56

56. Al-Waqi'ah - The Event

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