Al-Wāqiʻah الواقعة "The Inevitable" or "The Event" is the 56th Surah (chapter) of Al Qur'an. It has 96 verses / ayat with four rukus, part of Juzʼ 27. It mainly discusses the afterlife and fate of different categories of people. The Surah takes its name from the word al-Wāqiʻah of the very first verse. It was revealed in Makkah, specifically around 7 years before the Hijrah (622), the migration of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to Medina.
We have already shared the Tafseer / Exegesis of the Surah which can be read from links given below:
Herein under we will only present an overview of the entire Sūrah, since the scope of this post is to only to introduce the Sūrah and provide links to some of the selected verses from this Sūrah for selective reading / references. This bird eye view includes the context, major themes and subjects and lessons that we can learn from this Sūrah, followed by references to some of the selected verses already published.
Overview
The Surah is one of the most powerful Makkan surahs for shaking human complacency, redefining success and failure, and restoring a Hereafter-centered worldview in a society drunk on wealth, status, and denial of resurrection. It is a surah that re-orders reality itself.
- Meaning and Context of Surah Al-Wāqi‘ah The title of the surah Al-Wāqi‘ah (الواقعة) means “The Inevitable Event” - referring to the Day of Resurrection — something so certain that the Qur’an calls it already real in name. It was revealed when the Quraysh had vehemently denied resurrection. The affluent of Makkah obsessed with their lineage, power, honour and wealth mocked the concept of accountability. So this surah came to shatter false securities and expose the illusion of worldly hierarchy.
- Core Theme of Surah Al-Wāqi‘ah
- The afterlife (akhirah) is the main topic discussed in the chapter. Picking up from the preceding chapter, Surah Ar-Rahman, which discusses the rewards of Paradise (Jannah), this Surah also mentions them and then contrasts them with the punishment of hell.
- This surah teaches that the world’s hierarchies are temporary and that true success is not what society celebrates but it is the Hereafter that will reclassify humanity.
- It is a surah of: (1) Ultimate sorting (2) Final classification (3) Reality check on arrogance, and (4) True honor and true loss.
- The Central Structure (hree Classes of Humanity): This is the backbone of the surah. The chapter 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.
- As-Sābiqūn (السابقون) — The Foremost (56:10–11): “And the foremost — they are the foremost. Those are the ones brought near (to Allah).” These are the spiritually elite, not by class or wealth - But by sincerity, sacrifice, and early response to truth. This means in the eyes of Allah true elite are not celebrities or billionaires — but those closest to Allah. This completely inverts modern value systems.
- Ashāb al-Yamīn — People of the Right (56:27–40): “And the companions of the right — what are the companions of the right!” They are the saved majority, righteous but not the foremost but will be given immense reward. That is Islam recognizes levels — but all based on faith and deeds, not status.
- Ashāb al-Shimāl — People of the Left (56:41–56): “And the companions of the left — what are the companions of the left!” They are the deniers, arrogant, morally corrupt elite of dunya. Their punishment is described vividly. There is a lesson in it that power, wealth, and culture will not save anyone.
Key Verses That Demand Reflection Today
Here are some of the most revealing verses for our time:
- 56:1–6 — The Shattering of False Stability:
- “When the Event occurs — there is no denying its occurrence. It will bring low and raise high.”
- This is civilizational: Empires collapse, elites fall, the ignored rise
- Message for today: All “stable systems” are temporary - Only Allah’s judgment is permanent.
- 56:57–59 — Who really creates?
- “We created you — why then do you not believe? Have you seen what you emit? Is it you who create it, or are We the Creator?”
- This attacks modern arrogance: Scientific control illusion, Human self-sufficiency mindset and even reproduction — you don’t create life.
- Lesson: Science explains how — not who ultimately wills.
- 56:63–67 — Agriculture & human helplessness
- “Have you seen what you sow? Is it you who make it grow, or are We the Grower?”
- Modern relevance: Food security crises, Climate instability, Agricultural vulnerability
- Message: Your systems depend on Allah’s permission.
- 56:68–70 — Water & environmental reality
- “Have you seen the water you drink? Is it you who sent it down from the clouds, or are We the Sender?”
- This is extremely relevant today as there is Water scarcity, extreme Climate changes and Ecological fragility.
- Qur’an reminds: Your survival is not guaranteed.
- 56:75–82 — The Majesty of the Qur’an
- “Indeed, it is a noble Qur’an… in a protected register… a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.”
- Then comes the rebuke: “Is it this statement that you take lightly?”
- Modern lesson: Many Muslims treat Qur’an as culture, as ritual and as background noise.
- This verse demands Serious engagement with Al Qur'an and complete submission to its authority
- 56:83–87 — The Deathbed Reality Check
- “Then why, when the soul reaches the throat… and you are at that moment looking on… if you are not to be judged, then bring it back?”
- This is devastating logic for no ideology, no science, no wealth can: (1) Stop death (2) Reverse it and (3) Control it.
- This exposes the ultimate human helplessness.
Why Surah Al-Wāqi‘ah is Critically Important Today
While the modern civilization is built on:
- Control illusion
- Technological arrogance
- Wealth obsession
- Denial of accountability
- Forgetfulness of death
Surah Al-Wāqi‘ah comes to say:
- You are not in control.
- You will be classified.
- Your rank will be redefined.
- Your death will expose reality.
Deep Civilizational Message
This surah is not just personal. It is telling societies:
- Your elites may be losers in Akhirah
- Your ignored may be the true winners
- Your systems are fragile
- Your arrogance is temporary
This is why the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ loved this surah and why many companions would recite it often — it re-centers the soul on ultimate reality.
One-line summary:
Surah Al-Waqi'ah is a civilizational wake-up call that destroys worldly hierarchies, reclassifies humanity based on faith and deeds, exposes human helplessness behind technological pride, and forces the soul to face the inevitability of death and resurrection.
Now let us share herein some of the selected ayat / verses from this surah already shared:
In time we will add more selected ayat / verses from this surah.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an.
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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