Surah Al-Waqi’ah Overview — The Inevitable (Chapter 56)

Search the Quran
Surah · 56 of 114
الواقعة Al-Waqi'ah The Inevitable
Meccan◉ Juz 2796 verses12 Concepts
Juz Span
About This Surah

Surah Al-Waqi'ah (الواقعة) is the fifty-sixth chapter of the Qur'an. It has 96 verses and was revealed in Mecca. Its central themes are theology, eschatology, and cosmology. It gives prominence to Madyan and the Quran.

Topical Breakdown

Verses 1–2020
  • 1Occurrence of the Inevitable Event
  • 2Infallibility and undeniable truth of the Day
  • 3Abasing the wicked and exalting the righteous
  • 4Violent convulsion and shaking of the earth
  • 5Crumbling and pulverizing of mountains
  • 6Mountains reduced to scattered dust
  • 7Humanity divided into three distinct groups
  • 8Honor of the Companions of the Right Hand
  • 9Misery of the Companions of the Left Hand
  • 10The Foremost in faith being foremost in reward
  • 11The Foremost brought nearest to God
  • 12Residing in the Gardens of Delight
  • 13A large multitude from earlier generations
  • 14A small group from later generations
  • 15Resting upon thrones woven with gold and gems
  • 16Reclining on couches facing one another in harmony
  • 17Immortal youths circulating in service
  • 18Goblets, ewers, and cups from a flowing spring
  • 19Pure wine causing neither headache nor intoxication
  • 20Selection of fruits of their own choosing

Read these verses →

Verses 21–4020
  • 21Flesh of fowls as they desire
  • 22Companions with wide lovely eyes (Hoor)
  • 23Radiance comparable to preserved pearls
  • 24Recompense for sincere righteous deeds in life
  • 25Absence of vain talk and sinful speech
  • 26Greetings of pure peace in Paradise
  • 27Blessings of the Companions of the Right Hand
  • 28Thornless lote trees in gardens of bliss
  • 29Layered clusters of sweet bananas and acacias
  • 30Continuous and extended shade
  • 31Constantly poured and flowing waters
  • 32Abundance of perpetual fruits
  • 33Fruits neither seasonal nor forbidden
  • 34Elevated cushions and couches
  • 35Special creation and recreation of spouses
  • 36Purified and made perpetual maidens
  • 37Loving devoted spouses of equal age
  • 38Prepared specifically for the Companions of the Right
  • 39A large company from earlier peoples
  • 40A large company from later generations

Read these verses →

Verses 41–6020
  • 41Misfortune and punishment of Companions of the Left
  • 42Scorching fierce wind and scalding water
  • 43Suffocating shadow of pitch-black smoke
  • 44Neither cool nor pleasant or beneficial
  • 45Past immersion in corrupt luxury and sins
  • 46Persistence in enormous sins and polytheism
  • 47Mocking denial of bodily resurrection after death
  • 48Scoffing at resurrection of ancient forefathers
  • 49Inclusion of all earlier and later peoples in Resurrection
  • 50Gathering at the appointed Day known to God
  • 51Direct address to astray deniers of Resurrection
  • 52Forced eating from the tree of Zaqqum
  • 53Filling bellies with bitter infernal food
  • 54Drinking boiling water upon the cursed food
  • 55Drinking frantically like diseased thirsty camels
  • 56Hospitality prepared for deniers on Day of Recompense
  • 57Initial creation of man demanding belief in resurrection
  • 58Reflection on emitted reproductive semen
  • 59God as the sole Creator of human life
  • 60Ordaining death among all creatures without inability

Read these verses →

Verses 61–8020
  • 61Power to transform forms and recreate in unknown states
  • 62Knowledge of first creation demanding remembrance
  • 63Reflection upon agricultural cultivation and seeds
  • 64God as the true grower of agricultural crops
  • 65Power to turn fertile harvest into dry debris
  • 66Grief of farmers ruined by crop failure
  • 67Feeling deprived of livelihood and harvest
  • 68Reflection on fresh drinking water
  • 69Sending down rain from clouds by divine decree
  • 70Ability to make water bitter and salty calling for gratitude
  • 71Reflection on fire kindled for human use
  • 72Creation of wood and trees producing combustion
  • 73Fire as a divine reminder of Hell and provision for wayfarers
  • 74, 96Exalting the Great Name of the Lord
  • 75Oath by the settings of the stars
  • 76Magnificence and weight of the divine oath
  • 77The Noble Quran as honored revelation
  • 78Preserved in a well-guarded Master Book
  • 79Touched only by the purified angels
  • 80Revelation directly from the Lord of the worlds

Read these verses →

Verses 81–9615
  • 81Rebuke of those compromising and belittling the Quran
  • 82Repaying divine sustenance with rejection and denial
  • 83Soul reaching the throat at the moment of death
  • 84Helpless onlookers observing the dying soul
  • 85God being closer to the dying than bystanders
  • 86Challenging those who deny judgment and accountability
  • 87Inability to bring back the departing soul
  • 88Final destination of those brought near to God
  • 89Rest, sweet provisions, and Gardens of Delight
  • 90Destination of the Companions of the Right Hand
  • 91Peace and security greeted to the Companions of Right
  • 92Destination of the astray deniers
  • 93Hospitality of scalding water for deniers
  • 94Consignment to the scorching blaze of Hell
  • 95Absolute certainty and undeniable truth of revelation

Read these verses →

Verse Tone Progression
Command (verses 1–1)Neutral (verses 2–3)Command (verses 4–4)Consolation (verses 5–5)Warning (verses 6–6)Narrative (verses 7–9)Command (verses 10–11)Praise (verses 12–13)Neutral (verses 14–14)Warning (verses 15–15)Command (verses 16–18)Neutral (verses 19–19)Warning (verses 20–20)Consolation (verses 21–21)Warning (verses 22–22)Consolation (verses 23–23)Warning (verses 24–24)Neutral (verses 25–25)Praise (verses 26–26)Consolation (verses 27–27)Command (verses 28–28)Warning (verses 29–29)Command (verses 30–31)Consolation (verses 32–32)Neutral (verses 33–33)Praise (verses 34–34)Promise (verses 35–36)Warning (verses 37–37)Consolation (verses 38–38)Praise (verses 39–39)Neutral (verses 40–40)Command (verses 41–41)Praise (verses 42–42)Warning (verses 43–43)Neutral (verses 44–44)Narrative (verses 45–45)Warning (verses 46–47)Praise (verses 48–48)Command (verses 49–50)Warning (verses 51–52)Praise (verses 53–55)Command (verses 56–57)Consolation (verses 58–58)Command (verses 59–60)Consolation (verses 61–61)Narrative (verses 62–63)Command (verses 64–65)Warning (verses 66–66)Command (verses 67–70)Narrative (verses 71–71)Command (verses 72–72)Consolation (verses 73–73)Praise (verses 74–74)Neutral (verses 75–75)Promise (verses 76–76)Praise (verses 77–77)Consolation (verses 78–78)Command (verses 79–80)Warning (verses 81–82)Command (verses 83–84)Promise (verses 85–85)Command (verses 86–88)Consolation (verses 89–89)Promise (verses 90–90)Praise (verses 91–91)Narrative (verses 92–92)Command (verses 93–93)Warning (verses 94–94)Consolation (verses 95–95)Praise (verses 96–96)01224364860728496
Command
Narrative
Promise
Warning
Consolation
Praise
Neutral
Top Concept Co-Occurrences
the descent of revelationknowledge39
knowledgecreation25
the companionsparadise13
the descent of revelationdeath12
the descent of revelationcreation10
the magnificentknowledge10
knowledgedeath9
knowledgedivine favour9
creationdeath8
knowledgeparadise7
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Surah Al-Waqi'ah?
Surah Al-Waqi'ah (الواقعة) is the 56th chapter of the Qur'an, comprising 96 verses revealed in Mecca.
What are the main themes of Surah Al-Waqi'ah?
The main themes of Surah Al-Waqi'ah are theology, cosmology, and eschatology.
Which key figures are mentioned in Surah Al-Waqi'ah?
Surah Al-Waqi'ah prominently features Nuh and the Quran.
Is Surah Al-Waqi'ah Meccan or Medinan?
Surah Al-Waqi'ah is Meccan; it was revealed in Mecca and contains 96 verses.
Read Al-Waqi'ah — All 96 Verses
Arabic text · Translation · Tafseer · Audio player · Per-verse concept tags
Read Full Surah →