Surah “The Event, The Inevitable, That Which is Coming”

as rendered by Ahmed Ali — 96 verses

56:1
WHEN WHAT IS to happen comes to pass -
56:2
Which is bound to happen undoubtedly -
56:3
Degrading (some) and exalting (others)
56:4
When the earth is shaken up convulsively
56:5
The mountains bruised and crushed
56:6
Turned to dust, floating in the air
56:7
You will become three categories
56:8
Those of the right hand -- how (happy) will be those of the right hand
56:9
Then those of the left hand -- how (unhappy) will be those of the left hand
56:10
Then the foremost, how pre-excellent
56:11
Who will be honoure
56:12
In gardens of tranquility
56:13
A number of the earlier peoples
56:14
And a few of later ages
56:15
On couches wrought of gold
56:16
Reclining face to face
56:17
Youths of never-ending bloom will pass round to the
56:18
Cups and decanters, beakers full of sparkling wine
56:19
Unheady, uninebriating
56:20
And such fruits as they fancy
56:21
Bird meats that they relish
56:22
And companions with big beautiful eye
56:23
Like pearls within their shells
56:24
As recompense for all they had done
56:25
They will hear no nonsense there or talk of sin
56:26
Other than "Peace, peace" the salutation
56:27
As for those of the right hand -- how (happy) those of the right hand -
56:28
They will be in (the shade) of thornless lot
56:29
And acacia covered with heaps of bloom
56:30
Lengthened shadows
56:31
Gushing water
56:32
And fruits numberless
56:33
Unending, unforbidden
56:34
And maidens incomparable
56:35
We have formed them in a distinctive fashion
56:36
And made them virginal
56:37
Loving companions matched in age
56:38
For those of the right hand
56:39
A crowd of earlier generation
56:40
And a crowd of the later
56:41
But those of the left hand -- how (unhappy) those of the left hand -
56:42
Will be in the scorching wind and boiling water
56:43
Under the shadow of thick black smoke
56:44
Neither cool nor agreeable
56:45
They were endowed with good thing
56:46
But persisted in that greater sin
56:47
And said: "What! When we are dead and turned to dust and bones, shall we then be raised again
56:48
And so will our fathers?"
56:49
Say: "Indeed, the earlier and the later generation
56:50
Will be gathered together on a certain day which is predetermined
56:51
Then you, the erring and the deniers
56:52
Will eat of the tree of Zaqqum
56:53
Fill your bellies with it
56:54
And drink over it scalding water
56:55
Lapping it up like female camels raging of thirst with disease."
56:56
Such will be their welcome on the Day of Judgement
56:57
It is He who created you, then why do you not affirm the truth
56:58
Just consider (the semen) that you emit
56:59
Do you create it, or We are its creator
56:60
We have incorporated death in your constitution, and We shall not be hindere
56:61
From replacing you with others or raising you in a way you do not know
56:62
You have known the first creation, then why do you not reflect
56:63
Just ponder over what you sow
56:64
Do you give it its increase, or are We the giver
56:65
We could turn it, if We pleased, into straw; then you would rue the day
56:66
(And say:) "We have fallen into debt
56:67
Indeed, we have been deprived of the fruits of our labour."
56:68
Consider the water that you drink
56:69
Do you send it down from the clouds, or We send it down
56:70
We could make it brackish, if We pleased; so why do you not acknowledge thanks
56:71
Consider the fire that you strike (and get by friction)
56:72
Have you raised its tree, or We have raised it
56:73
We have made it as a reminder and convenience for the needy
56:74
So glorify your Lord, the most supreme
56:75
So I call the placement of the stars to witness -
56:76
And this surely is great evidence if you can understand -
56:77
That this is indeed the glorious Qur'an
56:78
(Inscribed) in the well-kept Book
56:79
Only they can reach it who are clean (of mind)
56:80
It has been revealed by the Lord of all the worlds
56:81
Then why do you dissimulate this Revelation
56:82
You live by calling it a lie
56:83
Then how is it that when the (dying) breath is withdrawn into the throat (and rattles)
56:84
And you wait for the moment (of death)
56:85
We are closer to him than you, even though you cannot see
56:86
Then why, if you are not indebted (to Us for life)
56:87
Can you not bring him back? (Answer) if you are truthfu
56:88
Then, if he is one of the honoured
56:89
There will be peace and plenty, and gardens of tranquility for him
56:90
If he is of those of the right hand
56:91
There will be the salutation by those of the right hand: "Peace on you
56:92
But if he is of the deniers and the errants
56:93
The welcome will be boiling water
56:94
And the roasting in Hell
56:95
This is indeed the ultimate truth
56:96
Then praise your Lord, the most supreme