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 awa
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 Lor
in the Gardens of Delight
a whole multitude from ages past
and but a few from the latter ages
They shall recline on jewelled couche
face to face
and there shall wait on them immortal youth
with bowls and ewers and a cup of purest win
(that will neither pain their heads nor take away their reason)
with fruits of their own choice
and flesh of fowls that they relish
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
--(translation missing in source)-
amidst gushing water
and abundant fruits
never-ending, unforbidden
--(translation missing in source)-
We created the houri
and made them virgins
loving companion
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 U
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 star
(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
--(translation missing in source)-
(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