56:11 Al-Waaqia (The Inevitable)

[أُولَئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ ]

وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا محمد بن عبدالله بن المثنى حدثنا البراء الغنوي حدثنا الحسن عن معاذ بن جبل أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم تلا هذه الآية "وأصحاب اليمين ما أصحاب اليمين. وأصحاب الشمال ما أصحاب الشمال" فقبض بيده قبضتين فقال "هذه للجنة ولا أبالي وهذه للنار ولا أبالي" وقال الإمام أحمد أيضا حدثنا حسن حدثنا ابن لهيعة حدثنا خالد بن أبي عمران عن القاسم بن محمد عن عائشة عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال "أتدرون من السابقون إلى ظل يوم القيامة" قالوا الله ورسوله أعلم قال "الذين إذا أعطوا الحق قبلوه وإذا سئلوه بذلوه وحكموا للناس كحكمهم لأنفسهم" وقال محمد بن كعب وأبو حرزة ويعقوب بن مجاهد "والسابقون السابقون" الأنبياء عليهم السلام وقال السدي هم أهل عليين وقال ابن أبي نجيح عن مجاهد عن ابن عباس "والسابقون السابقون" قال يوشع بن نون سبق إلى موسى ومؤمن آل يس سبق إلى عيسى وعلي بن أبي طالب سبق إلى محمد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم رواه ابن أبي حاتم عن محمد بن هارون الفلاس عن عبدالله بن إسماعيل المدائني البزار عن سفيان بن الضحاك المدائني عن سفيان بن عيينة عن ابن أبي نجيح به. وقال ابن أبي حاتم وذكر عن محمد بن أبي حماد حدثنا مهران عن خارجة عن قرة عن ابن سيرين "والسابقون السابقون" الذي صلوا إلى القبلتين. ورواه ابن جرير من حديث خارجة به وقال الحسن وقتادة "والسابقون السابقون" أي من كل أمة وقال الأوزاعي عن عثمان بن أبي سودة أنه قرأ هذه الآية "والسابقون السابقون أولئك المقربون" ثم قال أولهم رواحا إلى المسجد وأولهم خروجا في سبيل الله وهذه الأقوال كلها صحيحة فإن المراد بالسابقين هم المبادرون إلى فعل الخيرات كما أمروا كما قال تعالى "وسارعوا إلى مغفرة من ربكم وجنة عرضها السموات والأرض" وقال تعالى "سابقوا إلى مغفرة من ربكم وجنة عرضها كعرض السماء والأرض" فمن سابق في هذه الدنيا وسبق إلى فعل الخير كان في الآخرة من السابقين إلى الكرامة فإن الجزاء من جنس العمل وكما تدين تدان. ولهذا قال تعالى "أولئك المقربون في جنات النعيم". وقال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا أبي حدثنا يحيى بن زكريا الفزاري الرازي حدثنا خارجة بن مصعب عن زيد ابن أسلم عن عطاء بن يسار عن عبدالله بن عمرو قال: قالت الملائكة يا رب جعلت لبني آدم الدنيا فهم يأكلون ويشربون ويتزوجون فاجعل لنا الآخرة فقال لا أفعل فراجعوا ثلاثا فقال لا أجعل من خلقت بيدي كمن قلت له كن فكان. ثم قرأ عبدالله "والسابقون السابقون أولئك المقربون في جنات النعيم" وقد روى هذا الأثر الإمام عثمان بن سعيد الدارمي في كتابه الرد على الجهمية ولفظه: فقال الله عز وجل لن أجعل صالح ذرية من خلقت بيدي كمن قلت له كن فيكون.

Which was revealed in Makkah

The Virtues of Surat Al-Waqi`ah

Abu Ishaq reported from `Ikrimah from Ibn `Abbas that Abu Bakr said, "O Allah's Messenger! You are becoming gray" The Messenger ﷺ replied,

«شَيَّبَتْنِي هُودٌ وَالْوَاقِعَةُ وَالْمُرْسَلَاتُ وَعَمَّ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ وَإِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَت»

(Hud (chapter 11), Al-Waqi`ah (56), Al-Mursalat (77), `Amma Yatasa'alun (78) and Idha Ash-Shamsu Kuwwirat (81) have made me gray.) At-Tirmidhi collected this Hadith and said, "Hasan Gharib."

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

The Horrors of the Day of Resurrection

Al-Waqi`ah (the occurrence), is one of the names of the Day of Resurrection, because that Day is real and will surely come. Allah the Exalted said in other Ayat,

فَيَوْمَئِذٍ وَقَعَتِ الْوَاقِعَةُ

(Then on that Day shall the Waqi`ah occur.)( 69:15) Allah the Exalted said,

لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ

(There is not, for its occurrence, Kadhibah.) means, when He commands the Day of Resurrection to begin, none can stop it from happening or prevent it from beginning,

اسْتَجِيبُواْ لِرَبِّكُمْ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌ لاَّ مَرَدَّ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ

(Answer the call of your Lord before there comes from Allah a Day which can not be averted.) (42:47),

سَأَلَ سَآئِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ - لِّلْكَـفِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ دَافِعٌ

(A questioner asked concerning a torment about to occur -- upon the disbelievers, which none can avert.)(70:1-2),

وَيَوْمَ يَقُولُ كُن فَيَكُونُ قَوْلُهُ الْحَقُّ وَلَهُ الْمُلْكُ يَوْمَ يُنفَخُ فِى الصُّوَرِ عَـلِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَـدَةِ وَهُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْخَبِيرُ

(And on the Day He will say: "Be!" -- and it is! His Word is the Truth. His will be the dominion on the Day when the Trumpet will be blown. All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the All-Wise, Well Aware.)(6:73) As for the meaning of

كَاذِبَةٌ

(Kadhibah) Muhammad bin Ka`b said: "It will certainly occur," while Qatadah said, "It shall not be discontinued, taken back or aborted. Allah's statement,

خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ

(Bringing low, exalting.) indicates that Al-Waqi`ah lowers some people to the lowest parts of the Fire, even if they had been mighty in this life. It also elevates others to the highest grades in the residence of eternal delight, even if they were weak in this life. This was said by Al-Hasan, Qatadah and others. Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas:

خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ

(Bringing low, exalting), "It made the near and the far hear it," while `Ikrimah said, "It lowered, and thus those who were close heard it, and elevated, and thus those in the distance heard it." Ad-Dahhak and Qatadah said similarly. Allah said,

إِذَا رُجَّتِ الاٌّرْضُ رَجّاً

(When the earth will be shaken with a terrible shake.) meaning, it is shaken and moved violently over all of its surface and through its depths. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah and others said about Allah's saying:,

إِذَا رُجَّتِ الاٌّرْضُ رَجّاً

(When the earth will be shaken with a terrible shake.) it means "Violently shaken." Ar-Rabi` bin Anas said, "The earth will be shaken with all that is in it, just as a sifter is shaken with its contents." This is like Allah's saying:

إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الاٌّرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا

(When the earth is shaken with its earthquake.)(99:1) and,

يأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّ زَلْزَلَةَ السَّاعَةِ شَىْءٌ عَظِيمٌ

(O mankind! Have Taqwa of your Lord! Verily, the earthquake of the Hour is a terrible thing.)(22:1). Allah said:

وَبُسَّتِ الْجِبَالُ بَسّاً

(And the mountains will be powdered to dust,) meaning, relentlessly pulverized. This was said by Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ikrimah and Qatadah and others. Ibn Zayd said: "The mountains will become just like Allah described them,

كَثِيباً مَّهِيلاً

(A heap of sand poured out.)(73:14)." Allah's saying:

فَكَانَتْ هَبَآءً مُّنبَثّاً

(So that they will become floating dust particles.) Abu Ishaq narrated from Al-Harith, from `Ali: "It will become like the rising dust storm that soon fades away leaving no trace of itself behind." Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas about Allah's saying:

فَكَانَتْ هَبَآءً مُّنبَثّاً

(So that they will become floating dust particles.) "It describes the rising embers from the fire when it is kindled, but when the embers land, they are extinguished quickly." `Ikrimah said, "The floating dust particles that the wind scatters all around," while Qatadah said,

هَبَآءً مُّنبَثّاً

(floating particles), "Like the dry parts of trees that the wind scatters all about." This Ayah is similar to several other Ayat that indicate that the mountains will be moved from their places, demolished and blown off their bases, becoming like carded wool on the Day of Resurrection.

Three Categories of People on the Day of Resurrection

Allah's statement,

وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَاجاً ثَلَـثَةً

(And you (all) will be in three groups.) This means that people will be divided into three categories on the Day of Resurrection. Some will on the right of Allah's Throne, and they are those who were brought forth from `Adam's right side. This category will be given their Books of Records in their right hand and will be taken to the right side. As-Suddi explained that they will comprise the majority of the residents of Paradise. Another category is those who will be placed to the left of Allah's Throne, and they are those who were brought forth from `Adam's left side. This category will be given their Books of Records in their left hands and will be taken to the left side. They are the residents of the Fire, may Allah save us from their actions. A third category is comprised of those who are the foremost and nearest before Allah. They are in a better grade and status and nearer to Allah than those on the right side. They are the chiefs of those on the right side, because they include the Messengers, Prophets, true believers and martyrs. They are fewer than those on the right side; so Allah said,

فَأَصْحَـبُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ مَآ أَصْحَـبُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ - وَأَصْحَـبُ الْمَشْـَمَةِ مَآ أَصْحَـبُ الْمَشْـَمَةِ - وَالسَّـبِقُونَ السَّـبِقُونَ

(So those on the right -- how will be those on the right! And those on the left -- how will be those on the left! And those foremost will be foremost.) Allah divides people into these three groups upon their death, as indicated by the end of this Surah. Allah mentioned them in His statement as well,

ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا الْكِتَـبَ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا فَمِنْهُمْ ظَـلِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ وَمِنْهُمْ مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمِنْهُمْ سَابِقٌ بِالْخَيْرَتِ بِإِذُنِ اللَّهِ

(Then We gave the Book as inheritance to such of Our servants whom We chose. Then of them are some who wrong themselves, and of them are some who follow a middle course, and of them are some who are, by Allah's leave, foremost in good deeds.)(35:32) Muhammad bin Ka`b, Abu Hazrah Ya`qub bin Mujahid said that,

وَالسَّـبِقُونَ السَّـبِقُونَ

(And those foremost will be foremost.) is about the Prophets, peace be upon them, while As-Suddi said that they are the residents of the utmost highs (Ahl Al-`Illiyyin, in Paradise). The meaning of foremost is that they were foremost in performing the acts of righteousness just as Allah commanded them,

وَسَارِعُواْ إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَـوَتُ وَالاٌّرْضُ

(And march forth in the way to forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth.)(3:133) and,

سَابِقُواْ إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَآءِ وَالاٌّرْضِ

(Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Lord, and Paradise the width whereof is as the width of the heaven and the earth.)(57:21) Therefore, those who rush to obey Allah in this life and are foremost in performing acts of righteousness, will be among the foremost believers honored in the Hereafter. Verily, the reward is according to the kind of deed, and as one does, so he is judged. So Allah said:

أُوْلَـئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ فِى جَنَّـتِ النَّعِيمِ

(These will be the nearest (to Allah). In the Gardens of Delight.)

they are the ones brought near to God

وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ (And the Foremost are the foremost....56:10) Imam Ahmad (رح) ، has recorded a Tradition on the authority of Sayyidah ` A'ishah Siddiqah ؓ that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked the noble Companions ؓ : "Do you know who will be the first to be accommodated in the Divine Shade on the Day of Resurrection?" The noble Companions ؓ replied: اللہُ وَ رَسُولُہ اَعلَم "Allah and His Messenger know best." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "They are those who accept the truth when it is presented to them; when they are asked for the rights due from them, they fulfill them; and they judge about the matters of others as they would judge about themselves."

Mujahid says that As-sabiqun (the Foremost) refers to 'the Prophets'. Ibn Sirin says that it refers to early Muslims who performed their prayers facing the two qiblas, namely, baytul-maqdis and baitulllah. Hasan and Qatadah رحمۃ اللہ علیہما say that in every Ummah there will be As-sabiqun. Some of the commentators express the view that they are people who go first to the mosque.

Ibn-Kathir (رح) cites all these views and concludes that they are all correct and authentic in their own right. The opinions are not in conflict with one another, because As-sabiqun are those who must have been foremost in their invincible faith and righteous deeds in this world, and as such they would be the 'Foremost' in the Hereafter in terms of reward which will befit their faith and good deeds.