Tafsir of Al-Waqi'ah 56:1

Special Characteristic of Surah Al-Waqi` ah: Sayyidna ` Abdullh Ibn Masuad's (رض) Didactic Story on his Deathbed

Ibn Kathir cites a story on the authority of Ibn ` Asakir from Abu Zabyah that when Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn Masud (رض) was lying on his deathbed, Sayyidna ` Uthman (رض) paid him a visit and the following conversation ensued.

` Uthman: (رض) : مَا تَشتَکِی ؟ |"What are you suffering from?|"

Ibn Masud (رض) ! ذُنُوبِی ” from my sins.|"

` Uthman (رض) : مَا تَشتَھِی ؟ |"Do you desire anything?|"

Ibn Masud (رض) رَحمَۃَ رَبِّی :|"Yes, Allah's mercy.|"

` Uthman : (رض) : اَلَاَ آمُرُلَکَ بِطَیَّبِ ؟ |"Shall I call a doctor for you?|"

Ibn Masud (رض) ! اَطَّبِیبُ اَمرَضَنِی |"It is the doctor who has given me the ailment.|"

` Uthman: (رض) اَلاَ آمُرُ لَکَ بِعَطَاءِ ؟ |"May I send you an allowance from the public treasury?|"

Ibn Masud (رض) |" ! لا حَاجَۃَ لِی فِیہ |"I have no need for it.|"

` Uthman (رض) یَکُونُ لِبَنَاتِکَ مِن بَعدِک |"Accept it, [ please ]. You are leaving daughters behind you. It will help them.|"

Ibn Masud (رض) أتَخشیٰ عَلٰی بَنَاتِی الفَقرَ إنِّی اَمَرتُ بَنَاتِی یَقرَأنَ کُلَّ لَیلَۃِ سُورَۃَ الوَاقِعَۃ۔ اِنِّی سَمِعتُ رَسُول اللہِ (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) یَقُولُ : مَن قَرأ سُورَۃَ الوَاقِعَۃ کُلَّ لَم تُصِبہُ فَاقَۃً اَبَداً ۔ (ابن کثیر 4:2 ۔ 3) |"You are worried about my daughters that they must not suffer from poverty. I have no such worry, because I have instructed them to recite Surah Al-Waqi` ah every night. I have heard the Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) say, مَن قَرأ سُورَۃَ الوَاقِعَۃ کُلَّ لَم تُصِبہُ فَاقَۃً اَبَداً 'Whoever recites Surah Al-Waqi` ah every night will never suffer from poverty'.|"

Ibn Kathir, after citing this story from Ibn ` Asakir, has supported it with other chains of transmitters and other sources.

Horrors of the Day of Resurrection

إِذَا وَقَعَتِ الْوَاقِعَةُ (When the Imminent Event (of Doom) will occur...56:1). Ibn Kathir says Al-waqi` ah is one of the names of the Day of Resurrection, because there is no room for doubt in its occurrence. It is real and will surely come to pass.