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56: The Event, the inevitable

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When the Event inevitable cometh to pass,

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Then will no (soul) entertain falsehood concerning its coming.

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(Many) will it bring low; (many) will it exalt;

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When the earth shall be shaken to its depths,

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And the mountains shall be crumbled to atoms,

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Becoming dust scattered abroad,

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And ye shall be sorted out into three classes.

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Then (there will be) the Companions of the Right Hand;- What will be the Companions of the Right Hand?

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And the Companions of the Left Hand,- what will be the Companions of the Left Hand?

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And those Foremost (in Faith) will be Foremost (in the Hereafter).

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These will be those Nearest to God:

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In Gardens of Bliss:

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A number of people from those of old,

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And a few from those of later times.

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(They will be) on Thrones encrusted (with gold and precious stones),

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Reclining on them, facing each other.

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Round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness),

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With goblets, (shining) beakers, and cups (filled) out of clear-flowing fountains:

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No after-ache will they receive therefrom, nor will they suffer intoxication:

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And with fruits, any that they may select:

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And the flesh of fowls, any that they may desire.

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And (there will be) Companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes,-

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Like unto Pearls well-guarded.

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A Reward for the deeds of their past (life).

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Not frivolity will they hear therein, nor any taint of ill,-

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Only the saying, "Peace! Peace".

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The Companions of the Right Hand,- what will be the Companions of the Right Hand?

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(They will be) among Lote-trees without thorns,

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Among Talh trees with flowers (or fruits) piled one above another,-

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In shade long-extended,

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By water flowing constantly,

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And fruit in abundance.

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Whose season is not limited, nor (supply) forbidden,

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And on Thrones (of Dignity), raised high.

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We have created (their Companions) of special creation.

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And made them virgin - pure (and undefiled), -

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Beloved (by nature), equal in age,-

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For the Companions of the Right Hand.

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A (goodly) number from those of old,

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And a (goodly) number from those of later times.

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The Companions of the Left Hand,- what will be the Companions of the Left Hand?

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(They will be) in the midst of a Fierce Blast of Fire and in Boiling Water,

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And in the shades of Black Smoke:

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Nothing (will there be) to refresh, nor to please:

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For that they were wont to be indulged, before that, in wealth (and luxury),

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And persisted obstinately in wickedness supreme!

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And they used to say, "What! when we die and become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be raised up again?-

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"(We) and our fathers of old?"

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Say: "Yea, those of old and those of later times,

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"All will certainly be gathered together for the meeting appointed for a Day well-known.

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"Then will ye truly,- O ye that go wrong, and treat (Truth) as Falsehood!-

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"Ye will surely taste of the Tree of Zaqqum.

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"Then will ye fill your insides therewith,

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"And drink Boiling Water on top of it:

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"Indeed ye shall drink like diseased camels raging with thirst!"

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Such will be their entertainment on the Day of Requital!

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It is We Who have created you: why will ye not witness the Truth?

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Do ye then see?- The (human Seed) that ye throw out,-

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Is it ye who create it, or are We the Creators?

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We have decreed Death to be your common lot, and We are not to be frustrated

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from changing your Forms and creating you (again) in (forms) that ye know not.

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And ye certainly know already the first form of creation: why then do ye not celebrate His praises?

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See ye the seed that ye sow in the ground?

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Is it ye that cause it to grow, or are We the Cause?

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Were it Our Will, We could crumble it to dry powder, and ye would be left in wonderment,

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(Saying), "We are indeed left with debts (for nothing):

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"Indeed are we shut out (of the fruits of our labour)"

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See ye the water which ye drink?

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Do ye bring it down (in rain) from the cloud or do We?

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Were it Our Will, We could make it salt (and unpalatable): then why do ye not give thanks?

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See ye the Fire which ye kindle?

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Is it ye who grow the tree which feeds the fire, or do We grow it?

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We have made it a memorial (of Our handiwork), and an article of comfort and convenience for the denizens of deserts.

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Then celebrate with praises the name of thy Lord, the Supreme!

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Furthermore I call to witness the setting of the Stars,-

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And that is indeed a mighty adjuration if ye but knew,-

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That this is indeed a qur'an Most Honourable,

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In Book well-guarded,

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Which none shall touch but those who are clean:

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A Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.

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Is it such a Message that ye would hold in light esteem?

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And have ye made it your livelihood that ye should declare it false?

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Then why do ye not (intervene) when (the soul of the dying man) reaches the throat,-

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And ye the while (sit) looking on,-

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But We are nearer to him than ye, and yet see not,-

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Then why do ye not,- If you are exempt from (future) account,-

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Call back the soul, if ye are true (in the claim of independence)?

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Thus, then, if he be of those Nearest to God,

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(There is for him) Rest and Satisfaction, and a Garden of Delights.

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And if he be of the Companions of the Right Hand,

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(For him is the salutation), "Peace be unto thee", from the Companions of the Right Hand.

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And if he be of those who treat (Truth) as Falsehood, who go wrong,

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For him is Entertainment with Boiling Water.

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And burning in Hell-Fire.

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Verily, this is the Very Truth and Certainly.

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So celebrate with praises the name of thy Lord, the Supreme.


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