The main theme of Surat Al-Waqiah (الواقعة) is the unwavering certainty of the Hereafter and the ultimate destiny of individuals, determined by their faith and deeds. The Surah contrasts the bountiful rewards awaiting the inhabitants of Paradise and the severe punishments awaiting those destined for Hell.

The surah opens by describing the inevitable event (Al-Waqiah), which is the Day of Judgment.

إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلۡوَاقِعَةُ (١) لَيۡسَ لِوَقۡعَتِہَا كَاذِبَةٌ (٢) خَافِضَةٌ۬ رَّافِعَةٌ (٣) إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ رَجًّ۬ا (٤) وَبُسَّتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ بَسًّ۬ا (٥) فَكَانَتۡ هَبَآءً۬ مُّنۢبَثًّ۬ا (٦)  وَكُنتُمۡ أَزۡوَٲجً۬ا ثَلَـٰثَةً۬ (٧)

When the Imminent Event occurs. (1) There can be no denial of its occurrence. (2) It will abase (some) and exalt (others). (3) When the earth will be shaken with a shock. (4) And the mountains will be crumbled to dust. (5) They become scattered particles. (6) and you are divided into three groups (kinds, classes, categories).  (56:1-7)

Linguistic note missed in the English translation: In verse 7, the number three (ثَلَاثَةً) appears after the counted noun azwajan (أَزْوَاجًا), indicating limitation. In this context, azwajan thalatha (أَزْوَاجًا ثَلَاثَةً) translates to “three groups,” meaning that there are only three groups. However, if the number had preceded the noun, such as thalatha azwaj (ثَلَاثَةُ أَزْوَاجٍ), it would suggest that there may be additional groups beyond the mentioned three. [Rule: If the number comes after the counted noun, it indicates limitation.]

 In the Hereafter, humanity will be divided into precisely three groups. One of these groups, “the Companions of the Left” (Ashab al-Shimal), will be in Hell. The remaining two groups will be in Paradise: “the Foremost” (As-Sabiqoon) and “the Companions of the Right” (Ashab al-Yameen).

Question: Review Surat Al-Rahman (verses 46 to 77) to identify the differences in the rewards granted to the two groups destined for Paradise.

The Three Groups on the Day of Judgment: Humanity will be divided into:

1. As-Sabiqoon (The Foremost) – bound for the highest rank in Paradise
2. Ashab al-Yameen (Companions of the Right) – bound for a blessed rank in Paradise
3. Ashab al-Shimal (Companions of the Left) – bound for Hell

 

1. The Foremost (As-Sabiqoon): The elite believers who are closest to Allah, enjoying the highest ranks in Paradise:

وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ (١٠) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبُونَ (١١) فِى جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ (١٢) ثُلَّةٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ (١٣) وَقَلِيلٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَخِرِينَ (١٤)

And the foremost shall be the foremost. (10) Those who are blessed with nearness (to Allah) (11) In gardens of bliss. (12) Many from the first generations. (13) and a few from the later ones. (56:10-14)

 

2. The Companions of the Right (Ashab al-Yameen): The general believers who will also enter Paradise and enjoy its blessings:

وَأَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِ مَآ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِ (٢٧) فِى سِدۡرٍ۬ مَّخۡضُودٍ۬ (٢٨) وَطَلۡحٍ۬ مَّنضُودٍ۬ (٢٩) وَظِلٍّ۬ مَّمۡدُودٍ۬ (٣٠) وَمَآءٍ۬ مَّسۡكُوبٍ۬ (٣١) وَفَـٰكِهَةٍ۬ كَثِيرَةٍ۬ (٣٢) لَّا مَقۡطُوعَةٍ۬ وَلَا مَمۡنُوعَةٍ۬ (٣٣)

And the people of the right, how fortunate are the people of the right! (27) They will be˺ amid thornless lote trees, (28) clusters of plantains, (29) extended shade, (30) flowing water, (31) abundant fruit, (32) never out of season nor forbidden. (56:27-33)

ثُلَّةٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ (٣٩) وَثُلَّةٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَخِرِينَ (٤٠)

Many from the first generations. (39) and many from the later ones. (56:39-40)

 

3. The Companions of the Left (Ashab al-Shimal): The disbelievers and wrongdoers who will face severe punishment in Hell:

وَأَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ (٤١) فِى سَمُومٍ۬ وَحَمِيمٍ۬ (٤٢) وَظِلٍّ۬ مِّن يَحۡمُومٍ۬ (٤٣) لَّا بَارِدٍ۬ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ (٤٤) إِنَّہُمۡ كَانُواْ قَبۡلَ ذَٲلِكَ مُتۡرَفِينَ (٤٥) وَكَانُواْ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلۡحِنثِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ (٤٦) وَكَانُواْ يَقُولُونَ أَٮِٕذَا مِتۡنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابً۬ا وَعِظَـٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوثُونَ (٤٧)

And the people of the left—how miserable are the people of the left! (41) They will be in scorching wind and boiling water. (42) And a shade of black smoke, (43) neither cool nor refreshing. (44) They were indulging in luxuries before this. (45) And persisted in major sins. (46) And used to say: “When we are dead and reduced to dust and bones, will we really be resurrected? (56:41-47)

 

To eliminate doubts in the mind of the skeptics regarding the certainty of the Hereafter and the destiny of the disbelievers, the surah reflected on the signs of Allah’s creation:  life, rain, crops, and fire, as evidence of His power and mercy, urging humanity to recognize His authority.  Regarding the creation, Allah reminds humankind of their origin and the ease of their recreation after death:

نَحۡنُ خَلَقۡنَـٰكُمۡ فَلَوۡلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ (٥٧) أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تُمۡنُونَ (٥٨) ءَأَنتُمۡ تَخۡلُقُونَهُ ۥۤ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقُونَ (٥٩)  نَحۡنُ قَدَّرۡنَا بَيۡنَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَسۡبُوقِينَ (٦٠) عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمۡثَـٰلَكُمۡ وَنُنشِئَكُمۡ فِى مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ (٦١) وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُمُ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ فَلَوۡلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ (٦٢)

We created you, so why do you not believe? (57) Have you considered the semen that you emit? (58) Is it you who create it, or are We the Creator?  (59) We have decreed death among you, and no one can prevent Us.  (60) From transforming and recreating you in forms unknown to you. (61) Surely, you understand the first creation, so why you do not reflect? (56:57:62)

 

These verses emphasize the profound miracle of human creation. A single act of ejaculation typically releases over 250 million sperm cells. Each sperm cell has a unique and intricate design, an oval shaped head about 5 micrometers (µm) long and 3 µm wide, containing genetic material perfectly suited for penetrating the egg. The tail, approximately 50 µm in length, propels the sperm with a whip-like motion to reach its target.  It is astonishing that every human being originates from one of these microscopic cells. Who, if not Allah, could have designed such a detailed and purposeful system of creation?

 

Then the Surah affirms the divine origin and preservation of the Qur’an, challenging doubters:

فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِمَوَٲقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ (٧٥) وَإِنَّهُ ۥ لَقَسَمٌ۬ لَّوۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ (٧٦) إِنَّهُ ۥ لَقُرۡءَانٌ۬ كَرِيمٌ۬ (٧٧) فِى كِتَـٰبٍ۬ مَّكۡنُونٍ۬ (٧٨) لَّا يَمَسُّهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا ٱلۡمُطَهَّرُونَ (٧٩) تَنزِيلٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (٨٠)

So, I swear by the positions of the stars. (75) And this is indeed, a mighty oath, if you only know. (76) This is indeed a Noble Qur’an. (77) In a Book well-guarded. (78) Which none can touch but the purified (angels). (79) A Revelation from the Lord of all the worlds. (56:75-80)

 Modern understanding of the stars further magnifies the significance of this oath. What we perceive as their positions is merely their light from the past—some may have moved or ceased to exist long ago, a reality only Allah fully comprehends.

The surah concludes with a powerful reminder of death, the inevitability of returning to Allah for judgment and the final fate of the three mentioned groups.

فَلَوۡلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلۡحُلۡقُومَ (٨٣) وَأَنتُمۡ حِينَٮِٕذٍ۬ تَنظُرُونَ (٨٤) وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَيۡهِ مِنكُمۡ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُبۡصِرُونَ (٨٥) فَلَوۡلَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ غَيۡرَ مَدِينِينَ (٨٦) تَرۡجِعُونَہَآ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ (٨٧)

“Why (are you helpless) when the soul (of a dying person) reaches the throat, (83) while you are looking on? (84) And We are closer to the dying person than you, but you do not see. (85) If you claim you are not subject to Our Will. (86) bring the soul back, if you are truthful. (56:83-87)

 The final verse in the Surat Al-Waqia confirms the absolute certainty (حَقُّ ٱلۡيَقِينِ) of Hellfire.  The Quran categorizes the certainty of any truth into three levels:

1. Knowledge-based certainty (علم اليقين): This certainty arises from reasoning and inference, employing our judgment and evaluation of evidence. It typically stems from a reliable source or is derived from inferring something we already know.
2. Sight-based certainty (عين اليقين): This certainty is achieved by directly witnessing the evidence with our own eyes or through the use of auxiliary tools like microscopes or telescopes.
3. Absolute certainty (حقّ اليقين): This certainty is attained when all potential errors in judgment and observation are eliminated through personal experience with the truth. It represents a level of truth impervious to human error or psychological bias.

These three levels of certainty are defined in the Quran specifically in relation to Hellfire. In this life, our certainty about Hellfire is based on knowledge derived from the Quran, a reliable source. In the hereafter, everyone will witness Hellfire, establishing sight-based certainty. However, only those who enter Hell will experience absolute certainty.

To illustrate these levels, consider this scenario: I tell you a helicopter is in the parking lot. If you know I am truthful and the parking lot is large enough to accommodate a helicopter, you can be certain of its presence (knowledge-based certainty). Seeing the helicopter through the window provides a higher level of certainty (sight-based certainty). The highest level of certainty is achieved by physically interacting with the helicopter, such as sitting in the pilot’s seat.

These three levels of certainties regarding Hellfire are alluded to in the following verses:

أَلۡهَٮٰكُمُ ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ (١) حَتَّىٰ زُرۡتُمُ ٱلۡمَقَابِرَ (٢) كَلَّا سَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُونَ (٣) ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَوۡفَ تَعۡلَمُونَ (٤) كَلَّا لَوۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ عِلۡمَ ٱلۡيَقِينِ (٥) لَتَرَوُنَّ ٱلۡجَحِيمَ (٦) ثُمَّ لَتَرَوُنَّہَا عَيۡنَ ٱلۡيَقِينِ (٧

You are distracted by mutual competition for more gains (of worldly benefits). (1) until you end up in ˹your˺ graves. (2) But no! You will soon come to know. (3) Again, no! You will soon come to know. (4) No, only if you only know based on knowledge-based certainty. (5) ˹But˺ you will surely see the Hellfire. (6) Again, you will surely see it with sight-based certainty. (Al-Takathur 102:1-7)

وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ (٩٢) فَنُزُلٌ۬ مِّنۡ حَمِيمٍ۬ (٩٣) وَتَصۡلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ (٩٤) إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلۡيَقِينِ (٩٥)

If the deceased is one of the misguided deniers, (92) Then awaits him boiling water. (93) And burning Hell. (94) Indeed, this is an absolute certainty.  (Al-Waqia 56:92-95)

 

Extra:

Everything we do has both inward and outward manifestation. The inward manifestation resides in the spiritual heart and reflects the purity of our intentions, the depth of our trust in Allah, and the level of our sincerity. The outward expression is revealed through our physical actions—what we say and do. The greater the strength of our inward state, the superior our outward actions become, as measured by their alignment with Allah’s commands and the effort exerted to achieve righteous goals.