English - Chapter 56 - Al-Waqiah

When the Terror descends

and none denies its descending

abasing, exalting

when the earth shall be rocked

and the mountains crumbled

and become a dust, scattered

and you shall be three bands

Companions of the Right (O Companions of the Right)

Companions of the Left (O Companions of the Left)

and the Outstrippers: the Outstrippers

those are they brought nigh the Throne

in the Gardens of Delight

a throng of the ancients

and how few of the later folk

upon close-wrought couches

reclining upon them, set face to face

immortal youths going round about them

with goblets, and ewers, and a cup from a spring

no brows throbbing, no intoxication

and such fruits as they shall choose

and such flesh of fowl as they desire

and wide-eyed houris

as the likeness of hidden pearls

a recompense for that they laboured

Therein they shall hear no idle talk, no cause of sin

only the saying 'Peace, Peace

The Companions of the Right (O Companions of the Right)

mid thornless lote-trees

and serried acacias

and spreading shade

and outpoured waters

and fruits abounding

unfailing, unforbidden

and upraised couches

Perfectly We formed them, perfect

and We made them spotless virgins

chastely amorous

like of age for the Companions of the Right

A throng of the ancients

and a throng of the later folk

The Companions of the Left (O Companions of the Left)

mid burning winds and boiling waters

and the shadow of a smoking blaze

neither cool, neither goodly

and before that they lived at ease

and persisted in the Great Sin

ever saying, 'What, when we are dead and become dust and bones, shall we indeed be raised up

What, and our fathers, the ancients

Say: 'The ancients, and the later folk

shall be gathered to the appointed time of a known day

Then you erring ones, you that cried lies

you shall eat of a tree called Zakkoum

and you shall fill therewith your bellies

and drink on top of that boiling water

lapping it down like thirsty camels

This shall be their hospitality on the Day of Doom

We created you; therefore why will you not believe

Have you considered the seed you spill

Do you yourselves create it, or are We the Creators

We have decreed among you Death; We shall not be outstripped

that We may exchange the likes of you, and make you to grow again in a fashion you know not

You have known the first growth; so why will you not remember

Have you considered the soil you till

Do you yourselves sow it, or are We the Sowers

Did We will, We would make it broken orts, and you would remain bitterly jesting

We are debt-loaded

nay, we have been robbed

Have you considered the water you drink

Did you send it down from the clouds, or did We send it

Did We will, We would make it bitter; so why are you not thankful

Did you make its timber to grow, or did We make it

We Ourselves made it for a reminder, and a boon to the desert-dwellers

Then magnify the Name of thy Lord, the All-mighty

No! I swear by the fallings of the stars

and that is indeed a mighty oath, did you but know it

it is surely a noble Koran

in a hidden Book

none but the purified shall touch

a sending down from the Lord of all Being

What, do you hold this discourse in disdain

and do you make it your living to cry lies

Why, but when the soul leaps to the throat of the dying

and that hour you are watching

And We are nigher him than you, but you do not see Us

why, if you are not at Our disposal

do you not bring back his soul, if you speak truly

Then, if he be of those brought nigh the Throne

there shall be repose and ease, and a Garden of Delight

and if he be a Companion of the Right

Peace be upon thee, Companion of the Right

But if he be of them that cried lies, and went astray

there shall be a hospitality of boiling water

and the roasting in Hell

Surely this is the truth of certainty

Then magnify the Name of thy Lord, the All-mighty