Qur’an Cover-to-Cover: Day 13 (“The inevitable”)

The last couple of chapters have covered new and interesting material, focussing on the Biblical characters such Moses and the Blessed Mother. Today, however, we return to the Qur’an’s sweet spot: judgment, Heaven and Hell.

Surah 56 – “The inevitable” (Al-Waqia)
A portrait of the Resurrection is painted, a day when “the earth is shaken” and “mountains are broken down”. We are told that mankind will become “[of] three types”:

1. The Companions of the right who go to Paradise
2. The Companions of the left who go to the Fire
3. The Forerunners who go to Paradise

I’m not exactly sure what makes “The Forerunners” distinct from “The Companions of the right”.

We’re also told that in Paradise there will be “a [large] company of the former peoples and a few of the later peoples”, but it’s not clear as to why there is a disparity in numbers between the two groups.

Heaven is described as a sensual delight, “as reward for what they used to do”. We are told that “young boys made eternal” will walk around with pitchers of wine. This is an interesting detail since (here on earth) Muslims are not allowed to drink. This heavenly wine, however, will be far better than earthly wine, since it won’t make those who drink it intoxicated, nor will it give them a hangover. We are told that there will be fruit and meat, whatever they desire. There will be “fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes”. Later in the chapter we are told that Allah “produced [the women of Paradise] in a [new] creation And made them virgins, devoted [to their husbands] and of equal age”.

The status of the “young boys” and “fair women” is intriguing. It seems that they were created at the Resurrection, so one wonders if they have free will or if they are basically automatons.

Hell is then described as “Scorching fire and scalding water”. This is a punishment for “the great violation” of the unbelievers (the sin of shirk).

The rest of the chapter is devoted to different arguments against man’s self-sufficiency and in favour of Allah’s provision.

Q1. What is the difference between “the companions of the right” and “the forerunners”?

Q2. Why does it say in Paradise that there will be “a [large] company of the former peoples and a few of the later peoples”? Is there an expectation that the Resurrection will happen sooner rather than later?

Q3. We are told that those in Paradise will be on thrones “facing each other”. Is a massive circle envisaged here, like the thrones around the Throne of the Lamb in the Book of Revelation?

Q4. Who are the “young boys made eternal” and “fair women with large, [beautiful] eyes”? It appears that they are created on the Day of Judgement and did not previously exist. If so, will they have souls and free will?

Q5. Do people have an “age” in Paradise? If not, how are the women of Pardise made “of equal age”?

Q6. In ayah 75, Allah swears by the stars. Is this inappropriate? Hebrews 6:16 says that one always swears by something greater than themselves.

See you all tomorrow…

Return to Qur’an Index