56al-Wāqi‘ahThe Inevitableسُورَةُ الواقعة

When the inevitable [resurrection] takes place,

There can be no denial of its occurrence;

It degrades [some], it elevates [others]!

When the earth relentlessly oscillates,

And the mountains are smashed to smithereens,

Thus turning into scattered powder —

[At that time], then, you [people] will turn out to be of three types.

Accordingly, there will be those who belong to felicity: and would you know how honorable those who belong to felicity are!

And there will be those who belong to despondency: and would you know how dishonorable those who belong to despondency are!

And [then there are] the first and foremost [the prototypes and the paradigms]:

They are the ones to be brought closer [to Allah’s attendance]!

In gardens of bliss [they will be situated] —

A host of those hailing from earlier generations,

And only some [of them in close proximity to Allah] hailing from latter generations.

[At times you will find them resting] on elaborately decorated furniture,

Reclining upon them in adjacent positions.

Immortal youths will make their rounds [to serve them]

With large cups, and jugs, and chalices of [non-inebriating] wine —

[Cocktails that] will cause them no headaches [or aftereffects] and no drunkenness —

And with fruits of their choice,

And with the meat of any fowl they may desire.

And [therein will be situated] the [sex appeal of the] most instantaneous mystifying attraction,

Reminiscent of out-of-sight pearls.

[All of that will be their] reward for [the goodness of their] deeds [while they were alive on earth].

They will not hear [in Paradise] empty talk or corrupt conversations —

Only the expressions of peace and tranquilty.

Now, as for those who attain to the status of eminence — how will those who attain to the status of eminence [fare]?

[They will be situated] amidst leafy, lush, and luxuriant trees,

And large-leaved tropical plants loaded with creamy colored fruit, soft of flesh,

And shade extended;

And waters flowing,

And fruit proliferating —

Never unavailable [out of season] and never prohibited.

And [there, they will have] lofty sleeping levels:

Indeed, We launched them purposefully [for accommodating]

That which We engendered as virginal intimacy —

Rekindled [and recharged] love, reciprocally swapped

For those who attain to the status of eminence.

[They come from] a host of earlier generations,

And a host from later generations.

And as for the people in desperation — how will the people in desperation [fare]?

[They will be situated] in a climate of blistering winds and scalding water,

And a shadow of pall of smoke —

[A shadow] neither cooling nor calming.

Indeed, they were in times past [back in their worldly lives] abundantly affluent,

And they would persist in the atrocious betrayal [of Allah as life’s ultimate and trusted superior],

And they used to say, “What! After we have died and become [negligible] dirt and [faded] bones, shall we, for real, come back as living beings?

And will our forefathers [also come back to life]?”

Say [to them, O Muhammad], “Of course, the earliest generations and the latest generations

“Will indeed be gathered together according to a schedule on a [divinely] programmed Day:

“And then, verily, O you deviant thoroughgoing gainsayers,

“You will surely have to eat from a tree bearing bitter and deadly fruit,

“And will fill your bellies therewith,

“And will thereupon be chasing [your food down with] boiling water —

“Drinking as the most unquenchable thirst camels drink [as they drink themselves to death]!”

Such will be their reception on Judgement Day!

We it is who created you, [O living beings]: if only you would consider [and confirm] this fact!

Have you ever examined what you ejaculate [of sperm]?

Is it you who create it? Or are We the creators [of all the functionality that creation demands]?

We gaged the dynamic of death occurring among you: and We cannot be superseded [by anyone]

When it comes to interchanging you [with others] and re-originating you into dimensions unknown to you.

And, indeed, you have knowledge of your first origination [into life] — if only you could gain an awareness [of these meanings].

Have you not scrutinized your crop raising and harvesting?

Is it you who do the planting [of crops thinking that you alone are responsible for the whole agricultural process of growth]? Or are We the planters [who make that process work]?

If it was Our will, We could have turned it [your agriculture] into debris, and [then] you would continue to complain about your miscalculations, [lamenting and saying],

“Verily, we are ruined!

“Rather, we have been deprived [of the fruits of our labor and the produce of our calculations]!”

Have you not considered the water that you drink?

Is it you who bring it down from the clouds? Or is it We who bring it down?

[The rain comes down basic, but] had We willed it We could have rendered it severely acidic — if only you could be thankful [to Us for this life-giving blessing].

Have you considered the fire that you kindle?

Is it you who devised its [combustible] tree? Or is it We who did so?

We rendered it [the kindled fire] a prompt of consciousness [to remind you of Us] and a source of comfort for the energy deficient.

Extol, then, the name of your impressive Sustainer!

No! I affirm the revelation [of the āyāt of the Qur’an] by increments —

And, indeed, it is an affirmation of great significance, if only you knew!

Behold, it is, indeed, a noble [Qur’anic] discourse,

[Preserved] in a well-guarded divine writ,

Which none but the pure [of heart] can be touched by:

A pervading revelation from the Sustainer of all the worlds!

Is it, then, concerning this [Qur’anic] conversation that you are frivolous about,

And that you make a livelihood out of your lies [about it]?

Oh! But for the fact that [the time will come when a dying person’s] last breath moves out of his throat,

And you at that moment are [helplessly] watching [death unfold] —

The while We are closer to him [the dying person] than you are but you cannot perceive it as such —

If [you think] you are not dependent upon Us,

Can you bring it [departing soul] back to life — if what you claim is true?

[Everyone will go through this dying experience, and so] if he [the dying person] is of those [allocated] close proximity to Us,

Then [he shall have] spiritual serenity and corporal comfort and a paradise of bliss.

And if he is from those belonging to the status of eminence,

Then [he will hear it said in Paradise], “Upon you be peace that has its place among those belonging to the status of eminence.”

But if he happens to be from among the deviant contrarians [to Allah],

His reception shall be of boiling fluids,

And the roasting of an inferno!

Verily, this is in fact the most certain truth!

Extol, then, the name of your impressive Sustainer.