Surah 56. Al-Waqia

When the Inevitable Event takes place,

  - Mustafa Khattab

When the event inevitable cometh to pass. ⁵²²²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Event Inevitable is the Hour of Judgment. People may doubt now whether it will come. But when it comes, as it will come, suddenly upon them, it will come with such tremendous reality that it will be burnt deep into the experience of every soul. No one can then be deceived or entertain false notions about it.

then no one can deny it has come.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Then will no (soul) entertain falsehood concerning its coming.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It will debase 'some' and elevate 'others'.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Unlike this world of sheer injustice, the Hereafter will put everyone in their right place. The righteous will be elevated in Paradise, while the wicked will be humiliated in Hell.

(Many) will it bring low (many) will it exalt; ⁵²²³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

There will be a sorting out of Good and Evil. Or rather, (verse 7 below), there will be three main classes. Among the Good there will be the specially exalted class, those nearest to Allah (muqarrabun, lvi. 11-26), and the righteous people generally, called the Companions of the Right Hand (Ashab-ul-maimana, lvi. 27-40). And there will be those in agony, the Companions of the Left Hand (Ashab-ul-mash-ama, lvi. 41-56). Many who were high and mighty in this life will be brought low for their sins, and many who were lowly but virtuous will be exalted to various ranks and degrees. The old landmarks will be lost in the inner world, as they will be in the outer world.

When the earth will be violently shaken,

  - Mustafa Khattab

When the earth shall be shaken to its depths

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

and the mountains will be crushed to pieces,

  - Mustafa Khattab

And the mountains shall be crumbled to atoms ⁵²²⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The old physical world will disappear in the New Creation.

becoming scattered 'particles of' dust,

  - Mustafa Khattab

Becoming dust scattered abroad

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

you will 'all' be 'divided into' three groups:

  - Mustafa Khattab

And ye shall be sorted out into three classes. ⁵²²⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See n. 5223 above.

the people of the right, how 'blessed' will they be;

  - Mustafa Khattab

Then (there will be) the Companions of the Right Hand what will be the Companions of the Right Hand?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

the people of the left, how 'miserable' will they be;

  - Mustafa Khattab

And the Companions of the left hand what will be the Companions of the Left Hand?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

and the foremost 'in faith' will be the foremost 'in Paradise'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And those Foremost (in Faith) will be Foremost (in the Hereafter). ⁵²²⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Foremost (in Faith)": there are two meanings, and both are implied (1) Those who have reached the highest degree in spiritual understanding, such as the great prophets and teachers of mankind, will also take precedence in the Hereafter. (2) Those who are the first in time-the quickest and readiest-to accept Allah's Message-will have the first place in the Kingdom of Heaven. Verses 8, 9 and 10 mention the three main categories or classifications after Judgment. In the subsequent verses their happiness or misery are described. This category, Foremost in Faith, is nearest to Allah.