💾 Archived View for scholasticdiversity.us.to › scriptures › islam › quran › en.asad › 76 captured on 2024-03-21 at 17:43:35. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
[1] HAS THERE [not] been an endless span of time before man [appeared - a time] when he was not yet a thing to be thought of?
[2] Verily, it is We who have created man out of a drop of sperm intermingled, so that We might try him [in his later life]: and therefore We made him a being endowed with hearing and sight.
[3] Verily, We have shown him the way: [and it rests with him to prove himself] either grateful or ungrateful.
[4] [Now,] behold, for those who deny the truth We have readied chains and shackles, and a blazing flame
[5] [whereas,] behold, the truly virtuous shall drink from a cup flavoured with the calyx of sweet-smelling flowers:
[6] a source [of bliss] whereof God's servants shall drink, seeing it flow in a flow abundant.
[7] [The truly virtuous are] they [who] fulfil their vows, and stand in awe of a Day the woe of which is bound to spread far and wide,
[8] and who give food - however great be their own want of it - unto the needy, and the orphan, and the captive,
[9] [saying, in their hearts,] "We feed you for the sake of God alone: we desire no recompense from you, nor thanks:
[10] behold, we stand in awe of our Sustainer's judgment on a distressful, fateful Day!"
[11] And so, God will preserve them from the woes of that Day, and will bestow on them brightness and joy,
[12] and will reward them for all their patience in adversity with a garden [of bliss] and with [garments of] silk.
[13] In that [garden] they will on couches recline, and will know therein neither [burning] sun nor cold severe,
[14] since its [blissful] shades will come down low over them, and low will hang down its clusters of fruit, most easy to reach.
[15] And they will be waited upon with vessels of silver and goblets that will [seem to] be crystal –
[16] crystal-like, [but] of silver - the measure whereof they alone will determine.
[17] And in that [paradise] they will be given to drink of a cup flavoured with ginger,
[18] [derived from] a source [to be found] therein, whose name is "Seek Thy Way".
[19] And immortal youths will wait upon them: when thou seest them, thou wouldst deem them to be scattered pearls;
[20] and when thou seest [anything that is] there thou wilt see [only] bliss and a realm transcendent
[21] Upon those [blest] will be garments of green silk and brocade; and they will be adorned with bracelets of silver. And their Sustainer will them to drink of a drink most pure.
[22] [And they will be told:] "Verily, all this is your reward since Your endeavour [in life] has met [God's] goodly acceptance!"
[23] VERILY, [O believer,] it is We who have bestowed from on high this Qur’an upon thee, step by step - truly a bestowal from on high!
[24] Await, then, in all patience thy Sustainer's judgment, and pay no heed to any of them, who is a wilful sinner or an ingrate;
[25] and bear in mind thy Sustainer's name at morn and evening
[26] and during some of the night, and prostrate thyself before Him, and extol His limitless glory throughout the long night.
[27] Behold, they [who are unmindful of God] love this fleeting life, and leave behind them [all thought of] a grief-laden Day.
[28] [They will not admit to themselves that] it We who have created them and strengthened their make - and [that] if it be Our will We can replace them entirely with others of their kind.
[29] VERILY, all this is an admonition: whoever, then, so wills, may unto his Sustainer find a way.
[30] But you cannot will it unless God wills [to show you that way]: for, behold, God is indeed all-seeing, wise.
[31] He admits unto His grace everyone who wills [to be admitted]; but as for the evildoers - for them has He readied grievous suffering [in the life to come].