79al-Nāzi‘ātThe (Angelic) Extractorsسُورَةُ النازعات

[I, the Almighty, assert] by the [angelic] extractors [who take away lives] with the last gasp,

And by those [angelic forces] vigorously energized [in their task],

And by those [malā’ikah appearing] to float by [on course],

And by those [spiritual beings] who race past [the deceased] swiftly,

And by those [cherubim] who tend to [such] matters:

[In a matter of no time] there will come a Day when existence throbs [and trembles with convulsive movements],

[To be] followed by an aftershock.

[People’s] hearts on that Day will be pounding,

Their vision meek…

[And yet] they will say, “Are we to be returned to life [as we knew it] —

“Even though we had become [nothing but] bleached bones?!”

They will [further] say, “But that would be a sequel of loss.”

[But] then, indeed, that [Final Day] will take [them by surprise, as if it was] one loud and alarming rebuke —

And then, behold, they will become aroused [to the truth they had denied]!

Has the narrative of Mūsā come your way?

When his Sustainer called upon him in the holy valley of Ṭuwā?1

[Saying to him], “Go to Pharaoh — for he has concentrated and abused power —

“And say [O Mūsā to him], ‘Would you not want to be elevated in a moral sense?

“‘I am willing and capable of guiding you to your Sustainer for whom you will stand in awe.’”

And [thereupon], he [Mūsā] showed him [Pharaoh] the manifestation of supreme power and authority.

But he [Pharaoh] controverted [Mūsā] and counteracted [God],

And then [subsequently] turned his back [on Mūsā] and maneuvered;

And then, he called an assembly and went public,

Saying, “I am your supreme sustaining authority.”

Consequently, Allah ended his life with the punishment due to him in final life and in initial life.

In that there is a moral lesson for he who stands in awe [of Allah’s power and authority].

Is your [human] creativity more stunning? Or the galaxy [that] He created?

He raised its density thus bringing it [the galaxy] into harmony;

He bedimmed its night and [He] put on view its daylight.

And after that, the earth He molded into a sphere;

Out of it [the earth] He brought forth its water and its grassland,

And the mountains He firmly anchored [upon it]:

[All this is] a convenience for you and your livestock.

And so [it is] when the grand overwhelming event [of resurrection] comes to pass:

That is the Day when the social being will recall his [past worldly] endeavor(s),

And the flaming inferno shall be brought forth to be beheld [by all and sundry].

And thus, as for he who had amassed and abused power [in worldly life],

And valued [what was] immediate worldly life,

Then the flaming inferno will be the dwelling place.

But, as for he who was in awe of his Sustainer’s status the while disallowing his self’s lusts,

Then the garden [of bliss] is the dwelling place.

They ask you [O Muhammad] about the [Final] Hour [of life on earth], “When shall it [finally] cast anchor?”

How could you know [besides being immersed in a consciousness of it],

[Seeing that] with your Sustainer [alone] shall be its finale?

Certainly, you are only to warn all who stand in awe of it.

[And] when they finally behold it [the Final Hour], it will appear as if they had only stayed [in life] for one evening and its [following] daytime.