: the people of the right, the people of the left, and the foremost, those brought nearest to God. Ibn Kathir explains that commentators differ over who the foremost are: many understand them as including a great many believers from earlier nations and only a few from this Ummah, while others hold that this Ummah, though it comes last, will be foremost in rank on the Day of Judgement.
فَأَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ ﴿٨﴾ وَأَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْمَشْأَمَةِ ﴿٩﴾ وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ ﴿١٠﴾
الواقعة: 8-10"Then the companions of the right - what are the companions of the right? And the companions of the left - what are companions of the left? And the forerunners, the forerunners"
Al-Waqiah 56:8-10, Saheeh International
أُولَٰئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ ﴿١١﴾ فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ ﴿١٢﴾ ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿١٣﴾ وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنَ الْآخِرِينَ ﴿١٤﴾
الواقعة: 11-14"Those are the ones brought near [to Allāh] In the Gardens of Pleasure, A [large] company of the former peoples And a few of the later peoples,"
Al-Waqiah 56:11-14, Saheeh International
The Reward of the Foremost
Ibn Kathir describes their reward from the ayat themselves: jewelled couches, wine that leaves no headache and no loss of sense, fruit and meat chosen freely, companions likened to hidden pearls, and a gathering with no vain or sinful talk, only greetings of peace.
عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَّوْضُونَةٍ ﴿١٥﴾ مُّتَّكِئِينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَابِلِينَ ﴿١٦﴾ يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ ﴿١٧﴾ بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ مِّن مَّعِينٍ ﴿١٨﴾ لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ ﴿١٩﴾ وَفَاكِهَةٍ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ ﴿٢٠﴾ وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ ﴿٢١﴾ وَحُورٌ عِينٌ ﴿٢٢﴾ كَأَمْثَالِ اللُّؤْلُؤِ الْمَكْنُونِ ﴿٢٣﴾ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٢٤﴾ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا ﴿٢٥﴾ إِلَّا قِيلًا سَلَامًا سَلَامًا ﴿٢٦﴾
الواقعة: 15-26"On thrones woven [with ornament], Reclining on them, facing each other. There will circulate among them young boys made eternal. With vessels, pitchers and a cup [of wine] from a flowing spring No headache will they have therefrom, nor will they be intoxicated And fruit of what they select And the meat of fowl, from whatever they desire. And [for them are] fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes, The likenesses of pearls well-protected, As reward for what they used to do. They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin Only a saying [of] peace, peace."
Al-Waqiah 56:15-26, Saheeh International
The People of the Right
The people of the right come next. Ibn Kathir explains that their rank is below that of the foremost, though their description is still one of ease: thornless lote trees, stacked banana trees, extended shade, flowing water and fruit all year round.
وَأَصْحَابُ الْيَمِينِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الْيَمِينِ ﴿٢٧﴾ فِي سِدْرٍ مَّخْضُودٍ ﴿٢٨﴾ وَطَلْحٍ مَّنضُودٍ ﴿٢٩﴾ وَظِلٍّ مَّمْدُودٍ ﴿٣٠﴾ وَمَاءٍ مَّسْكُوبٍ ﴿٣١﴾ وَفَاكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ ﴿٣٢﴾ لَّا مَقْطُوعَةٍ وَلَا مَمْنُوعَةٍ ﴿٣٣﴾
الواقعة: 27-33"The companions of the right - what are the companions of the right? [They will be] among lote trees with thorns removed. And [banana] trees layered [with fruit]. And shade extended. And water poured out And fruit, abundant [and varied], Neither limited [to season] nor forbidden,"
Al-Waqiah 56:27-33, Saheeh International
The surah then adds that the women of Paradise are created anew as youthful, devoted companions, and repeats that this group, like the foremost, includes large numbers from earlier nations and from later ones.
وَفُرُشٍ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ ﴿٣٤﴾ إِنَّا أَنشَأْنَاهُنَّ إِنشَاءً ﴿٣٥﴾ فَجَعَلْنَاهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا ﴿٣٦﴾ عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًا ﴿٣٧﴾ لِّأَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ ﴿٣٨﴾ ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿٣٩﴾ وَثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ الْآخِرِينَ ﴿٤٠﴾
الواقعة: 34-40"And [upon] beds raised high. Indeed, We have produced them [i.e., the women of Paradise] in a [new] creation And made them virgins, Devoted [to their husbands] and of equal age, For the companions of the right [who are] A company of the former peoples And a company of the later peoples."
Al-Waqiah 56:34-40, Saheeh International
The People of the Left
Ibn Kathir explains that the people of the left are given this description because they lived a life of ease without gratitude and persisted in the gravest of sins, denying that death would be followed by a resurrection.
وَأَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ مَا أَصْحَابُ الشِّمَالِ ﴿٤١﴾ فِي سَمُومٍ وَحَمِيمٍ ﴿٤٢﴾ وَظِلٍّ مِّن يَحْمُومٍ ﴿٤٣﴾ لَّا بَارِدٍ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ ﴿٤٤﴾ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتْرَفِينَ ﴿٤٥﴾ وَكَانُوا يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى الْحِنثِ الْعَظِيمِ ﴿٤٦﴾ وَكَانُوا يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَامًا أَإِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ ﴿٤٧﴾ أَوَآبَاؤُنَا الْأَوَّلُونَ ﴿٤٨﴾
الواقعة: 41-48"And the companions of the left - what are the companions of the left? [They will be] in scorching fire and scalding water And a shade of black smoke, Neither cool nor beneficial. Indeed they were, before that, indulging in affluence, And they used to persist in the great violation, And they used to say, "When we die and become dust and bones, are we indeed to be resurrected? And our forefathers [as well]?""
Al-Waqiah 56:41-48, Saheeh International
Their gathering and their food, the tree of zaqqum and scalding water drunk like thirsty camels drink, is then laid out as their welcome on the Day of Recompense.
قُلْ إِنَّ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَالْآخِرِينَ ﴿٤٩﴾ لَمَجْمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَاتِ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ ﴿٥٠﴾ ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا الضَّالُّونَ الْمُكَذِّبُونَ ﴿٥١﴾ لَآكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍ مِّن زَقُّومٍ ﴿٥٢﴾ فَمَالِئُونَ مِنْهَا الْبُطُونَ ﴿٥٣﴾ فَشَارِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْحَمِيمِ ﴿٥٤﴾ فَشَارِبُونَ شُرْبَ الْهِيمِ ﴿٥٥﴾ هَٰذَا نُزُلُهُمْ يَوْمَ الدِّينِ ﴿٥٦﴾
الواقعة: 49-56"Say, [O Muḥammad], "Indeed, the former and later peoples Are to be gathered together for the appointment of a known Day." Then indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers, Will be eating from trees of zaqqūm And filling with it your bellies And drinking on top of it from scalding water. And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels. That is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense."
Al-Waqiah 56:49-56, Saheeh International
Signs in Creation
From here the surah argues for the resurrection through what its listeners could see around them every day. Ibn Kathir notes that each example follows the same pattern: God asks whether it is really people who cause a thing to happen, or God who causes it, so that the same power that begins something so ordinary is shown able to bring it back after death.
نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَاكُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ ﴿٥٧﴾ أَفَرَأَيْتُم مَّا تُمْنُونَ ﴿٥٨﴾ أَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْخَالِقُونَ ﴿٥٩﴾ نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ ﴿٦٠﴾ عَلَىٰ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِي مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٦١﴾ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ النَّشْأَةَ الْأُولَىٰ فَلَوْلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾
الواقعة: 57-62"We have created you, so why do you not believe? Have you seen that which you emit? Is it you who creates it, or are We the Creator? We have decreed death among you, and We are not to be outdone In that We will change your likenesses and produce you in that [form] which you do not know. And you have already known the first creation, so will you not remember?"
Al-Waqiah 56:57-62, Saheeh International
أَفَرَأَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ ﴿٦٣﴾ أَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَّارِعُونَ ﴿٦٤﴾ لَوْ نَشَاءُ لَجَعَلْنَاهُ حُطَامًا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ ﴿٦٥﴾ إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ ﴿٦٦﴾ بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ ﴿٦٧﴾
الواقعة: 63-67"And have you seen that [seed] which you sow? Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower? If We willed, We could make it [dry] debris, and you would remain in wonder, [Saying], "Indeed, we are [now] in debt; Rather, we have been deprived.""
Al-Waqiah 56:63-67, Saheeh International
أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ الْمَاءَ الَّذِي تَشْرَبُونَ ﴿٦٨﴾ أَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ الْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنزِلُونَ ﴿٦٩﴾ لَوْ نَشَاءُ جَعَلْنَاهُ أُجَاجًا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٧٠﴾
الواقعة: 68-70"And have you seen the water that you drink? Is it you who brought it down from the clouds, or is it We who bring it down? If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?"
Al-Waqiah 56:68-70, Saheeh International
أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ النَّارَ الَّتِي تُورُونَ ﴿٧١﴾ أَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَا أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنشِئُونَ ﴿٧٢﴾ نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَاهَا تَذْكِرَةً وَمَتَاعًا لِّلْمُقْوِينَ ﴿٧٣﴾ فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ ﴿٧٤﴾
الواقعة: 71-74"And have you seen the fire that you ignite? Is it you who produced its tree, or are We the producer? We have made it a reminder and provision for the travelers, So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great."
Al-Waqiah 56:71-74, Saheeh International
The Nobility of the Quran
An oath by the setting of the stars introduces a description of the Quran itself: a noble recitation, in a well-guarded Book. Ibn Kathir explains 'the purified' who touch it as the angels who carry it down.
فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَاقِعِ النُّجُومِ ﴿٧٥﴾ وَإِنَّهُ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٧٦﴾ إِنَّهُ لَقُرْآنٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿٧٧﴾ فِي كِتَابٍ مَّكْنُونٍ ﴿٧٨﴾ لَّا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ ﴿٧٩﴾ تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٨٠﴾
الواقعة: 75-80"Then I swear by the setting of the stars, And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great. Indeed, it is a noble Qur’ān. In a Register well-protected;. None touch it except the purified [i.e., the angels]. [It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds."
Al-Waqiah 56:75-80, Saheeh International
The surah then puts the same question to its deniers that it has been building toward: is indifference really the response owed to a revelation like this, or gratitude turned into denial?
أَفَبِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ ﴿٨١﴾ وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ ﴿٨٢﴾
الواقعة: 81-82"Then is it to this statement that you are indifferent And make [the thanks for] your provision that you deny [the Provider]?"
Al-Waqiah 56:81-82, Saheeh International
Death and the Three Fates
The surah closes with the scene every listener will eventually reach: the soul at the point of death, reaching the throat, with everyone present unable to hold it back or return it, though Ibn Kathir explains that God, through His angels, is nearer to the dying person than anyone in the room, even though they cannot be seen.
فَلَوْلَا إِذَا بَلَغَتِ الْحُلْقُومَ ﴿٨٣﴾ وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَنظُرُونَ ﴿٨٤﴾ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٨٥﴾ فَلَوْلَا إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ ﴿٨٦﴾ تَرْجِعُونَهَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ﴿٨٧﴾
الواقعة: 83-87"Then why, when it [i.e., the soul at death] reaches the throat And you are at that time looking on And We [i.e., Our angels] are nearer to him than you, but you do not see Then why do you not, if you are not to be recompensed, Bring it back, if you should be truthful?"
Al-Waqiah 56:83-87, Saheeh International
The three fates named at the start of the surah are then restated one last time. For the one brought near, Ibn Kathir explains that rawh means rest and rayhan means provision or fragrance, so together they describe an easing that meets the believer at death, followed by a garden of bliss. For the companions of the right, it is simply peace. For the denier who went astray, it is scalding water and the Fire.
فَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ ﴿٨٨﴾ فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍ ﴿٨٩﴾ وَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ ﴿٩٠﴾ فَسَلَامٌ لَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ ﴿٩١﴾
الواقعة: 88-91"And if he [i.e., the deceased] was of those brought near [to Allāh], Then [for him is] rest and bounty and a garden of pleasure. And if he was of the companions of the right, Then [the angels will say], "Peace for you; [you are] from the companions of the right.""
Al-Waqiah 56:88-91, Saheeh International
وَأَمَّا إِن كَانَ مِنَ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٩٢﴾ فَنُزُلٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ ﴿٩٣﴾ وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ ﴿٩٤﴾
الواقعة: 92-94"But if he was of the deniers [who were] astray, Then [for him is] accommodation of scalding water And burning in Hellfire."
Al-Waqiah 56:92-94, Saheeh International
The surah ends where it could have opened: this is certain truth, so glorify the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ الْيَقِينِ ﴿٩٥﴾ فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ ﴿٩٦﴾
الواقعة: 95-96"Indeed, this is the true certainty, So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great."
Al-Waqiah 56:95-96, Saheeh International
The Popular Claim About Reciting It
A narration claiming that Surah Al-Waqiah recited nightly wards off poverty circulates widely online and in message forwards. That specific narration is not reliably established; hadith scholars grade it weak, so it is not repeated here as a promise, and no reward beyond what the ayat themselves state should be expected from it. What the surah reliably offers is its own content: a description of death and what follows it, direct enough that reading it is worth doing for that alone.
Frequently asked questions
What is Surah Al-Waqiah about?
It describes the Day of Resurrection, divides people into three groups (the foremost, the people of the right and the people of the left) and details the fate of each, then argues for the resurrection through everyday signs in creation before closing with the scene of death itself.
How many ayat does Surah Al-Waqiah have?
96 ayat. It was revealed in Makkah and is the 56th surah of the Quran.
Is it true that reciting Surah Al-Waqiah brings wealth or protects from poverty?
No reliable hadith supports that specific claim; the narration behind it is graded weak by hadith scholars. Reciting the surah regularly is a good habit for the sake of its own content, just not on the basis of that particular promise.
Who are the three groups mentioned in Surah Al-Waqiah?
The foremost (as-sabiqun), those brought nearest to God; the people of the right (ashab al-yamin); and the people of the left (ashab al-shimal). The surah gives each group's reward or punishment in turn.
What does Al-Waqiah mean?
Al-Waqi'ah, the Event, is one of the names of the Day of Resurrection in the Quran, used because that day is certain to occur.
Sources
- Saheeh International, English translation of the Quran
- Tafsir Ibn Kathir