Surah 56. Al-Waqia

but only the tiding of inner soundness and peace.⁹

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "only the saying, 'Peace, peace' (salam)!" Regarding this latter term, see note [48] on 19:62 , as well as note [29] on 5:16 .

but only the greetings of "Peace be upon you! Peace be upon you!"

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

(Naught) but the saying: Peace, (and again) Peace.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

NOW AS FOR those who have attained to righteousness - what of those who have attained to righteousness?¹⁰

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "those on the right hand". According to some commentators, it is those who had not always been "foremost in faith and good works", but have gradually, after erring and sinning, attained to righteousness (Razi). However, though they may not have been as perfect in life as the "foremost", their ultimate achievement brings them to the same state of spiritual fulfilment as those others.

Those of the right hand - happy shall be those on the right hand!

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[They, too, will find themselves] amidst fruitladen lote-trees,¹¹

  - Mohammad Asad

See note [10] on 53:14 .

They shall be among the thornless lot trees,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Among thornless lote tree

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and acacias flower-clad,

  - Mohammad Asad

clusters of bananas,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And clustered plantains,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and shade extended,¹²

  - Mohammad Asad

See note [74] on 4:57 .

extended thick shades,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And spreading shade,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and waters gushing,

  - Mohammad Asad

constantly flowing water,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And water gushing,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and fruit abounding,

  - Mohammad Asad

abundant fruits

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And fruit in plenary

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

never-failing and never out of reach.

  - Mohammad Asad

of unforbidden never ending supply,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Neither out of reach nor yet forbidden,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And [with them will be their] spouses, raised high:¹³

  - Mohammad Asad

Or: "[they will rest on] couches raised high". The rendering adopted by me is regarded as fully justified by some of the most outstanding commentators (e.g., Baghawi, Zamakhshari, Razi, Baydawi, etc.), and this for two reasons: firstly, because in the classical Arabic idiom, the term firash (lit., "bed" or "couch") is often used tropically to denote "wife" or "husband" (Raghib; also Qamus, Taj al-'Arus, etc.); and, secondly, because of the statement in the next verse that God "shall have brought them (hunna) into being in a life renewed". (In the context of this interpretation, Zamakhshari quotes also 36:56 , which thus refers to the inmates of paradise: "...in happiness will they and their spouses on couches recline". There is no doubt that the "spouses raised high" - i.e., to the status of the blest - are identical with the hur mentioned in verse {22} above as well as in 44:54 , 52:20 and 55:72 .

and will be reclining on high raised couches.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And raised couches,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

for, behold, We shall have brought them into being in a life renewed,

  - Mohammad Asad

We shall create their wives of special creation

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Lo! We have created them a (new) creation

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

having resurrected them as virgins,¹⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "and We shall have made them virgins". According to a number of authentic Traditions (quoted in full by Tabari and Ibn Kathir), the Prophet stated on several occasions that all righteous women, however old and decayed they may have been on earth, will be resurrected as virginal maidens and will, like their male counterparts, remain eternally young in paradise.

and make them virgins

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And made them virgins

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

full of love, well-matched

  - Mohammad Asad

beloved by nature, equal in age,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Lovers, friends,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

with those who have attained to righteousness:¹⁵

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., equal in dignity with all other inmates of paradise. As regards the term atrab (sing. tirb), rendered above - as well as in 38:52 and 78:33 - as "well-matched", there is no doubt that it primarily denotes "[persons] of equal age" (a meaning adopted by most of the commentators); however, as pointed out by all philological authorities, this term is also used in the sense of "[persons] equal in quality", that is, "well-matched": a significance which, to my mind, is eminently appropriate here inasmuch as it is meant to stress the equal excellence of all who have attained to righteousness, whether they be men or women; or, alternatively, the equal attraction towards one another and, thus, a mutual fulfilment of their spiritual and emotional needs; or both of the above meanings.

for those of the right hand.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

For those on the right hand;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

a good many of olden times,

  - Mohammad Asad

Many of them will be from the former

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

A multitude of those of old

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

and a good many of later time.¹⁶

  - Mohammad Asad

In contrast with "the foremost", who have always been "drawn close unto God" - and of whom there are less and less as time goes on (see note [4] above) - there will always be many of those who attain to righteousness after initial stumbling and sinning (see note [10]).

and many from the later generations.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And a multitude of those of later time.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall