الواقعة
Surah Al-Waaqia
Meaning of the name: The Inevitable
Arabic with an established translation
Reading the ayat before and after can make the meaning clearer.
Recitation by Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husary.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
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إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلْوَاقِعَةُ
When the Inevitable Event comes to pass,
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ
there will be none to deny its occurrence;
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خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ
it will bring some low and raise others up[1].
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [1]
[1] According to their deeds rather than wealth and social position, as is the case in this world. The righteous will be elevated in Paradise and the wicked will be debased in Hell.
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إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ رَجًّا
When the earth is shaken violently,
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وَبُسَّتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ بَسًّا
and the mountains crushed to pieces,
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فَكَانَتْ هَبَآءً مُّنۢبَثًّا
and turn to scattered dust,
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وَكُنتُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا ثَلَـٰثَةً
then you are sorted into three groups:
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فَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ مَآ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَيْمَنَةِ
the people of the right – how blessed will be the people of the right[2]!
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [2]
[2] i.e., those who receive their record of deeds in the right hand and are destined for Paradise.
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وَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ مَآ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْمَشْـَٔمَةِ
The people of the left – how miserable will be the people of the left[3]!
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [3]
[3] i.e., those who receive their record of deeds in the left hand and are destined for Hell.
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وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ
And the forerunners [in faith] are the forerunners [in Paradise].
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبُونَ
They are the nearest ones [to Allah],
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فِى جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
in Gardens of Bliss,
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ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
many from the early generations,
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وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِينَ
and a few from the later generations.
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عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مَّوْضُونَةٍ
[They will be seated] on jeweled couches,
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مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَيْهَا مُتَقَـٰبِلِينَ
reclining on them, facing one another.
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يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَٰنٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ
They will be served by immortal youths
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بِأَكْوَابٍ وَأَبَارِيقَ وَكَأْسٍ مِّن مَّعِينٍ
with cups, pitchers, and glasses [of wine] from a flowing spring,
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لَّا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنزِفُونَ
which will neither cause any headache nor intoxication,
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وَفَـٰكِهَةٍ مِّمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ
along with fruits of their choice,
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وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِّمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ
and flesh of birds that they may desire.
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وَحُورٌ عِينٌ
And [they will have] maidens with wide gorgeous eyes,
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كَأَمْثَـٰلِ ٱللُّؤْلُؤِ ٱلْمَكْنُونِ
like pristine pearls,
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جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
as a reward for what they used to do.
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لَا يَسْمَعُونَ فِيهَا لَغْوًا وَلَا تَأْثِيمًا
They will not hear therein any idle talk or sinful speech,
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إِلَّا قِيلًا سَلَـٰمًا سَلَـٰمًا
except the words of peace, peace[4].
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [4]
[4] i.e., only exchanging greetings of peace.
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وَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ مَآ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْيَمِينِ
The people of the right – how blessed will be the people of the right!
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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فِى سِدْرٍ مَّخْضُودٍ
[They will be] in the midst of thornless lote trees,
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وَطَلْحٍ مَّنضُودٍ
and clusters of bananas,
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وَظِلٍّ مَّمْدُودٍ
and extended shade,
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وَمَآءٍ مَّسْكُوبٍ
and flowing water,
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وَفَـٰكِهَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ
and abundant fruit –
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لَّا مَقْطُوعَةٍ وَلَا مَمْنُوعَةٍ
neither ceasing nor restricted –
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وَفُرُشٍ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ
and elevated mattresses [on beds].
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إِنَّآ أَنشَأْنَـٰهُنَّ إِنشَآءً
Indeed, We have perfectly created them [i.e., their spouses],
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فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُنَّ أَبْكَارًا
and have made them virgins,
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عُرُبًا أَتْرَابًا
loving and of equal age,
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لِّأَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ
for the people of the right,
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ثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
many from the earlier generations,
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وَثُلَّةٌ مِّنَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِينَ
and many from the later generations.
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وَأَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ مَآ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلشِّمَالِ
And the people of the left – how wretched will be the people of the left!
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فِى سَمُومٍ وَحَمِيمٍ
[They will be] in scorching wind and scalding water,
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وَظِلٍّ مِّن يَحْمُومٍ
in the shade of black smoke,
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لَّا بَارِدٍ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ
neither cool nor refreshing.
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إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَبْلَ ذَٰلِكَ مُتْرَفِينَ
Indeed, they used to be in luxuries before,
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وَكَانُوا۟ يُصِرُّونَ عَلَى ٱلْحِنثِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
and persisted in the gravest sin[5].
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [5]
[5] i.e., Shirk (associating partners with Allah) or disbelief.
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وَكَانُوا۟ يَقُولُونَ أَئِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَـٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ
They used to say, "When we die and become dust and bones, will we really be raised again?
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أَوَءَابَآؤُنَا ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ
And our forefathers as well?”
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قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرِينَ
Say, [O Prophet], “Indeed, the former and later generations
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لَمَجْمُوعُونَ إِلَىٰ مِيقَـٰتِ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ
will be gathered on a predetermined Day.
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ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبُونَ
Then you, O misguided deniers,
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لَـَٔاكِلُونَ مِن شَجَرٍ مِّن زَقُّومٍ
will surely eat from the tree of zaqqūm[6],
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [6]
[6] See footnote 44:43-46.
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فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنْهَا ٱلْبُطُونَ
filling your bellies with it,
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فَشَـٰرِبُونَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَمِيمِ
and drinking scalding water on top of it,
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فَشَـٰرِبُونَ شُرْبَ ٱلْهِيمِ
drinking like thirsty camels do.”
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هَـٰذَا نُزُلُهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ
This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgment.
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نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَـٰكُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ
It is We Who created you; why do you not then believe [in resurrection]?
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تُمْنُونَ
Have you thought about the semen that you emit?
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ءَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقُونَ
Is it you who create it, or is it We Who are the Creators?
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ
We have ordained death among you, and nothing can overcome us
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عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَـٰلَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِى مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
from transforming you and recreating you in forms that you do not know[7].
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [7]
[7] Or "from replacing you by others like yourselves [in this life] and creating you [in the Hereafter] in that which you do not know."
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وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ ٱلنَّشْأَةَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ فَلَوْلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
You are well aware of the first creation; why do you not then take heed?
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أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ
Have you thought about what you sow?
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ءَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ
Is it you who cause it to grow, or is it We Who make it grow?
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لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ حُطَـٰمًا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ
If We willed, We could reduce your harvest to rubble, leaving you to wonder and lament,
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إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ
“We suffered loss,
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بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ
rather, we are deprived.”
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أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلْمَآءَ ٱلَّذِى تَشْرَبُونَ
Have you thought about the water that you drink?
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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ءَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنزِلُونَ
Is it you who bring it down from the clouds, or is it We Who bring it down?
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لَوْ نَشَآءُ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ أُجَاجًا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ
If We willed, We could make it salty; will you not then give thanks?
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أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِى تُورُونَ
Have you thought about the fire that you kindle?
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ءَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنشِـُٔونَ
Is it you who produced its trees[8], or is it We Who produced it?
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [8]
[8] Referring to Arabian trees, markh and ‘afār, which produce fire when their green branches are rubbed against each other.
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نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَـٰهَا تَذْكِرَةً وَمَتَـٰعًا لِّلْمُقْوِينَ
We made it a reminder [of the Hellfire] and a benefit for the travelers[9].
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [9]
[9] By which they ignite fire. Travelers are mentioned in particular because it is of special convenience to them, although it is of use for all people in general.
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فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
So glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.
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فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ
I do swear[10] by the positions of the stars –
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [10]
[10] The negative article "la" (nay) means: The truth is not what is said or thought by disbelievers or others. The oath refutes certain objections of the disbelievers with regard to the Qur’an.
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وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ
and this is indeed a great oath, if only you knew –
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إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرْءَانٌ كَرِيمٌ
that this is indeed a noble Qur’an,
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فِى كِتَـٰبٍ مَّكْنُونٍ
in a well-preserved Record[11],
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [11]
[11] i.e., the Preserved Tablet.
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لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْمُطَهَّرُونَ
that none can touch except the purified ones[12] –
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [12]
[12] i.e., angels. It refutes the claim of the pagans that the Qur’an was sent down by devils. (See 26:210-212). Based on this verse, many Muslim jurists held that one should perform ablution prior to reading the Qur’an.
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تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.
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أَفَبِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَنتُم مُّدْهِنُونَ
Do you take this discourse lightly,
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وَتَجْعَلُونَ رِزْقَكُمْ أَنَّكُمْ تُكَذِّبُونَ
and instead [of thanking Allah] for the provision you are given, you show ingratitude?
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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فَلَوْلَآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلْحُلْقُومَ
Then why [are you helpless] when the soul reaches the throat,
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وَأَنتُمْ حِينَئِذٍ تَنظُرُونَ
while you are looking on,
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وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُبْصِرُونَ
when We are closer[13] to him than you, but you do not see?
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [13]
[13] We are closer to him in terms of Knowledge and Power; Our angels are closer in person.
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فَلَوْلَآ إِن كُنتُمْ غَيْرَ مَدِينِينَ
If you are not subject to retribution, then why do you not
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تَرْجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
bring that [soul] back, if you are truthful?
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فَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ
If that dying person is one of those who will be brought near to Allah,
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فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍ
then [he will have] comfort, fragrance[14], and a Garden of Bliss.
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
Translation footnote [14]
[14] lit., fragrant basil. Paradise is described in the Qur’an as being pleasant to the eye, the heart, and the ear. Here it also emphasizes the scent.
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وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ
If he is one of the people of the right,
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فَسَلَـٰمٌ لَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْيَمِينِ
[He will be told], “Peace be to you, for being one of the people of the right.”
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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وَأَمَّآ إِن كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
But if he is one of the misguided deniers,
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فَنُزُلٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ
then he will be welcomed with scalding water,
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وَتَصْلِيَةُ جَحِيمٍ
and he will burn in Blazing Fire.
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إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ حَقُّ ٱلْيَقِينِ
This is indeed the absolute truth.
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center
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فَسَبِّحْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
So glorify the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center