56
56. Al-Waqi'ah - The Event
| 1 | When the Terror descends |
| 2 | (and none denies its descending) |
| 3 | abasing, exalting, |
| 4 | when the earth shall be rocked |
| 5 | and the mountains crumbled |
| 6 | and become a dust, scattered, |
| 7 | and you shall be three bands -- |
| 8 | Companions of the Right (O Companions of the Right!) |
| 9 | Companions of the Left (O Companions of the Left!) |
| 10 | and the Outstrippers: the Outstrippers |
| 11 | those are they brought nigh the Throne, |
| 12 | in the Gardens of Delight |
| 13 | (a throng of the ancients |
| 14 | and how few of the later folk) |
| 15 | upon close-wrought couches |
| 16 | reclining upon them, set face to face, |
| 17 | immortal youths going round about them |
| 18 | with goblets, and ewers, and a cup from a spring |
| 19 | (no brows throbbing, no intoxication) |
| 20 | and such fruits as they shall choose, |
| 21 | and such flesh of fowl as they desire, |
| 22 | and wide-eyed houris |
| 23 | as the likeness of hidden pearls, |
| 24 | a recompense for that they laboured. |
| 25 | Therein they shall hear no idle talk, no cause of sin, |
| 26 | only the saying 'Peace, Peace!' |
| 27 | The Companions of the Right (O Companions of the Right!) |
| 28 | mid thornless lote-trees |
| 29 | and serried acacias, |
| 30 | and spreading shade |
| 31 | and outpoured waters, |
| 32 | and fruits abounding |
| 33 | unfailing, unforbidden, |
| 34 | and upraised couches. |
| 35 | Perfectly We formed them, perfect, |
| 36 | and We made them spotless virgins, |
| 37 | chastely amorous, |
| 38 | like of age for the Companions of the Right. |
| 39 | A throng of the ancients |
| 40 | and a throng of the later folk. |
| 41 | The Companions of the Left (O Companions of the Left!) |
| 42 | mid burning winds and boiling waters |
| 43 | and the shadow of a smoking blaze |
| 44 | neither cool, neither goodly; |
| 45 | and before that they lived at ease, |
| 46 | and persisted in the Great Sin, |
| 47 | ever saying, 'What, when we are dead and become dust and bones, shall we indeed be raised up? |
| 48 | What, and our fathers, the ancients?' |
| 49 | Say: 'The ancients, and the later folk |
| 50 | shall be gathered to the appointed time of a known day. |
| 51 | Then you erring ones, you that cried lies, |
| 52 | you shall eat of a tree called Zakkoum, |
| 53 | and you shall fill therewith your bellies |
| 54 | and drink on top of that boiling water |
| 55 | lapping it down like thirsty camels.' |
| 56 | This shall be their hospitality on the Day of Doom. |
| 57 | We created you; therefore why will you not believe? |
| 58 | Have you considered the seed you spill? |
| 59 | Do you yourselves create it, or are We the Creators? |
| 60 | We have decreed among you Death; We shall not be outstripped; |
| 61 | that We may exchange the likes of you, and make you to grow again in a fashion you know not. |
| 62 | You have known the first growth; so why will you not remember? |
| 63 | Have you considered the soil you till? |
| 64 | Do you yourselves sow it, or are We the Sowers? |
| 65 | Did We will, We would make it broken orts, and you would remain bitterly jesting -- |
| 66 | 'We are debt-loaded; |
| 67 | nay, we have been robbed!' |
| 68 | Have you considered the water you drink? |
| 69 | Did you send it down from the clouds, or did We send it? |
| 70 | Did We will, We would make it bitter; so why are you not thankful? |
| 71 | Have you considered the fire you kindle? |
| 72 | Did you make its timber to grow, or did We make it? |
| 73 | We Ourselves made it for a reminder, and a boon to the desert-dwellers. |
| 74 | Then magnify the Name of thy Lord, the All-mighty. |
| 75 | No! I swear by the fallings of the stars |
| 76 | (and that is indeed a mighty oath, did you but know it) |
| 77 | it is surely a noble Koran |
| 78 | in a hidden Book |
| 79 | none but the purified shall touch, |
| 80 | a sending down from the Lord of all Being. |
| 81 | What, do you hold this discourse in disdain, |
| 82 | and do you make it your living to cry lies? |
| 83 | Why, but when the soul leaps to the throat of the dying |
| 84 | and that hour you are watching |
| 85 | (And We are nigher him than you, but you do not see Us) |
| 86 | why, if you are not at Our disposal, |
| 87 | do you not bring back his soul, if you speak truly? |
| 88 | Then, if he be of those brought nigh the Throne, |
| 89 | there shall be repose and ease, and a Garden of Delight; |
| 90 | and if he be a Companion of the Right: |
| 91 | 'Peace be upon thee, Companion of the Right!' |
| 92 | But if he be of them that cried lies, and went astray, |
| 93 | there shall be a hospitality of boiling water |
| 94 | and the roasting in Hell. |
| 95 | Surely this is the truth of certainty. |
| 96 | Then magnify the Name of thy Lord, the All-mighty. |