English - Chapter 56 - Al-Waqiah

WHEN THAT which is coming comes ―

and no soul shall then deny its coming ―

some shall be abased and others exalted

When the earth shakes and quivers

and the mountains crumble away

and scatter abroad into fine dust

you shall be divided into three multitudes

those on the right (blessed shall be those on the right)

those on the left (damned shall be those on the left)

and those to the fore (foremost shall be those)

Such are they that shall be brought near to their Lord

in the Gardens of Delight

a whole multitude from ages past

and but a few from the latter ages

They shall recline on jewelled couches

face to face

and there shall wait on them immortal youths

with bowls and ewers and a cup of purest wine

that will neither pain their heads nor take away their reason

with fruits of their own choice

And theirs shall be the dark-eyed houris

chaste as virgin pearls

a guerdon for what they did

There they shall hear no idle talk, no sinful speech

but only the greeting, ‘Peace! Peace!‘

Those on the right hand ― happy shall be those on the right hand

They shall recline on couches raised on high in the shade of thornless sidrs

and clusters of talh;¹

And shade extended

amidst gushing waters

and abundant fruits

never-ending, unforbidden

And [upon] beds raised high

We created the houris

and made them virgins

loving companions

for those on the right hand

a multitude from ages past

and a multitude from the latter ages

As for those on the left hand (wretched shall be those on the left hand)

they shall dwell amidst scorching winds and seething water

in the shade of pitch-black smoke

neither cool nor refreshing

For they have lived in comfort

and persisted in the heinous sin², saying

What! When we are dead and turned to dust and bones, shall we be raised to life

And our forefathers, too?‘

Say: ‘Those from ages past, and those from latter ages

shall be brought together at the time of on an appointed day

Then as for you who err and disbelieve

you shall eat from the Zaqqūm tree

and fill your bellies with it‘s fruit

You shall drink scalding water

yet you shall drink it as the thirsty camel drinks.‘

Such shall be their fare on the Day of Reckoning

We created you: why then will you not believe

Behold the semen you discharge

did you create it, or were We it‘s Creators

It was We that ordained death among you. Nothing can hinder Us

from replacing you by others like yourselves or transforming you into beings you know nothing of

You surely know of the First Creation. Why, then, do you not reflect

Consider the earth you till

Is it you that sow the seeds, or are We the Sower

If We pleased, We could turn your harvest into chaff, so that you would keep forlornly jesting

We are laden with debts

Why, we have been robbed!‘

Consider the water which you drink

Was it you that sent it down from the cloud, or were We the Senders

If We pleased, We could turn it bitter. Why, then, do you not give thanks

Consider the fire which you light

Was it you that made the timber, or were We the Makers

A reminder for man We made it, and for the traveller a comfort

Praise, then, the name of your Lord, the Supreme One

I swear by the shelter of the stars

a mighty oath, if you but knew it

that this is a holy Koran

safeguarded in a Book

which none may touch except the purified

a revelation sent down from the Lord of the Universe

Would you scorn a Scripture such as this

and earn your daily bread denying it

When under your very eyes a dying man‘s soul leaps up to his throat

And you are at that time looking on

We are nearer to him than you, although you cannot see

why do you not restore it, if you are not to be judged hereafter

If what you say be true

Thus, if he is favoured

his lot will be repose and plenty, and a Garden of Delight

If he is one of those on the right hand

he will be greeted with, ‘Peace be with you!‘ by those on the right hand

But if he is an erring disbeliever

his welcome shall be a downpour of scalding water

and incineration in a hell

This is surely the veritable Truth

Praise, then, the name of your Lord, the Supreme One