English - Chapter 56 - Al-Waqiah

When the inevitable happens

none shall call its happening a lie

abasing - exalting

When the earth shall quake, quaking

and the mountains shall crumble, crumbling

and become like motes dispersed

And ye shall be three sorts

And the fellows of the right hand - what right lucky fellows

And the fellows of the left hand - what unlucky fellows

And the foremost foremost

These are they who are brought nigh

In gardens of pleasure

A crowd of those of yore

And a few of those of the latter day

And gold-weft couches

reclining on them face to face

Around them shall go eternal youths

with goblets and ewers and a cup of flowing wine

no headache shall they feel therefrom, nor shall their wits be dimmed

And fruits such as they deem the best

And flesh of fowl as they desire

And bright and large-eyed maids

like hidden pearls

A reward for that which they have done

They shall hear no folly there and no sin

Only the speech, 'Peace, Peace

And the fellows of the right - what right lucky fellows

Amid thornless lote trees

And tall trees with piles of fruit

And outspread shade

And water out-poured

And fruit in abundance

neither failing nor forbidden

And beds upraised

Verily, we have produced them a production

And made them virgins

darlings of equal age (with their spouses)

for the fellows of the right

A crowd of those of yore

and a crowd of those of the latter day

And the fellows of the left - what unlucky fellows

In hot blasts and boiling water

And a shade of pitchy smoke

Neither cool nor generous

Verily, they were affluent ere this

and did persist in mighty crime

and used to say, 'What, when we die and have become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be raised

or our fathers of yore

Say, 'Verily, those of yore and those of the latter day

shall surely be gathered together unto the tryst of the well-known day

Then ye, O ye who err! who say it is a lie

shall eat of the Zaqqum tree

and fill your bellies with it

and drink thereon of boiling water

and drink as drinks the thirsty camel

This is their entertainment on the judgment day

We created you, then why do ye not credit

Have ye considered what ye emit

Do we create it, or are we the creators

We have decreed amongst you death; but we are not forestalled

from making the likes of you in exchange, or producing you as ye know not of

Ye do know the first production - why then do ye not mind

Have ye considered what ye till

Do ye make it bear seed, or do we make it bear seed

If we pleased we could make it mere grit, so that ye would pause to marvel

Verily, we have got into debt

and we are excluded

Have ye considered the water which ye drink

Do ye make it come down from the clouds, or do we make it come down

If we pleased we could make it pungent - why then do ye not give thanks

Have ye considered the fire which ye strike

Do ye produce the tree that gives it, or do we produce it

We have made it a memorial and a chattel for the traveller of the waste

Then celebrate the grand name of thy Lord

So I will not swear by the positions of the stars

and, verily, it is a grand oath if ye did but know

that, verily, this is the honourable Qur'an

in the laid-up Book

Let none touch it but the purified

A revelation from the Lord of the worlds

What! this new discourse will ye despise

And make for your provision, that you call it a lie

Why then - when it comes up to the throat

and ye at that time look on

though we are nearer to him than you are, but ye cannot see

why, if ye are not to be judged

do ye not send it back, if ye do tell the truth

But either, if he be of those brought nigh to God

then rest and fragrance and the garden of pleasure

Or, if he be of the fellows of the right

then 'Peace to thee!' from the fellows of the right

Or, if he be of those who say it is a lie,- who err

then an entertainment of boiling water

and broiling in hell

Verily, this is surely certain truth

So celebrate the grand name of thy Lord