Wayl is said in two ways. The Qur'an says it about people: woe to such and such. People say it about themselves: woe to me, woe to us. Ten of the 38 verses are the second kind.
The ones it is said about are named. Those who write the book with their own hands and then say it is from God (2:79). Those who give short measure (83:1). The slanderers and backbiters (104:1). The sinful liars (45:7). Those who are heedless of their ṣalāt (107:4, 107:5). Ten more are one sentence repeated: in al-Mursalāt, “woe that day to the deniers” comes at 77:15, 19, 24, 28, 34, 37, 40, 45, 47 and 49.
The ones who say it about themselves are caught at a particular moment. The son of Adam who learns from a crow how to cover his brother's body (5:31). Abraham's wife, standing there when she is told she will bear a child in old age (11:72). The lawbreakers handed the record: “What is this book that leaves out nothing small or large?” (18:49). Those woken: “Who has raised us from our sleeping place?” (36:52). And one man on his choice of friend: “Would that I had not taken so-and-so for a friend” (25:28).
How this list was made
Every verse containing وَيْل (wayl) in any of its nine forms, in muṣḥaf order.
Every verse the rule matches is in the list.
Al-Baqarah2:79So woe to those who write the Writ with their hands, then say: “This is from God,” that they might sell it at a cheap price; so woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.
فَوَيْلٌلِلَّذ۪ينَيَكْتُبُونَالْكِتَابَبِاَيْد۪يهِمْثُمَّيَقُولُونَهٰذَامِنْعِنْدِاللّٰهِلِيَشْتَرُوابِه۪ثَمَناًقَل۪يلاًۜفَوَيْلٌلَهُمْمِمَّاكَتَبَتْاَيْد۪يهِمْوَوَيْلٌلَهُمْمِمَّايَكْسِبُونَ٧٩
Fawaylun lillatheena yaktuboona alkitababi-aydeehim thumma yaqooloona hatha min AAindi Allahiliyashtaroo bihi thamanan qaleelan fawaylun lahum mimmakatabat aydeehim wawaylun lahum mimma yaksiboon
Then God raised up a raven, scratching in the earth, to show him how to hide the shame of his brother. He said: “Woe is me! Am I not able to be as this raven, and hide the shame of my brother?” And he became of the remorseful.
فَبَعَثَاللّٰهُغُرَاباًيَبْحَثُفِيالْاَرْضِلِيُرِيَهُكَيْفَيُوَار۪يسَوْاَةَاَخ۪يهِۜقَالَيَاوَيْلَتٰٓىاَعَجَزْتُاَنْاَكُونَمِثْلَهٰذَاالْغُرَابِفَاُوَارِيَسَوْاَةَاَخ۪يۚفَاَصْبَحَمِنَالنَّادِم۪ينَۚۛ٣١
FabaAAatha Allahu ghuraban yabhathufee al-ardi liyuriyahu kayfa yuwaree saw-ataakheehi qala ya waylata aAAajaztu an akoonamithla hatha alghurabi faowariya saw-ataakhee faasbaha mina annadimeen
She said: “Oh, woe is me! Shall I bear a child when I am an old woman and this, my husband, an old man? This is an amazing thing!”
قَالَتْيَاوَيْلَتٰٓىءَاَلِدُوَاَنَا۬عَجُوزٌوَهٰذَابَعْل۪يشَيْخاًۜاِنَّهٰذَالَشَيْءٌعَج۪يبٌ٧٢
Qalat ya waylata aaliduwaana AAajoozun wahatha baAAlee shaykhan inna hathalashay-on AAajeeb
Of God, to whom belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth; and woe to the false claimers of guidance from a severe punishment!
اَللّٰهِالَّذ۪يلَهُمَافِيالسَّمٰوَاتِوَمَافِيالْاَرْضِۜوَوَيْلٌلِلْكَافِر۪ينَمِنْعَذَابٍشَد۪يدٍۙ٢
Allahi allathee lahu mafee assamawati wama fee al-ardiwawaylun lilkafireena min AAathabin shadeed
And the writ will be set down, and thou wilt see the lawbreakers apprehensive of what is therein. And they will say: “Woe is us! What writ is this that leaves behind nothing small or great save it has enumerated it?” And they will find what they did present; and thy Lord wrongs no one.
وَوُضِعَالْكِتَابُفَتَرَىالْمُجْرِم۪ينَمُشْفِق۪ينَمِمَّاف۪يهِوَيَقُولُونَيَاوَيْلَتَنَامَالِهٰذَاالْكِتَابِلَايُغَادِرُصَغ۪يرَةًوَلَاكَب۪يرَةًاِلَّٓااَحْصٰيهَاۚوَوَجَدُوامَاعَمِلُواحَاضِراًۜوَلَايَظْلِمُرَبُّكَاَحَداً۟٤٩
WawudiAAa alkitabu fataraalmujrimeena mushfiqeena mimma feehi wayaqooloona yawaylatana ma lihatha alkitabi layughadiru sagheeratan wala kabeeratan illaahsaha wawajadoo ma AAamiloo hadiranwala yathlimu rabbuka ahada
Then the parties differed among themselves; then woe to those who ignore warning from the meeting of a tremendous day.
فَاخْتَلَفَالْاَحْزَابُمِنْبَيْنِهِمْۚفَوَيْلٌلِلَّذ۪ينَكَفَرُوامِنْمَشْهَدِيَوْمٍعَظ۪يمٍ٣٧
Fakhtalafa al-ahzabumin baynihim fawaylun lillatheena kafaroo min mashhadiyawmin AAatheem
Moses said to them: “Woe to you! Invent not a lie against God lest He utterly destroy you with a punishment; and he has failed who invents.”
قَالَلَهُمْمُوسٰىوَيْلَكُمْلَاتَفْتَرُواعَلَىاللّٰهِكَذِباًفَيُسْحِتَكُمْبِعَذَابٍۚوَقَدْخَابَمَنِافْتَرٰى٦١
Qala lahum moosa waylakum lataftaroo AAala Allahi kathiban fayushitakumbiAAathabin waqad khaba mani iftara
They said: “Woe is us! We were wrongdoers.”
قَالُوايَاوَيْلَنَٓااِنَّاكُنَّاظَالِم۪ينَ١٤
Qaloo ya waylana innakunna thalimeen
But We hurl the truth against vanity and it triumphs over it, and then it passes away. And woe to you for what you describe!
بَلْنَقْذِفُبِالْحَقِّعَلَىالْبَاطِلِفَيَدْمَغُهُفَاِذَاهُوَزَاهِقٌۜوَلَكُمُالْوَيْلُمِمَّاتَصِفُونَ١٨
Bal naqthifu bilhaqqiAAala albatili fayadmaghuhu fa-itha huwa zahiqunwalakumu alwaylu mimma tasifoon
And if there touch them a hint of the punishment of thy Lord, they will say: “Woe is us! We were wrongdoers.”
وَلَئِنْمَسَّتْهُمْنَفْحَةٌمِنْعَذَابِرَبِّكَلَيَقُولُنَّيَاوَيْلَنَٓااِنَّاكُنَّاظَالِم۪ينَ٤٦
Wala-in massat-hum nafhatun min AAathabirabbika layaqoolunna ya waylana inna kunnathalimeen
And drawn nigh has the true promise; and then the eyes of those who ignore warning will stare: “Woe is us! We had been in heedlessness of this. The truth is, we were wrongdoers.”
وَاقْتَرَبَالْوَعْدُالْحَقُّفَاِذَاهِيَشَاخِصَةٌاَبْصَارُالَّذ۪ينَكَفَرُواۜيَاوَيْلَنَاقَدْكُنَّاف۪يغَفْلَةٍمِنْهٰذَابَلْكُنَّاظَالِم۪ينَ٩٧
Waqtaraba alwaAAdu alhaqqufa-itha hiya shakhisatun absaru allatheenakafaroo ya waylana qad kunna fee ghaflatinmin hatha bal kunna thalimeen
“Woe is me! Would that I had not taken such-and-such for a friend!
يَاوَيْلَتٰىلَيْتَن۪يلَمْاَتَّخِذْفُلَاناًخَل۪يلاً٢٨
Ya waylata laytanee lamattakhith fulanan khaleela
But those given knowledge said: “Woe to you! The reward of God is better for him who believes and works righteousness”; and none is granted it save the patient.
وَقَالَالَّذ۪ينَاُو۫تُواالْعِلْمَوَيْلَكُمْثَوَابُاللّٰهِخَيْرٌلِمَنْاٰمَنَوَعَمِلَصَالِحاًۚوَلَايُلَقّٰيهَٓااِلَّاالصَّابِرُونَ٨٠
Waqala allatheena ootooalAAilma waylakum thawabu Allahi khayrun liman amanawaAAamila salihan wala yulaqqahailla assabiroon
They will say: “Woe is us! Who has raised us from our sleeping place?” — “This is what the Almighty promised! And the emissaries spoke truth!”
قَالُوايَاوَيْلَنَامَنْبَعَثَنَامِنْمَرْقَدِنَ۔اۢهٰذَامَاوَعَدَالرَّحْمٰنُوَصَدَقَالْمُرْسَلُونَ٥٢
Qaloo ya waylana manbaAAathana min marqadina hatha mawaAAada arrahmanu wasadaqaalmursaloon
And they will say: “Woe is us! This is the Day of Judgment.”
وَقَالُوايَاوَيْلَنَاهٰذَايَوْمُالدّ۪ينِ٢٠
Waqaloo ya waylana hathayawmu addeen
And We created not the heaven and the earth and what is between them to no purpose. That is the assumption of those who ignore warning. And woe to those who ignore warning from the Fire!
وَمَاخَلَقْنَاالسَّمَٓاءَوَالْاَرْضَوَمَابَيْنَهُمَابَاطِلاًۜذٰلِكَظَنُّالَّذ۪ينَكَفَرُواۚفَوَيْلٌلِلَّذ۪ينَكَفَرُوامِنَالنَّارِۜ٢٧
Wama khalaqna assamaawal-arda wama baynahuma batilanthalika thannu allatheena kafaroofawaylun lillatheena kafaroo mina annar
Is then he whose breast God has expanded to submission so that he follows light from His Lord? Then woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of God! Those are in manifest error.
اَفَمَنْشَرَحَاللّٰهُصَدْرَهُلِلْاِسْلَامِفَهُوَعَلٰىنُورٍمِنْرَبِّه۪ۜفَوَيْلٌلِلْقَاسِيَةِقُلُوبُهُمْمِنْذِكْرِاللّٰهِۜاُو۬لٰٓئِكَف۪يضَلَالٍمُب۪ينٍ٢٢
Afaman sharaha Allahu sadrahulil-islami fahuwa AAala noorin min rabbihi fawaylunlilqasiyati quloobuhum min thikri Allahi ola-ikafee dalalin mubeen
Say thou: “I am only a mortal like you. It is revealed to me that your God is One God. So take a straight path to Him, and ask forgiveness of Him!” And woe to the idolaters:
قُلْاِنَّـمَٓااَنَا۬بَشَرٌمِثْلُكُمْيُوحٰٓىاِلَيَّاَنَّـمَٓااِلٰهُـكُمْاِلٰهٌوَاحِدٌفَاسْتَق۪يمُٓوااِلَيْهِوَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُۜوَوَيْلٌلِلْمُشْرِك۪ينَۙ٦
Qul innama ana basharunmithlukum yooha ilayya annama ilahukum ilahunwahidun fastaqeemoo ilayhi wastaghfiroohuwawaylun lilmushrikeen
Then the parties among them differed; so woe to those who did wrong from the punishment of a painful day!
فَاخْتَلَفَالْاَحْزَابُمِنْبَيْنِهِمْۚفَوَيْلٌلِلَّذ۪ينَظَلَمُوامِنْعَذَابِيَوْمٍاَل۪يمٍ٦٥
Fakhtalafa al-ahzabumin baynihim fawaylun lillatheena thalamoomin AAathabi yawmin aleem
Woe to every sinful deceiver,
وَيْلٌلِكُلِّاَفَّاكٍاَث۪يمٍۙ٧
Waylun likulli affakin atheem
And he who says to his parents: “Fie upon you! Do you promise me that I will be brought forth, when generations have already passed away before me?” while they seek aid of God: — “Woe to thee! Believe thou; the promise of God is true,” but he says: “This is only legends of the former peoples,” —
وَالَّذ۪يقَالَلِوَالِدَيْهِاُفٍّلَكُمَٓااَتَعِدَانِن۪ٓياَنْاُخْرَجَوَقَدْخَلَتِالْقُرُونُمِنْقَبْل۪يوَهُمَايَسْتَغ۪يثَانِاللّٰهَوَيْلَكَاٰمِنْۗاِنَّوَعْدَاللّٰهِحَقٌّۚفَيَقُولُمَاهٰذَٓااِلَّٓااَسَاط۪يرُالْاَوَّل۪ينَ١٧
Wallathee qala liwalidayhioffin lakuma ataAAidaninee an okhraja waqad khalatialquroonu min qablee wahuma yastagheethani Allahawaylaka amin inna waAAda Allahi haqqunfayaqoolu ma hatha illa asateerual-awwaleen
And woe to those who ignore warning from their day which they are promised!
فَوَيْلٌلِلَّذ۪ينَكَفَرُوامِنْيَوْمِهِمُالَّذ۪ييُوعَدُونَ٦٠
Fawaylun lillatheena kafaroo minyawmihimu allathee yooAAadoon
Woe, that day, to the deniers
فَوَيْلٌيَوْمَئِذٍلِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَۙ١١
Fawaylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen
They said: “Woe is us! We transgressed all bounds.
قَالُوايَاوَيْلَنَٓااِنَّاكُنَّاطَاغ۪ينَ٣١
Qaloo ya waylana innakunna tagheen
Woe, that day, to the deniers!
وَيْلٌيَوْمَئِذٍلِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ١٥
Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen
Woe, that day, to the deniers!
وَيْلٌيَوْمَئِذٍلِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ١٩
Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen
Woe, that day, to the deniers!
وَيْلٌيَوْمَئِذٍلِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ٢٤
Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen
Woe, that day, to the deniers!
وَيْلٌيَوْمَئِذٍلِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ٢٨
Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen
Woe, that day, to the deniers!
وَيْلٌيَوْمَئِذٍلِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ٣٤
Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen
Woe, that day, to the deniers!
وَيْلٌيَوْمَئِذٍلِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ٣٧
Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen
Woe, that day, to the deniers!
وَيْلٌيَوْمَئِذٍلِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ۟٤٠
Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen
Woe, that day, to the deniers!
وَيْلٌيَوْمَئِذٍلِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ٤٥
Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen
Woe, that day, to the deniers!
وَيْلٌيَوْمَئِذٍلِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ٤٧
Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen
Woe, that day, to the deniers!
وَيْلٌيَوْمَئِذٍلِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ٤٩
Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen
Woe to the unfair traders: —
وَيْلٌلِلْمُطَفِّف۪ينَۙ١
Waylun lilmutaffifeen
Woe, that day, to the deniers,
وَيْلٌيَوْمَئِذٍلِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَۙ١٠
Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen
Woe to every slanderer, fault-finder,
وَيْلٌلِكُلِّهُمَزَةٍلُمَزَةٍۨۙ١
Waylun likulli humazatin lumaza
Then woe to the performers of duty: —
فَوَيْلٌلِلْمُصَلّ۪ينَۙ٤
Fawaylun lilmusalleen
