# “Woe…” > The verses that pronounce woe on someone, and the verses where someone cries it about themselves. - **Source:** https://quran.so/topics/woe - **Translation:** Sam Gerrans — The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation 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. ## 38 verses ### Al-Baqarah 2:79 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-baqarah/verse-79 **Arabic:** فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذ۪ينَ يَكْتُبُونَ الْكِتَابَ بِاَيْد۪يهِمْ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هٰذَا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللّٰهِ لِيَشْتَرُوا بِه۪ ثَمَناً قَل۪يلاًۜ فَوَيْلٌ لَهُمْ مِمَّا كَتَبَتْ اَيْد۪يهِمْ وَوَيْلٌ لَهُمْ مِمَّا يَكْسِبُونَ **Transcription:** Fawaylun lillatheena yaktuboona alkitababi-aydeehim thumma yaqooloona hatha min AAindi Allahiliyashtaroo bihi thamanan qaleelan fawaylun lahum mimmakatabat aydeehim wawaylun lahum mimma yaksiboon So 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. ### Al-Ma'idah 5:31 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-maidah/verse-31 **Arabic:** فَبَعَثَ اللّٰهُ غُرَاباً يَبْحَثُ فِي الْاَرْضِ لِيُرِيَهُ كَيْفَ يُوَار۪ي سَوْاَةَ اَخ۪يهِۜ قَالَ يَا وَيْلَتٰٓى اَعَجَزْتُ اَنْ اَكُونَ مِثْلَ هٰذَا الْغُرَابِ فَاُوَارِيَ سَوْاَةَ اَخ۪يۚ فَاَصْبَحَ مِنَ النَّادِم۪ينَۚۛ **Transcription:** 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 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. ### Hud 11:72 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-hud/verse-72 **Arabic:** قَالَتْ يَا وَيْلَتٰٓى ءَاَلِدُ وَاَنَا۬ عَجُوزٌ وَهٰذَا بَعْل۪ي شَيْخاًۜ اِنَّ هٰذَا لَشَيْءٌ عَج۪يبٌ **Transcription:** Qalat ya waylata aaliduwaana AAajoozun wahatha baAAlee shaykhan inna hathalashay-on AAajeeb 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!” ### Ibrahim 14:2 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-ibrahim/verse-2 **Arabic:** اَللّٰهِ الَّذ۪ي لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمٰوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْاَرْضِۜ وَوَيْلٌ لِلْكَافِر۪ينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ شَد۪يدٍۙ **Transcription:** Allahi allathee lahu mafee assamawati wama fee al-ardiwawaylun lilkafireena min AAathabin shadeed 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! ### Al-Kahf 18:49 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-kahf/verse-49 **Arabic:** وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِم۪ينَ مُشْفِق۪ينَ مِمَّا ف۪يهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هٰذَا الْكِتَابِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغ۪يرَةً وَلَا كَب۪يرَةً اِلَّٓا اَحْصٰيهَاۚ وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِراًۜ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ اَحَداً۟ **Transcription:** WawudiAAa alkitabu fataraalmujrimeena mushfiqeena mimma feehi wayaqooloona yawaylatana ma lihatha alkitabi layughadiru sagheeratan wala kabeeratan illaahsaha wawajadoo ma AAamiloo hadiranwala yathlimu rabbuka ahada 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. ### Maryam 19:37 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-maryam/verse-37 **Arabic:** فَاخْتَلَفَ الْاَحْزَابُ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمْۚ فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذ۪ينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ مَشْهَدِ يَوْمٍ عَظ۪يمٍ **Transcription:** Fakhtalafa al-ahzabumin baynihim fawaylun lillatheena kafaroo min mashhadiyawmin AAatheem Then the parties differed among themselves; then woe to those who ignore warning from the meeting of a tremendous day. ### Taha 20:61 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-taha/verse-61 **Arabic:** قَالَ لَهُمْ مُوسٰى وَيْلَكُمْ لَا تَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللّٰهِ كَذِباً فَيُسْحِتَكُمْ بِعَذَابٍۚ وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنِ افْتَرٰى **Transcription:** Qala lahum moosa waylakum lataftaroo AAala Allahi kathiban fayushitakumbiAAathabin waqad khaba mani iftara 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.” ### Al-Anbiya 21:14 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-anbiya/verse-14 **Arabic:** قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَٓا اِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِم۪ينَ **Transcription:** Qaloo ya waylana innakunna thalimeen They said: “Woe is us! We were wrongdoers.” ### Al-Anbiya 21:18 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-anbiya/verse-18 **Arabic:** بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَاِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌۜ وَلَكُمُ الْوَيْلُ مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ **Transcription:** Bal naqthifu bilhaqqiAAala albatili fayadmaghuhu fa-itha huwa zahiqunwalakumu alwaylu mimma tasifoon 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! ### Al-Anbiya 21:46 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-anbiya/verse-46 **Arabic:** وَلَئِنْ مَسَّتْهُمْ نَفْحَةٌ مِنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ يَا وَيْلَنَٓا اِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِم۪ينَ **Transcription:** Wala-in massat-hum nafhatun min AAathabirabbika layaqoolunna ya waylana inna kunnathalimeen And if there touch them a hint of the punishment of thy Lord, they will say: “Woe is us! We were wrongdoers.” ### Al-Anbiya 21:97 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-anbiya/verse-97 **Arabic:** وَاقْتَرَبَ الْوَعْدُ الْحَقُّ فَاِذَا هِيَ شَاخِصَةٌ اَبْصَارُ الَّذ۪ينَ كَفَرُواۜ يَا وَيْلَنَا قَدْ كُنَّا ف۪ي غَفْلَةٍ مِنْ هٰذَا بَلْ كُنَّا ظَالِم۪ينَ **Transcription:** Waqtaraba alwaAAdu alhaqqufa-itha hiya shakhisatun absaru allatheenakafaroo ya waylana qad kunna fee ghaflatinmin hatha bal kunna thalimeen 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.” ### Al-Furqan 25:28 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-furqan/verse-28 **Arabic:** يَا وَيْلَتٰى لَيْتَن۪ي لَمْ اَتَّخِذْ فُلَاناً خَل۪يلاً **Transcription:** Ya waylata laytanee lamattakhith fulanan khaleela “Woe is me! Would that I had not taken such-and-such for a friend! ### Al-Qasas 28:80 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-qasas/verse-80 **Arabic:** وَقَالَ الَّذ۪ينَ اُو۫تُوا الْعِلْمَ وَيْلَكُمْ ثَوَابُ اللّٰهِ خَيْرٌ لِمَنْ اٰمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحاًۚ وَلَا يُلَقّٰيهَٓا اِلَّا الصَّابِرُونَ **Transcription:** Waqala allatheena ootooalAAilma waylakum thawabu Allahi khayrun liman amanawaAAamila salihan wala yulaqqahailla assabiroon 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. ### Ya-Sin 36:52 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-ya-sin/verse-52 **Arabic:** قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا مَنْ بَعَثَنَا مِنْ مَرْقَدِنَ۔اۢ هٰذَا مَا وَعَدَ الرَّحْمٰنُ وَصَدَقَ الْمُرْسَلُونَ **Transcription:** Qaloo ya waylana manbaAAathana min marqadina hatha mawaAAada arrahmanu wasadaqaalmursaloon 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!” ### As-Saffat 37:20 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-as-saffat/verse-20 **Arabic:** وَقَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا هٰذَا يَوْمُ الدّ۪ينِ **Transcription:** Waqaloo ya waylana hathayawmu addeen And they will say: “Woe is us! This is the Day of Judgment.” ### Sad 38:27 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-sad/verse-27 **Arabic:** وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَٓاءَ وَالْاَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَاطِلاًۜ ذٰلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذ۪ينَ كَفَرُواۚ فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذ۪ينَ كَفَرُوا مِنَ النَّارِۜ **Transcription:** Wama khalaqna assamaawal-arda wama baynahuma batilanthalika thannu allatheena kafaroofawaylun lillatheena kafaroo mina annar 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! ### Az-Zumar 39:22 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-az-zumar/verse-22 **Arabic:** اَفَمَنْ شَرَحَ اللّٰهُ صَدْرَهُ لِلْاِسْلَامِ فَهُوَ عَلٰى نُورٍ مِنْ رَبِّه۪ۜ فَوَيْلٌ لِلْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللّٰهِۜ اُو۬لٰٓئِكَ ف۪ي ضَلَالٍ مُب۪ينٍ **Transcription:** Afaman sharaha Allahu sadrahulil-islami fahuwa AAala noorin min rabbihi fawaylunlilqasiyati quloobuhum min thikri Allahi ola-ikafee dalalin mubeen 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. ### Fussilat 41:6 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-fussilat/verse-6 **Arabic:** قُلْ اِنَّـمَٓا اَنَا۬ بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يُوحٰٓى اِلَيَّ اَنَّـمَٓا اِلٰهُـكُمْ اِلٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَاسْتَق۪يمُٓوا اِلَيْهِ وَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُۜ وَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُشْرِك۪ينَۙ **Transcription:** Qul innama ana basharunmithlukum yooha ilayya annama ilahukum ilahunwahidun fastaqeemoo ilayhi wastaghfiroohuwawaylun lilmushrikeen 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: ### Az-Zukhruf 43:65 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-az-zukhruf/verse-65 **Arabic:** فَاخْتَلَفَ الْاَحْزَابُ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمْۚ فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذ۪ينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمٍ اَل۪يمٍ **Transcription:** Fakhtalafa al-ahzabumin baynihim fawaylun lillatheena thalamoomin AAathabi yawmin aleem Then the parties among them differed; so woe to those who did wrong from the punishment of a painful day! ### Al-Jathiyah 45:7 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-jathiyah/verse-7 **Arabic:** وَيْلٌ لِكُلِّ اَفَّاكٍ اَث۪يمٍۙ **Transcription:** Waylun likulli affakin atheem Woe to every sinful deceiver, ### Al-Ahqaf 46:17 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-ahqaf/verse-17 **Arabic:** وَالَّذ۪ي قَالَ لِوَالِدَيْهِ اُفٍّ لَكُمَٓا اَتَعِدَانِن۪ٓي اَنْ اُخْرَجَ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ الْقُرُونُ مِنْ قَبْل۪ي وَهُمَا يَسْتَغ۪يثَانِ اللّٰهَ وَيْلَكَ اٰمِنْۗ اِنَّ وَعْدَ اللّٰهِ حَقٌّۚ فَيَقُولُ مَا هٰذَٓا اِلَّٓا اَسَاط۪يرُ الْاَوَّل۪ينَ **Transcription:** 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 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,” — ### Adh-Dhariyat 51:60 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-adh-dhariyat/verse-60 **Arabic:** فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذ۪ينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ يَوْمِهِمُ الَّذ۪ي يُوعَدُونَ **Transcription:** Fawaylun lillatheena kafaroo minyawmihimu allathee yooAAadoon And woe to those who ignore warning from their day which they are promised! ### At-Tur 52:11 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-at-tur/verse-11 **Arabic:** فَوَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَۙ **Transcription:** Fawaylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen Woe, that day, to the deniers ### Al-Qalam 68:31 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-qalam/verse-31 **Arabic:** قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَٓا اِنَّا كُنَّا طَاغ۪ينَ **Transcription:** Qaloo ya waylana innakunna tagheen They said: “Woe is us! We transgressed all bounds. ### Al-Mursalat 77:15 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-mursalat/verse-15 **Arabic:** وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ **Transcription:** Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen Woe, that day, to the deniers! ### Al-Mursalat 77:19 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-mursalat/verse-19 **Arabic:** وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ **Transcription:** Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen Woe, that day, to the deniers! ### Al-Mursalat 77:24 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-mursalat/verse-24 **Arabic:** وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ **Transcription:** Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen Woe, that day, to the deniers! ### Al-Mursalat 77:28 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-mursalat/verse-28 **Arabic:** وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ **Transcription:** Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen Woe, that day, to the deniers! ### Al-Mursalat 77:34 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-mursalat/verse-34 **Arabic:** وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ **Transcription:** Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen Woe, that day, to the deniers! ### Al-Mursalat 77:37 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-mursalat/verse-37 **Arabic:** وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ **Transcription:** Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen Woe, that day, to the deniers! ### Al-Mursalat 77:40 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-mursalat/verse-40 **Arabic:** وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ۟ **Transcription:** Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen Woe, that day, to the deniers! ### Al-Mursalat 77:45 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-mursalat/verse-45 **Arabic:** وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ **Transcription:** Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen Woe, that day, to the deniers! ### Al-Mursalat 77:47 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-mursalat/verse-47 **Arabic:** وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ **Transcription:** Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen Woe, that day, to the deniers! ### Al-Mursalat 77:49 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-mursalat/verse-49 **Arabic:** وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَ **Transcription:** Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen Woe, that day, to the deniers! ### Al-Mutaffifin 83:1 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-mutaffifin/verse-1 **Arabic:** وَيْلٌ لِلْمُطَفِّف۪ينَۙ **Transcription:** Waylun lilmutaffifeen Woe to the unfair traders: — ### Al-Mutaffifin 83:10 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-mutaffifin/verse-10 **Arabic:** وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّب۪ينَۙ **Transcription:** Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen Woe, that day, to the deniers, ### Al-Humazah 104:1 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-humazah/verse-1 **Arabic:** وَيْلٌ لِكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُمَزَةٍۨۙ **Transcription:** Waylun likulli humazatin lumaza Woe to every slanderer, fault-finder, ### Al-Ma'un 107:4 - **Source:** https://quran.so/surah-al-maun/verse-4 **Arabic:** فَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُصَلّ۪ينَۙ **Transcription:** Fawaylun lilmusalleen Then woe to the performers of duty: — --- Retrieved: 2026-10-13 Quran.so — https://quran.so — CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — When quoting, name the translator.