Surah al-Waqi`ah (The Occurrence) 56 : 49

Overview (Verses 27 - 56)

The Other Groups

The surah follows this account of the superior group with a similarly detailed one of the second group, to which a quick reference was made in the opening of the surah. The details of their situation in the life to come are now provided at the right point, beginning with a repetition of the same question posed at the outset that gives a sense of seriousness and awe: "As for those on the right, what people are they?" (Verse 27)

This group are also enjoying a luxurious and happy life, but its description gives a sense of nomadic roughness. It answers all the needs of a nomadic people as they can best imagine a life of comfort and bliss. Thus, "They will dwell amid thornless lote trees." (Verse 28). The lote tree is known for its thorns, but here it is thornless. "And flower-clad acacias." (Verse 29) The acacia is a thorny type of leguminous tree well known in the Hijaz region of Arabia. However, the acacia trees in heaven are without thorns, have abundant fruit and are so situated as to enable real comfort. "With extended shade, constantly flowing water." (Verses 30-31) These are all types of comfort dreamt of by the bedouin. "Abundant fruits, unfailing, never out of reach." (Verses 32-33) These are left undetailed here, after having already outlined those types well-known by name to the bedouins. " [Reclining on] couches raised high." (Verse 34) These couches are not described as gold-encrusted, nor as having fine embroidery. They are merely 'raised high'. Raising high contains a double meaning, physical and mental, both of which complement each other. As they are raised high, both meanings converge. In position, they are far removed from all types of impurity, kept clean. Mental elevation, on the other hand, is also far removed from all that stains. Therefore, the next aspect of their blessing describes the companions they have in heaven: "We will have brought forth [their mates] in perfect creation." (Verse 35) These mates are either new ones, referring to the mates God assigns them from among the creatures that originally dwell in heaven, or they are their wives in this world, after they have been resurrected as virgins in the prime of youth, "making them virgins." (Verse 36) They are "All of love, of matching age." (Verse 37) And they are specially assigned and devoted "for those on the right." (Verse 38)

These people on the right consist of "A good many of them are from earlier times and a good many from later generations." (Verses 39-40) This means that they are greater in number than the first group of people to the fore, taking into account the two views we explained in reference to earlier and later generations.

The surah now speaks about the third group, the people on the left, to whom a general reference was made earlier on:
 
And those on the left, what people are they? They will dwell amid scorching wind and scalding water in the shadows of black smoke, neither cool nor refreshing. In times gone 4 they overindulged in luxury and persisted in heinous sin, saying, 'What! When we have died and become mere dust and bones, are we to be raised up again? And our forefathers, too? Say: All people of the earliest and latest generations will indeed be gathered together at an appointed time on a specific day. Then, you who have gone astray and denied the truth will eat from the fruit of the Zaqqum tree, filling your bellies with it, and will drink scalding water; yet you will drink it like insatiably thirsty camels drink.' Such will be their dwelling place on the Day of Judgement. (Verses 41-56)

While the people on the right enjoy extended shade and constantly flowing water, these on the left "dwell amid scorching wind and scalding water in the shadows of black smoke, neither cool nor refreshing." (Verses 42-44) The whole atmosphere is of a scorching heat that penetrates and burns the skin. The water they have to drink is also scalding, giving no refreshment. They also have shade, but it is no more than the shadows of black smoke. It is a shade painted in irony, for such shade is devoid of coolness, inviting no rest, and giving no sensation other than that produced by suffocating heat. Such hardship is a fitting requital, for "in times gone 4 they overindulged in luxury." (Verse 45) The absence of comfort for those who are used to indulging and excessing in luxury is hard indeed. They also "persisted in heinous sin", associating partners with God. The Arabic word used here for sin is hinth, which means 'breach, violation'. It implies, thus, a reference to the pledge given by human nature to maintain faith in God's oneness and not to associate partners with Him. They are certainly in breach of that pledge. They used to say: "What! When we have died and become mere dust and bones, are we to be raised up again? And our forefathers, too?"(Verses 47-48) The surah clearly uses the past tense in these last two points, saying that they persisted in sin and denied the resurrection, thus treating this present life of the addressees as though it has already ended. In other words, this scene of suffering is made to appear as though it is presently occurring.
 
After all, this whole life is no more than a twinkling of the eye, whilst the life to come is ultimate and permanent.

The surah seizes this appropriate moment to answer their question, which they unfold in an exaggerated sense of incredulity: "Say: All people of the earliest and latest generations will indeed be gathered together at an appointed time on a specific day." (Verses 49-50) The specific day is the one that has just been painted. It has been shown as though they are enduring it right now.

The surah resumes the description of the suffering that awaits those who deny the truth of God's oneness: "Then, you who have gone astray and denied the truth will eat from the fruit of the Zaqqum tree." (Verses 51-52) No one knows anything about the Zaqqum tree other than the description God gives us in another surah, stating that "its fruit is like devils' heads." (37: 65) Again no one has ever seen devils' heads, but the very phrase gives us a clear sense. Besides, the very name, Zaqqum, implies a hard, rough surface with thorns that pierce hands and throats. This is in contrast to the thornless tote trees and flower-clad acacias that the people on the right enjoy. Although the fruit of the Zaqqum tree looks like devils' heads, these people will eat it "filling your bellies with it." (Verse 53) Hunger is overpowering. Hard and thorny food will inevitably require a drink to ease its swallowing and refresh the stomach. They, however, "will drink scalding water." (Verse 54) Such a drink can never refresh or satisfy a thirsty person. Yet these people "will drink it like insatiably thirsty camels drink." (Verse 55) These camels have a well known illness making them always thirsty. "Such will be their dwelling place on the Day of Judgement." (Verse 56) A dwelling place is one that is supposed to give comfort and a sense of permanent settlement, but this dwelling for those on the left gives neither. This is how they are welcomed and this is the place assigned to them on the Day of Judgement, which they held in doubt, always rejecting what the Qur'an told them about it. They also associated partners with God, disbelieving His warnings of what they may suffer on that day.

Thus ends the first part of the surah which has given us a detailed account of people's fates on the day when the inevitable takes place.