Surah Al-Waqiah Transliteration — Full Guide with Tajweed
Surah Al-Waqiah (الواقعة — The Inevitable) is the 56th chapter of the Quran, containing 96 verses revealed in Mecca. It is one of the most beloved surahs recited in the evening, describing with vivid detail the three groups of people on the Day of Judgement. This guide walks you through the surah with Arabic text, English transliteration, translation, and Tajweed pronunciation notes — so you can recite it correctly even if you are new to Arabic.
About Surah Al-Waqiah
The name Al-Waqiah (الواقعة) means “The Inevitable” or “The Event.” It refers to the Day of Judgement, described from the very first verse as an event that cannot be denied or postponed. The surah opens with a striking depiction of the earth being shaken and the mountains turned to dust, setting the stage for one of the Quran’s most detailed portraits of the Hereafter.
The surah divides humanity into three categories: the Forerunners (As-Sabiqun — السابقون), who will be the closest to Allah; the People of the Right (As-hab Al-Yameen — أصحاب اليمين), who will receive their record in the right hand; and the People of the Left (As-hab Al-Shimal — أصحاب الشمال), who will receive theirs in the left. Each group is described with vivid imagery of what awaits them.
In the second half, the surah presents four signs of Allah’s power as arguments for the reality of resurrection: the seeds we sow, the water we drink, the fire we kindle, and — in a profound sequence — the origin of the human being. These rhetorical questions invite the reader to reflect on creation itself as evidence for the Creator.
At a Glance
- Surah number: 56
- Arabic name: الواقعة
- Meaning: The Inevitable / The Event
- Revelation: Meccan
- Verses: 96
- Pages in reader: 1071 – 1076
- Juz: 27
How to Use This Guide
Each section below presents a group of verses in three lines: the Arabic text, the English transliteration (sounds), and the English translation (meaning). Pronunciation notes follow each group, pointing out specific Tajweed rules to be aware of. These are the same rules colour-coded in the reader — so as you learn them here, you will recognise them visually when you open the full Quran reader.
If you are new to transliteration, read our guide on how to read the Quran in English first. For a complete breakdown of the colour-coding system, see the full Tajweed Rules Guide.
Opening Verses (1–10) — The Inevitable Event
إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلۡوَاقِعَةُ لَيۡسَ لِوَقۡعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ
Transliteration:
Idhā waqa‘atil-wāqi‘ah / Laysa liwaq‘atihā kādhibah / Khāfidhatun rāfi‘ah
Translation:
When the Inevitable Event occurs — there is no denying its occurrence — it will bring some down and raise others up.
Tajweed note: The word “Al-Wāqi‘ah” contains a natural Madd (prolongation) on the long ‘ā’ sound — hold it for two counts. The Hamza (glottal stop) in “waqa‘at” and “waq‘atihā” should be clear and distinct. In verse 3, the doubled letters “rāfi‘ah” — pause cleanly at the verse end.
إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ رَجًّا وَبُسَّتِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ بَسًّا فَكَانَتۡ هَبَآءً مُّنۢبَثًّا
Transliteration:
Idhā rujjatil-arḍu rajjā / Wabussatil-jibālu bassā / Fakānat habā’am-mumbaththa
Translation:
When the earth will be shaken with a tremendous shaking, and the mountains will be crushed with a complete crushing, becoming scattered dust.
Tajweed note: The word “rajjā” has a double ‘j’ (shaddah) — give it full emphasis. “Habā’am” contains Ghunnah (nasalisation) on the nasal ‘m’ before “mumbaththa” — let the sound resonate in the nose for two counts before releasing.
وَكُنتُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجًا ثَلَٰثَةً فَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡمَشۡـَٔمَةِ
Transliteration:
Wakuntum azwājanthalāthah / Fa-aṣḥābul-maymanati mā aṣḥābul-maymanah / Wa-aṣḥābul-mash’amati mā aṣḥābul-mash’amah
Translation:
And you will be in three groups: the People of the Right — and what [a blessed state] for the People of the Right! And the People of the Left — and what [a wretched state] for the People of the Left!
Tajweed note: The rhetorical construction “mā aṣḥāb” — the repetition is intentional and meaningful. Read with a slight pause after the first “maymanah” to let the rhetorical question land before repeating. The Hamza in “mash’amah” should be clear.
The Forerunners (10–26) — As-Sabiqun
Verses 10 to 26 describe the highest group — the Forerunners (السابقون), those who excel in faith and good deeds. They are described as reclining on woven couches, attended by immortal youths, with flowing cups, fruits, and the company of beautiful companions. The imagery is of peaceful, joyful abundance.
وَٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبُونَ فِي جَنَّٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
Transliteration:
Was-sābiqūnas-sābiqūn / Ulā’ikal-muqarrabūn / Fī jannātin-na‘īm
Translation:
And the forerunners, the forerunners — those are the ones brought near [to Allah], in the Gardens of Delight.
Tajweed note: The repetition “As-sābiqūna As-sābiqūn” — each recurrence of the long ‘ū’ in “sābiqūn” is a natural Madd of two counts. The doubled ‘q’ in “muqarrabūn” carries a shaddah — give it full weight. “Na‘īm” ends with a long ‘ī’ sound; pause cleanly after it.
عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَّوۡضُونَةٍ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَيۡهَا مُتَقَٰبِلِينَ يَطُوفُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وِلۡدَٰنٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ
Transliteration:
‘Alā sururim-mawḍūnah / Muttaki’īna ‘alayhā mutaqābilīn / Yaṭūfu ‘alayhim wildānun mukhalladūn
Translation:
On woven couches, reclining on them, facing each other. There will circulate among them youths of perpetual freshness.
Tajweed note: The long ‘ū’ sounds in “mawḍūnah,” “mukhalladūn,” and “yaṭūfu” are all natural Madd — each held for two counts. The doubled ‘t’ in “muttaki’īna” (shaddah) must be given its full double length.
People of the Right (27–56) — As-hab Al-Yameen
Verses 27 to 56 describe the People of the Right Hand (أصحاب اليمين) — the general body of believers who will receive a generous reward. Their blessings are abundant: thornless lote trees, clusters of fruit, flowing shade, and pure water. They are a vast multitude from both earlier and later generations.
وَأَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِ مَآ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡيَمِينِ فِي سِدۡرٍ مَّخۡضُودٍ وَطَلۡحٍ مَّنضُودٍ
Transliteration:
Wa-aṣḥābul-yamīni mā aṣḥābul-yamīn / Fī sidrim-makhḍūd / Waṭalḥim-manḍūd
Translation:
And the companions of the right — what are the companions of the right? [They will be] among lote trees with no thorns, and clustered plantains.
Tajweed note: Notice the Ghunnah (nasalisation) in “makhḍūd” and “manḍūd” — the nasal quality of the ‘n’ at the start of each flows into the following letter. The Qalqalah (echoing bounce) on the ‘d’ at the end of each verse should be light but present when pausing.
وَظِلٍّ مَّمۡدُودٍ وَمَآءٍ مَّسۡكُوبٍ وَفَٰكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ لَّا مَقۡطُوعَةٍ وَلَا مَمۡنُوعَةٍ
Transliteration:
Waẓillim-mamdūd / Wamā’im-maskūb / Wafākihatin kathīrah / Lā maqṭū‘atinw-walā mamnū‘ah
Translation:
And extended shade, and flowing water, and abundant fruit — neither limited nor forbidden.
Tajweed note: The recurring long ‘ū’ sounds (“mamdūd,” “maskūb,” “maqṭū‘ah,” “mamnū‘ah”) are all natural Madd — two counts each. The Hamzas in “maqṭū‘ah” should not be dropped.
Signs of Creation (57–74) — Evidence for Resurrection
This section is one of the most rhetorically powerful passages in the Quran. Allah presents four questions — about the origins of human beings, the water we drink, the seeds we plant, and the fire we kindle — as logical proofs that the One who created all of these things is certainly capable of resurrection.
أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا تُمۡنُونَ ءَأَنتُمۡ تَخۡلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقُونَ
Transliteration:
Afara’aytum mā tumnūn / A’antum takhluqūnahū am naḥnul-khāliqūn
Translation:
Have you considered that which you emit? Is it you who create it, or are We the Creator?
Tajweed note: The opening “afara’aytum” — the Hamzatul-Wasl connects the Fa to the Ra smoothly. The rhetorical “A’antum” carries a slight elongation on the initial Hamza (Madd of questioning). The ‘n’ in “naḥnu” carries a Ghunnah quality.
أَفَرَءَيۡتُمُ ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱلَّذِي تَشۡرَبُونَ ءَأَنتُمۡ أَنزَلۡتُمُوهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُزۡنِ أَمۡ نَحۡنُ ٱلۡمُنزِلُونَ
Transliteration:
Afara’aytumul-mā’alladhī tashrabūn / A’antum anzaltumūhu minal-muzni am naḥnul-munzilūn
Translation:
Have you considered the water that you drink? Is it you who brought it down from the rain clouds, or is it We who send it down?
Tajweed note: The long ‘ā’ in “al-mā’” (water) is a natural Madd — hold it steadily. The Noon in “minal-muzni” merges with the following letter (Idgham) — you will hear a slight nasalised blend rather than two distinct sounds.
Closing Verses (75–96) — The Quranic Oath and Final Warning
The surah closes with one of the most majestic oaths in the Quran: Allah swears by the positions of the stars — described as a “great oath if only you knew” — that the Quran is a noble book which only the purified may touch. The final verses return to the three groups, reaffirming their fates, and end with a command to glorify the name of the Lord Most Great.
فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرۡءَانٌ كَرِيمٌ
Transliteration:
Falā uqsimu bimawāqi‘in-nujūm / Wa-innahū laqasamul-law ta‘lamūna ‘aẓīm / Innahū laqur’ānun karīm
Translation:
So I swear by the positions of the stars — and indeed, that is a great oath, if you only knew — that this is truly a noble Quran.
Tajweed note: The connected “Falā” — the Lam before a Noon creates a Ghunnah. The long ‘ū’ in “nujūm” and “ta‘lamūn” are natural Madd sounds — hold each for two counts. “Karīm” ends with a natural Madd — hold the ‘ī’ before pausing.
فَسَبِّحۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ
Transliteration:
Fasabbiḥ bismi rabbikal-‘aẓīm
Translation:
So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
Tajweed note: This is the final verse of the surah — a command, not a description. The word “al-‘aẓīm” contains a Madd of two counts on ‘ī’ before the final ‘m’. Pause with reverence after completing it.
Key Tajweed Rules in Surah Al-Waqiah
Surah Al-Waqiah is rich with Tajweed opportunities. Here are the rules you will encounter most frequently, and how to recognise them in the colour-coded reader:
Madd — Prolongation (Red tones)
Madd appears constantly in this surah — in words like “Al-Wāqi‘ah,” “sābiqūn,” “mawḍūn,” “karīm,” and many more. Wherever you see a long vowel sound (‘ā’, ‘ī’, ‘ū’), hold it for two counts. The colour-coded reader highlights different types of Madd so you know when to extend further. For a full explanation, see the Tajweed Rules Guide.
Ghunnah — Nasalisation (Green)
Ghunnah occurs when a Noon (ن) or Meem (م) carries a shaddah, or when a Noon or Meem is followed by certain letters that trigger nasal merging. In Surah Al-Waqiah, you will notice Ghunnah in words like “makhḍūd,” “manḍūd,” and “manbaththa.” The sound should resonate in the nose for two counts.
Qalqalah — Echoing Bounce (Purple)
Qalqalah applies to five letters: Qaaf (ق), Dal (د), Ba (ب), Jim (ج), and Ta (ط) — when they appear with a sukoon (no vowel) or at the end of a pause. In Surah Al-Waqiah, you will hear Qalqalah on words like “makhḍūd,” “maqṭū‘ah,” and “al-‘aẓīm.” The letter bounces slightly rather than ending flat.
Idgham — Merging (indicated in grey)
Idgham occurs when a Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by certain letters (ي، ن، م، و، ل، ر), causing the two sounds to merge. In Surah Al-Waqiah, look for this at verse boundaries where a tanween ending is followed by a word beginning with one of these letters — for example, “laqasamul-law” (the Lam merges with the following Lam). Learning to recognise this makes your recitation flow naturally rather than sounding choppy.
How to Memorise Surah Al-Waqiah
With 96 verses, Surah Al-Waqiah is a medium-length surah that is very achievable to memorise. Its narrative structure — moving through the three groups of people, then through signs of creation, then ending with the Quranic oath — helps anchor the memory. Here is a practical approach:
Step 1: Read through once without stopping
Open the reader at page 1071 and read the full surah from beginning to end with the transliteration, following the colour coding. Do not try to memorise yet — just get familiar with the rhythm, the vocabulary, and how it feels to recite.
Step 2: Divide into five sections
The surah naturally divides into five sections: the opening (1–10), the Forerunners (11–26), the People of the Right (27–56), the signs of creation (57–74), and the closing oath (75–96). Memorise one section per session before moving on. This keeps each chunk manageable.
Step 3: Repeat each verse five times before the next
For each verse, say it five times in a row before moving to the next. On the sixth repetition, add the previous verse before the new one. This “chain” method — popular among Quran students — rapidly builds the verse sequence into muscle memory. The audio feature in the reader (Listen button) can provide the model pronunciation to repeat after.
Step 4: Recite in your daily prayers
The most reliable way to retain memorised verses is to use them regularly. Incorporate each memorised section into your voluntary prayers (nawafil) immediately after learning it. Regular use in salah reinforces the neural pathways of memorisation faster than any other method.
For more general memorisation strategies, see our guide on how to read the Quran in English.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Surah Al-Waqiah about?
Surah Al-Waqiah (The Inevitable, Chapter 56) describes the Day of Judgement and the three categories people will be divided into: the forerunners (As-Sabiqun), the people of the right hand (As-hab Al-Yameen), and the people of the left hand (As-hab Al-Shimal). The surah also presents four powerful signs in nature — human creation, water, seeds, and fire — as arguments for the reality of resurrection, and closes with a majestic oath affirming the nobility of the Quran itself.
How long does it take to read Surah Al-Waqiah?
Surah Al-Waqiah has 96 verses and takes approximately 7 to 10 minutes to read at a measured pace with Tajweed. Faster reciters may finish in 5 to 6 minutes. Many Muslims recite it every evening as a regular practice, which helps maintain a consistent reading speed over time.
Is Surah Al-Waqiah Meccan or Medinan?
Surah Al-Waqiah is a Meccan surah, revealed in Mecca before the migration (Hijra) to Medina. It is the 56th surah of the Quran and spans pages 1071 to 1076 of the standard Mushaf. It belongs to Juz 27.
Can I learn Surah Al-Waqiah without knowing Arabic?
Yes. Using transliteration — which writes Arabic sounds in English letters — you can learn to recite Surah Al-Waqiah correctly without knowing the Arabic alphabet. The colour-coded Tajweed system on this site highlights every rule as you read, so you always know when to apply prolongation, nasalisation, or other rules. Over time, many learners also choose to learn the Arabic script — but it is not required to begin.
What are the key Tajweed rules in Surah Al-Waqiah?
Surah Al-Waqiah features prominent Madd (prolongation) throughout — the surah name itself contains a natural Madd. Other frequent rules include Ghunnah (nasalisation) on noon and meem letters, Qalqalah (echoing) on letters like Qaaf and Dal at verse endings, and Idgham (merging) at many verse boundaries. The colour-coded reader on this site highlights all of these automatically, making it easy to apply them as you read.
Open the full colour-coded Quran reader and follow along as you recite Surah Al-Waqiah.
Read Surah Al-Waqiah — Page 1071Free, no account required, colour-coded Tajweed on every verse