عَالَمِين AALAMIN Read the Qur'an in context Read the Qur'an

Continuous reading

Al-Waaqia 56:1 – 56:11

Library
Easy-read

Easy-read · not authoritative

Talal Itani · published 2012

We open with the most modern, plain-English rendering to make reading easier. Every translation is shown equally - switch any time, or compare them on any verse.

Surah 56

Al-Waaqiaالواقعة

The Inevitable · 96 verses · Meccan

In plain wordsEditorial

Written by the editors. Not a translation, and not a source. It carries the AALAMIN Editor signature and the date it was signed, because someone has to answer for it.

Ninety-six verses on a day that must come, when people are sorted into three kinds: those of the right hand, those of the left, and the foremost, who are brought near. Most of what follows describes what each meets, and it closes on an oath by the places of the stars and an instruction to praise the name of the Lord.

AALAMIN Editor · signed 25 August 2026

not a scholar — what this signature means

I am not a scholar, and nothing here asks you to treat me as one. The plain words on this site are my restatement of what the five translations shown above say, together with counts derived from the text itself — nothing more. I sign them so that a named person is accountable for every sentence, not so you'll take my word for anything. The authority on this page is the text and its translators. If my words don't match theirs, mine are the ones that are wrong.

56:1

إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلْوَاقِعَةُ

Easy-read · not authoritative

Easy-read (simplified)idhaa waqa'ati l-waaqi'ah

DIN 31635ʾiḏā waqaʿati l-wāqiʿatu

The translators word this verse differently

When the inevitable occurs.

Compare translations (4)

When the event befalleth

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

When the inevitable happens

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

WHEN the day that must come shall have come suddenly

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

When the inevitable day of judgment shall suddenly come

George Sale · published 1734

Sources

In-depth analysis →

  • Talal Itani · 2012
  • Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
  • Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
  • John Medows Rodwell · 1861
  • George Sale · 1734
56:2

لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ

Easy-read · not authoritative

Easy-read (simplified)laysa liwaq'atihaa kaadhibah

DIN 31635laysa liwaqʿatihā kāḏibatun

The translators word this verse differently

Of its occurrence, there is no denial.

Compare translations (4)

There is no denying that it will befall

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

none shall call its happening a lie

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

None shall treat that sudden coming as a lie

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

no soul shall charge the prediction of its coming with falsehood

George Sale · published 1734

Sources

In-depth analysis →

  • Talal Itani · 2012
  • Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
  • Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
  • John Medows Rodwell · 1861
  • George Sale · 1734
56:3

خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ

Easy-read · not authoritative

Easy-read (simplified)khaafidatun raafi'ah

DIN 31635ḫāfiḍatun rāfiʿatun

The translators word this verse differently

Bringing low, raising high.

Compare translations (4)

Abasing (some), exalting (others)

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

abasing - exalting

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

Day that shall abase! Day that shall exalt

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

It will abase some, and exalt others

George Sale · published 1734

Sources

In-depth analysis →

  • Talal Itani · 2012
  • Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
  • Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
  • John Medows Rodwell · 1861
  • George Sale · 1734
56:4

إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ رَجًّا

Easy-read · not authoritative

Easy-read (simplified)idhaa rujjati l-'ardu rajjaa

DIN 31635ʾiḏā ruǧǧati l-ʾarḍu raǧǧan

When the earth is shaken with a shock.

Compare translations (4)

When the earth is shaken with a shock

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

When the earth shall quake, quaking

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

When the earth shall be shaken with a shock

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

When the earth shall be shaken with a violent shock

George Sale · published 1734

Sources

In-depth analysis →

  • Talal Itani · 2012
  • Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
  • Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
  • John Medows Rodwell · 1861
  • George Sale · 1734
56:5

وَبُسَّتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ بَسًّا

Easy-read · not authoritative

Easy-read (simplified)wabussati l-jibaalu bassaa

DIN 31635wabussati l-ǧibālu bassan

The translators word this verse differently

And the mountains are crushed and crumbled.

Compare translations (4)

And the hills are ground to powder

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

and the mountains shall crumble, crumbling

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

And the mountains shall be crumbled with a crumbling

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

and the mountains shall be dashed in pieces

George Sale · published 1734

Sources

In-depth analysis →

  • Talal Itani · 2012
  • Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
  • Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
  • John Medows Rodwell · 1861
  • George Sale · 1734
56:6

فَكَانَتْ هَبَآءً مُّنۢبَثًّا

Easy-read · not authoritative

Easy-read (simplified)fakaanat habaa'an munbaththaa

DIN 31635fakānat habāʾan munbaṯṯan

And they become scattered dust.

Compare translations (4)

So that they become a scattered dust

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

and become like motes dispersed

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

And shall become scattered dust

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

and shall become as dust scattered abroad

George Sale · published 1734

Sources

In-depth analysis →

  • Talal Itani · 2012
  • Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
  • Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
  • John Medows Rodwell · 1861
  • George Sale · 1734
56:7

وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا ثَلَٰثَةً

Easy-read · not authoritative

Easy-read (simplified)wakuntum azwaajan thalaathah

DIN 31635wakuntum ʾazwāǧan ṯalāṯatan

And you become three classes.

Compare translations (4)

And ye will be three kinds

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

And ye shall be three sorts

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

And into three bands shall ye be divided

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

and ye shall be separated into three distinct classes

George Sale · published 1734

Sources

In-depth analysis →

  • Talal Itani · 2012
  • Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
  • Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
  • John Medows Rodwell · 1861
  • George Sale · 1734

in a signed study →

56:8

فَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ

Easy-read · not authoritative

Easy-read (simplified)fa'ashaabu l-maymanati maa ashaabu l-maymanah

DIN 31635faʾaṣḥābu l-maymanati mā ʾaṣḥābu l-maymanati

Those on the Right-what of those on the Right?

Compare translations (4)

(First) those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

And the fellows of the right hand - what right lucky fellows

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

Then the people of the right hand - Oh! how happy shall be the people of the right hand

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

The companions of the right hand; -- how happy shall the companions of the right hand be

George Sale · published 1734

Sources

In-depth analysis →

  • Talal Itani · 2012
  • Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
  • Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
  • John Medows Rodwell · 1861
  • George Sale · 1734

in a signed study →

56:9

وَأَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ

Easy-read · not authoritative

Easy-read (simplified)wa'ashaabu l-mash'amati maa ashaabu l-mash'amah

DIN 31635waʾaṣḥābu l-mašʾamati mā ʾaṣḥābu l-mašʾamati

And those on the Left-what of those on the Left?

Compare translations (4)

And (then) those on the left hand; what of those on the left hand

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

And the fellows of the left hand - what unlucky fellows

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

And the people of the left hand - Oh! how wretched shall be the people of the left hand

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

And the companions of the left hand; -- how miserable shall the companions of the left hand be

George Sale · published 1734

Sources

In-depth analysis →

  • Talal Itani · 2012
  • Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
  • Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
  • John Medows Rodwell · 1861
  • George Sale · 1734

in a signed study →

56:10

وَٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ

Easy-read · not authoritative

Easy-read (simplified)was-saabiqoona s-saabiqoon

DIN 31635was-sābiqūna s-sābiqūna

The translators word this verse differently

And the forerunners, the forerunners.

Compare translations (4)

And the foremost in the race, the foremost in the race

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

And the foremost foremost

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

And they who were foremost on earth - the foremost still

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

And those who have preceded others in the faith, shall precede them to paradise

George Sale · published 1734

Sources

In-depth analysis →

  • Talal Itani · 2012
  • Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
  • Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
  • John Medows Rodwell · 1861
  • George Sale · 1734

in a signed study →

56:11

أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبُونَ

Easy-read · not authoritative

Easy-read (simplified)oolaa'ika l-muqarraboon

DIN 31635ʾūlāʾika l-muqarrabūna

The translators word this verse differently

Those are the nearest.

Compare translations (4)

Those are they who will be brought nigh

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · published 1930

These are they who are brought nigh

Edward Henry Palmer · published 1880

These are they who shall be brought nigh to God

John Medows Rodwell · published 1861

These are they who shall approach near unto God

George Sale · published 1734

Sources

In-depth analysis →

  • Talal Itani · 2012
  • Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall · 1930
  • Edward Henry Palmer · 1880
  • John Medows Rodwell · 1861
  • George Sale · 1734

in a signed study →

Arabic textTanzil Qur'an text (Uthmani) ·Uthmani, Version 1.1·Tanzil Project ·Creative Commons Attribution 3.0·retrieved 24 Aug 2026

Qur'anic text from the Tanzil Project. Copyright (C) 2007-2026 Tanzil Project License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Source: tanzil.net · Updates: tanzil.net/updates/ https://tanzil.net/updates/

Translations Edward Henry Palmer, English translation of the Qur'an·Public domain — copyright term expired

Edward Henry Palmer, English translation of the Qur'an ·1880 translation, digital edition of unverified printing·None — public domain work ·Public domain — copyright term expired·retrieved 24 Aug 2026

Translations George Sale, English translation of the Qur'an·Public domain — copyright term expired

George Sale, English translation of the Qur'an ·1734 translation, digital edition of unverified printing·None — public domain work ·Public domain — copyright term expired·retrieved 24 Aug 2026

Translations John Medows Rodwell, English translation of the Qur'an·Public domain — copyright term expired

John Medows Rodwell, English translation of the Qur'an ·1861 translation, digital edition of unverified printing·None — public domain work ·Public domain — copyright term expired·retrieved 24 Aug 2026

Translations Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran·Public domain — copyright term expired

Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran ·1930 translation, digital edition of unverified printing·None — public domain work ·Public domain — copyright term expired·retrieved 24 Aug 2026

Translations Talal Itani, ClearQuran·Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

Talal Itani, ClearQuran ·ClearQuran, "God" edition, EPUB·Talal Itani / ClearQuran.com ·Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International·retrieved 7 Sep 2026

Translation by Talal Itani, ClearQuran.com https://clearquran.com