The Event

The Event
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

[56 : 1]
When the event befalleth -

[56 : 2]
There is no denying that it will befall -

[56 : 3]
Abasing (some), exalting (others);

[56 : 4]
When the earth is shaken with a shock

[56 : 5]
And the hills are ground to powder

[56 : 6]
So that they become a scattered dust,

[56 : 7]
And ye will be three kinds:

[56 : 8]
(First) those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand ?

[56 : 9]
And (then) those on the left hand; what of those on the left hand ?

[56 : 10]
And the foremost in the race, the foremost in the race:

[56 : 11]
Those are they who will be brought nigh

[56 : 12]
In gardens of delight;

[56 : 13]
A multitude of those of old

[56 : 14]
And a few of those of later time.

[56 : 15]
On lined couches,

[56 : 16]
Reclining therein face to face.

[56 : 17]
There wait on them immortal youths

[56 : 18]
With bowls and ewers and a cup from a pure spring

[56 : 19]
Wherefrom they get no aching of the head nor any madness,

[56 : 20]
And fruit that they prefer

[56 : 21]
And flesh of fowls that they desire.

[56 : 22]
And (there are) fair ones with wide, lovely eyes,

[56 : 23]
Like unto hidden pearls,

[56 : 24]
Reward for what they used to do.

[56 : 25]
There hear they no vain speaking nor recrimination

[56 : 26]
(Naught) but the saying: Peace, (and again) Peace.

[56 : 27]
And those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand ?

[56 : 28]
Among thornless lote-trees

[56 : 29]
And clustered plantains,

[56 : 30]
And spreading shade,

[56 : 31]
And water gushing,

[56 : 32]
And fruit in plenty

[56 : 33]
Neither out of reach nor yet forbidden,

[56 : 34]
And raised couches;

[56 : 35]
Lo! We have created them a (new) creation

[56 : 36]
And made them virgins,

[56 : 37]
Lovers, friends,

[56 : 38]
For those on the right hand;

[56 : 39]
A multitude of those of old

[56 : 40]
And a multitude of those of later time.

[56 : 41]
And those on the left hand: What of those on the left hand ?

[56 : 42]
In scorching wind and scalding water

[56 : 43]
And shadow of black smoke,

[56 : 44]
Neither cool nor refreshing.

[56 : 45]
Lo! heretofore they were effete with luxury

[56 : 46]
And used to persist in the awful sin.

[56 : 47]
And they used to say: When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised again,

[56 : 48]
And also our forefathers ?

[56 : 49]
Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Lo! those of old and those of later time

[56 : 50]
Will all be brought together to the tryst of an appointed day.

[56 : 51]
Then lo! ye, the erring, the deniers,

[56 : 52]
Ye verily will eat of a tree called Zaqqum

[56 : 53]
And will fill your bellies therewith;

[56 : 54]
And thereon ye will drink of boiling water,

[56 : 55]
Drinking even as the camel drinketh.

[56 : 56]
This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgment.

[56 : 57]
We created you. Will ye then admit the truth ?

[56 : 58]
Have ye seen that which ye emit ?

[56 : 59]
Do ye create it or are We the Creator ?

[56 : 60]
We mete out death among you, and We are not to be outrun,

[56 : 61]
That We may transfigure you and make you what ye know not.

[56 : 62]
And verily ye know the first creation. Why, then, do ye not reflect ?

[56 : 63]
Have ye seen that which ye cultivate ?

[56 : 64]
Is it ye who foster it, or are We the Fosterer ?

[56 : 65]
If We willed, We verily could make it chaff, then would ye cease not to exclaim:

[56 : 66]
Lo! we are laden with debt!

[56 : 67]
Nay, but we are deprived!

[56 : 68]
Have ye observed the water which ye drink ?

[56 : 69]
Is it ye who shed it from the raincloud, or are We the Shedder ?

[56 : 70]
If We willed We verily could make it bitter. Why then, give ye not thanks ?

[56 : 71]
Have ye observed the fire which ye strike out;

[56 : 72]
Was it ye who made the tree thereof to grow, or were We the grower ?

[56 : 73]
We, even We, appointed it a memorial and a comfort for the dwellers in the wilderness.

[56 : 74]
Therefor (O Muhammad), praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.

[56 : 75]
Nay, I swear by the places of the stars -

[56 : 76]
And lo! that verily is a tremendous oath, if ye but knew -

[56 : 77]
That (this) is indeed a noble Qur’an

[56 : 78]
In a Book kept hidden

[56 : 79]
Which none toucheth save the purified,

[56 : 80]
A revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.

[56 : 81]
Is it this Statement that ye scorn,

[56 : 82]
And make denial thereof your livelihood ?

[56 : 83]
Why, then, when (the soul) cometh up to the throat (of the dying)

[56 : 84]
And ye are at that moment looking

[56 : 85]
- And We are nearer unto him than ye are, but ye see not -

[56 : 86]
Why then, if ye are not in bondage (unto Us),

[56 : 87]
Do ye not force it back, if ye are truthful ?

[56 : 88]
Thus if he is of those brought nigh,

[56 : 89]
Then breath of life, and plenty, and a Garden of delight.

[56 : 90]
And if he is of those on the right hand,

[56 : 91]
Then (the greeting) "Peace be unto thee" from those on the right hand.

[56 : 92]
But if he is of the rejecters, the erring,

[56 : 93]
Then the welcome will be boiling water

[56 : 94]
And roasting at hell-fire.

[56 : 95]
Lo! this is certain truth.

[56 : 96]
Therefor Therefor (O Muhammad) praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.