About the Surah

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

       When the inevitable event (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) will occur.

       Its occurrence is not a lie.

       It will make some low (in esteem) (who will enter Hell) and others high (who will enter Paradise).

       When the earth will be shaken with a dreadful shake.

       And the mountains will be made tiny particles.

       So they will be floating around like dust particles.

       And you will become three groups (Just like in Surah Ar-Rahman (i) general believers (Ashab al-Yameen) (ii) disbelievers (Ashab ash-Shimal) (iii) special esteemed believers (Siddiqueen).

       So those on the Right Hand (i.e. those who will be given their record in the right hand), how fortunate they are! (Since they will go to Paradise)

       And those on the Left Hand (those who will be given their record in the left hand). How unfor-tunate they are! (Since they will go to Hell)

       And the foremost ones (in embracing Islam) will be the foremost (in Paradise).

       Those will be the nearest to Allah.

       In the Gardens of Delight (Paradise).

       A large group of them will be from the earlier generations.

       And a few of them will be from the later generations.

       They will be on couches made with golden fibre.

       Reclining there, facing each other.

       Boys, who will always remain boys, will go around (to serve) them.

       With cups, and jugs and a glass of flowing wine.

       They will have neither head-ache nor intoxication from (drinking) it.

       And with fruits of their choice.

       And also meat of their favourite birds.

       And beautiful wives with wide lovely eyes.

       (Those wives will be) like covered pearls (to save them from dust).

       A reward for what they used to do.

       They will not hear any vain talk there nor any sinful conversation (like backbiting etc).

       Except (the conveyance to them:) “Salam, Salam (i.e. peace be upon you)”.

       And those on the Right Hand. How (fortunate) will be those on the Right Hand!

       (They will be) among thornless lote-trees,

       And among banana-trees, with their fruit laid one over another,

       And in very long shades,

       And water flowing continu-ously,

       And plenty of fruits, 

       Which will not finish (e.g. with season etc), nor have any restriction,

       And on high couches.

       Indeed, We have created them (i.e. their wives) as a special creation. (Those women who were old or not beautiful in the worldly life will be recreated as beautiful  maidens – Tirmizi).

       We made them ever-virgins (According to a Hadith in Dar Manthur, a virgin will become virgin again and again after use).

       Loving (their husbands only) and of equal age (to their husbands).

       For those on the Right Hand.

       A large group of those will be from the first generation.

       And another large group of those will be from the later gene-ration.

       And those on the Left Hand. And how (unfortunate) will be those on the Left Hand?

       They will be in stormy hot wind and boiling water.

       And in the shadow of black smoke.

       (That shadow is) neither cool, nor provides comfort.

       (The reason for this torment is) Indeed, they used to have a luxurious life before this.

       And they used to persist in committing great sins.

       And they used to say: “When we die and are reduced to dust and bones, shall we then, really, be resurrected?”

       “And our forefathers too?”

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “Yes, indeed, those of earlier times and those of later times.”

       “All will surely be gathered for the Meeting on the appointed Day.”

       “Then, indeed, O you who had gone astray and were deniers (of Resurrection)!”

       “You will surely eat from the trees of Zaqqum (an extremely dis-tasteful tree).

       “Then fill your bellies with it.”

       “Then drink boiling water on top of it.”

       “So you will drink that like thirsty camels!”

       That will be their initial hos-pitality on the Day of Judgement. (This is to make fun of the dis-be--lievers). (Also see Surah Aal-Imran:21)

       We created you (the first time which you admit). Then why don’t you believe (in the Oneness of Allah, or in the resurrection)?

       Tell Me about the semen that you emit.

       Do you create (a human being from) it or are We the Creator?

       We have also fixed time for your death and We cannot be de-feated in it (i.e. We are capable of),

       Creating in your place, others like you, and also creating you in (forms) that you do not know (i.e. monkeys etc).

       You surely know your first creation (which was by Our Power), then why don’t you learn a lesson from it? (i.e. thank Allah for this Favour)

       (Here is the second warning) Tell Me about (the seed) that you sow (in the ground).

       Do you make it grow, or are We the Grower? (i.e. true, you put the seed in the ground, but you have nothing to do with bringing its shoot out of the ground and to grow it as a tree)

       (And for you to benefit from this fully grown tree also depends upon Our Power and Wisdom) If We willed, We could break it into pieces and you will just be left regretful.

       (Saying:) “We are, indeed, ruined totally (and even lost the initial investment).”

       “In fact, we are absolutely deprived.”

       (Here is the third warning) Tell Me about the water that you drink.

       Do you bring it down from the clouds or do We cause it to come down?

       If We willed, We could have made it bitter (and undrinkable), so why don’t you thank (Allah)? (This Verse also describes the water cycle which we discovered recently)

       (Here is the fourth warning) Tell Me about the fire which you kindle.

       Do you cause the tree to grow (which is the source of fire) or are We the Grower?

       We made it (the fire) a Reminder (of the Hereafter) and made it beneficial for travellers.

       Hence, you should glorify with praises the Name of your Creator, the Most Great.

       So I swear by the setting of the stars.

       And, indeed, it is a great oath, if you know.

       That, indeed, it is a Noble Quran.

       Which is in a Book fully pro-tected (i.e. Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz).

       None can touch that (Book with Allah) but the purified ones (i.e. the angels).

       (The Quran is) a revelation from the Creator of the universe.

       Do you consider this speech (i.e. the Quran) just a casual con-versation (and not important enough to be believed)?

       And you have made its denial as your food (i.e. you keep on denying the Quran and the Here-after).

       Then why do you not (inter-vene) when (the soul of a dying person) reaches the throat?

       And at that moment you are looking at him.

       But We (i.e. Our angels who take away that soul) are nearer to him than you, but you cannot see.

       So if you are not under anybody’s command (or if you will not be accountable to anybody), 

       Bring back the soul (to its body), if you are truthful (in your denial of the Hereafter)?

       So if (the dying person) is one who is near to Allah (from the Sabeqoon)

       (There is for him) happiness, provisions (or fragrance) and a Garden of Delights (i.e. Paradise).

       And if (the dying person) is from those on the Right Hand, 

       (It will be said to him): “There is peace and security for you since you are from those on the Right Hand (Ashab-al-Yameen).”

       And if (the dying person) is from those who denied (Resurrec-tion) and went astray,

       Then his initial hospitality will be with boiling water 

       And burning in blazing Fire.

       Indeed, this (news) is the very Truth and absolutely certain.

       Hence glorify with praises the Name of your Creator, the Most Great.