💾 Archived View for scholasticdiversity.us.to › scriptures › islam › quran › en.asad › 81 captured on 2024-03-21 at 17:43:49. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
[1] WHEN THE SUN is shrouded in darkness,
[2] and when the stars lose their light,
[3] and when the mountains are made to vanish,
[4] and when she-camels big with young, about to give birth, are left untended,
[5] and when all beasts are gathered together,
[6] and when the seas boil over,
[7] and when all human beings are coupled [with their deeds],
[8] and when the girl-child that was buried alive is made to ask
[9] for what crime she had been slain,
[10] and when the scrolls [of men's deeds] are unfolded,
[11] and when heaven is laid bare,
[12] and when the blazing fire [of hell] is kindled bright,
[13] and when paradise is brought into view:
[14] [on that Day] every human being will come to know what he has prepared [for himself].
[15] BUT NAY! I call to witness the revolving stars,
[16] the planets that run their course and set,
[17] and the night as it darkly falls,
[18] and the morn as it softly breathes:
[19] behold, this [divine writ] is indeed the [inspired] word of a noble apostle,
[20] with strength endowed, secure with Him who in almightiness is enthroned
[21] [the word] of one to be heeded, and worthy of trust!
[22] For, this fellow-man of yours is not a madman:
[23] he truly beheld [the angel - beheld] him on the clear horizon;
[24] and he is not one to begrudge others the knowledge [of whatever has been revealed to him] out of that which is beyond the reach of human Perception.
[25] Nor is this [message] the word of any satanic force accursed.
[26] Whither, then, will you go?
[27] This [message] is no less than a reminder to all mankind –
[28] to everyone of you who wills to walk a straight way.
[29] But you cannot will it unless God, the Sustainer of all the worlds, wills [to show you that way].