إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلْوَاقِعَةُ 1
Translations
When the Occurrence occurs,
Transliteration
Idha waqatat al-waqiah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This opening ayah of Surah Al-Waqi'ah refers to the Day of Judgment, which is called 'al-Waqiah' (The Inevitable Event) because its occurrence is absolutely certain. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this ayah serves as a powerful introduction to the surah, establishing the certainty and inevitability of the Hour, after which the surah describes the conditions and divisions of people on that Day. The ayah begins with the conditional particle 'idha' (when), which in Arabic grammar denotes certainty rather than doubt, underscoring that this event will definitely come to pass.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Waqi'ah is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam when the Quraysh denied the resurrection and the Day of Judgment. This opening ayah directly addresses their skepticism by asserting the absolute certainty of the Hour, setting the stage for the detailed description of Judgment Day that follows throughout the surah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The Hour will not be established until the sun rises from the West. When the people see it, then whoever is on the earth will believe, but that will be the time when faith will be of no benefit to a soul which had not believed before' (Sahih Bukhari 4636). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized the nearness and certainty of the Hour in multiple hadith transmissions found in the Six Books of Hadith (Kutub As-Sittah).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers of the absolute certainty of meeting Allah on the Day of Judgment, urging them to prepare spiritually through righteous deeds and sincere repentance in this life. Understanding the inevitability of the Hour should motivate believers to prioritize their relationship with Allah and establish justice and morality in their earthly affairs.
Related Ayahs
لَوْ كَانَ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ءَالِهَةً مَّا وَرَدُوهَا ۖ وَكُلٌّ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
Had these [false deities] been [actual] gods, they would not have come to it, but all are eternal therein.
يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَٱرْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ ٱلْأَمَانِىُّ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ
They [i.e., the hypocrites] will call to them [i.e., the believers], "Were we not with you?" They will say, "Yes, but you afflicted yourselves and awaited [misfortune for us] and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allāh. And the Deceiver [i.e., Satan] deceived you concerning Allāh.
إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ لَا يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
Indeed, he did not used to believe in Allāh, the Most Great,
قُلُوبٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَاجِفَةٌ
Hearts, that Day, will tremble,