End of World Events Described in Surah Al-Waqi’a

TEHRAN (IQNA) – There are different views and theories about what will happen at the end of time. Most of them predict that astonishing and severe events will take place in the world. Surah Al-Waqi’a of the Holy Quran depicts some of those events.

Al-Waqi’a is the 56^th chapter of the Quran that has 96 verses and is in the 27^th Juz. It is Makki and the 44^th Surah revealed to the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Waqi’a, meaning event or happening is one of the names of the Day of Judgment. The Surah’s name comes from the word Waqi’a in the first verse.

Surah Al-Waqi’a talks about the Resurrection Day and its events. It is a day in which people are brought back to life and what they deed in this world will be assessed.

The Surah first describes some of the events on that day, including the earth being violently shaken, earthquakes happening and mountains crumbling. It then divides people on that day into three groups and describes their fates: 1- The Outstrippers, 2- Companions of the Right, and 3- Companions of the Left.  

The Surah then mentions reasons in response to the Companions of the Left who deny God, the Quran and the Day of Judgment, and invites people to monotheism and believing in the Resurrection Day.

The themes that are mentioned in the Surah include: The start of the Resurrection Day with severe and frightening events, people being divided into three groups on that day based on their deeds in this world, the status of people who are close to God and their rewards in paradise, the second group, namely the Companions of the Right and the divine blessings for them, and the third group, the Companions of the left, and the painful punishments they receive in hell.

There are also reasons mentioned to prove the Resurrection including by elaborating on the power of God, creation of men from a sperm, existence of life in plants, raining, and light of fire, which are signs of God.

The Surah also depicts how people die and move from this world to the next and talks about the rewards for believers and punishments for disbelievers in the hereafter.

According to Surah Al-Waqi’a, the Companions of the Right are those who go to paradise and the Companions of the left are those who go to hell.

As for the Outstrippers, verse 10 of the Surah says: “And the Outstrippers, the Outstrippers.”

Quran interpreters have different views about this verse. Based on other verses of the Quran Allameh Seyed Mohammad Hossein Tabatabaei believes that in verse 10 of Surah Al-Waqi’a, the first ‘Outstrippers’ refers to the foremost ones (in faith and virtue) and the second refers to the foremost ones in receiving their reward from God.