WHEN THAT which must come to pass [at last] comes to pass,

there will be nought that could give the lie to its having come to pass,

abasing [some], exalting [others]!

When the earth is shaken with a shaking [severe],

and the mountains are shattered into [countless] shards,

so that they become as scat­tered dust –

[on that Day,] then, shall you be [divided into] three kinds.

Thus, there shall be such as will have attained to what is right: oh, how [happy] will be they who have attained to what is right!

And there shall be such as will have lost them­selves in evil: oh, how [unhappy] will be they who have lost themselves in evil!

But the foremost shall be [they who in life were] the foremost [in faith and good works]:

they who were [always] drawn close unto God!

In gardens of bliss [will they dwell] -

a good many of those of olden times,

but [only] a few of later times.

[They will be seated] on gold-encrusted thrones of happiness,

reclining upon them, facing one another [in love].

Immortal youths will wait upon them

with goblets, and ewers, and cups filled with water from unsullied springs

by which their minds will not be clouded and which will not make them drunk;

and with fruit of any kind that they may choose,

and with the flesh of any fowl that they may desire.

And [with them will be their] companions pure, most beautiful of eye,

like unto pearls [still] hidden in their shells.

[And this will be] a reward for what they did [in life].

No empty talk will they hear there, nor any call to sin,

but only the tiding of inner soundness and peace.

NOW AS FOR those who have attained to righteous­ness - what of those who have attained to righteous­ness?

[They, too, will find themselves] amidst fruit- laden lote-trees,

and acacias flower-clad,

and shade extended,

and waters gushing,

and fruit abounding,

never-failing and never out of reach.

And [with them will be their] spouses, raised high:

for, behold, We shall have brought them into being in a life renewed,

having resurrected them as virgins,

full of love, well-matched

with those who have attained to righteousness:

a good many of olden times,

and a good many of later times.

BUT AS FOR those who have persevered in evil - what of those who have persevered in evil?

[They will find themselves] in the midst of scorching winds, and burning despair,

and the shadows of black smoke -

[shadows] neither cooling nor soothing.

For, behold, in times gone by they were wont to abandon themselves wholly to the pursuit of pleasures,

and would persist in heinous sinning,

and would say, “What! After we have died and become mere dust and bones, shall we, forsooth, be raised from the dead? -

and perhaps, too, our forebears of old?”

Say: “Verily, those of olden times and those of later times

will indeed be gathered together at an appointed time on a Day known [only to God]:

and then, verily, O you who have gone astray and called the truth a lie,

you will indeed have to taste of the tree of deadly fruit,

and will have to fill your bellies therewith,

and will thereupon have to drink [many a draught] of burning despair -

drink it as the most insatiably thirsty camels drink!”

Such will be their welcome on Judgment Day!

WE who have created you, [O men:] why, then, do you not accept the truth?

Have you ever considered that [seed] which you emit?

Is it you who create it - or are We the source of its creation?

We have [indeed] decreed that death shall be [ever-present] among you: but there is nothing to prevent Us

from changing the nature of your existence and bringing you into being [anew] in a manner [as yet] unknown to you.

And [since] you are indeed aware of the [miracle of your] coming into being in the first instance - why, then, do you not bethink yourselves [of Us]?

Have you ever considered the seed which you cast upon the soil?

Is it you who cause it to grow - or are We the cause of its growth?

[For,] were it Our will, We could indeed turn it into chaff, and you would be left to wonder [and to lament],

“Verily, we are ruined!

Nay, but we have been deprived [of our livelihood]!”

Have you ever considered the water which you drink?

Is it you who cause it to come down from the clouds - or are We the cause of its coming down?

[It comes down sweet - but] were it Our will, We could make it burningly salty and bitter: why, then, do you not give thanks [unto Us]?

Have you ever considered the fire which you kindle?

Is it you who have brought into being the tree that serves as its fuel - or are We the cause of its coming into being?

It is We who have made it a means to remind [you of Us], and a comfort for all who are lost and hungry in the wilderness [of their lives].

Extol, then, the limitless glory of thy Sus­tainer’s mighty name!

NAY, I call to witness the coming-down in parts [of this Qur’an]

and, behold, this is indeed a most solemn affirmation, if you but knew it!

Behold, it is a truly noble discourse,

[conveyed unto man] in a well-guarded divine writ

which none but the pure [of heart] can touch:

a revelation from the Sustainer of all the worlds!

Would you, now, look down with disdain on a tiding like this,

and make it your daily bread [as it were] to call the truth a lie?

Why, then, when [the last breath] comes up to the throat [of a dying man],

the while you are [helplessly] looking on -

and while We are closer to him than you, although you see [Us] not -:

why, then, if [you think that] you are not truly dependent [on Us],

can you not cause that [ebbing life] to return - if what you claim is true?

[ALL OF YOU are destined to die.] Now if one happens to be of those who are drawn close unto God,

happiness [awaits him in the life to come], and inner fulfillment, and a garden of bliss.

And if one happens to be of those who have attained to righteousness,

[he, too, will be wel­comed into paradise with the words,] “Peace be unto thee [that art] of those who have attained to right­eousness!”

But if one happens to be of those who are wont to call the truth a lie, and [thus] go astray,

a welcome of burning despair [awaits him in the life to come,]

and the heat of a blazing fire!

Verily, this is indeed the truth of truths!

Extol, then, the limitless glory of thy Sus­tainer’s mighty name!