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[1] THE LAST HOUR draws near, and the moon is split asunder!
[2] But if they [who reject all thought of the Last Hour] were to see a sign [of its approach], they would turn aside and say, “An ever-recurring delusion!” –
[3] for they are bent on giving it the lie, being always wont to follow their own desires. Yet everything reveals its truth in the end.
[4] And withal, there has come unto them many a tiding that should have restrained [their arrogance]:
[5] far-reaching wisdom [was held out to them]: but [since] all warnings have been of no avail,
[6] turn thou away from them. On the Day when the Summoning Voice will sumÂmon [man] unto something that the mind cannot conceive,
[7] they will come forth from their graves, with their eyes downcast, [swarming about] like locusts scattered [by the wind],
[8] running in conÂfusion towards the Summoning Voice; [and] those who [now] deny the truth will exclaim, “Calamitous is this Day!”
[9] [LONG] BEFORE those [who now deny resurrecÂtion] did Noah’s people call it a lie; and they gave the lie to Our servant and said, “Mad is he!” - and he was repulsed.
[10] Thereupon he called out to his Sustainer, “Verily, I am defeated; come Thou, then, to my succour!”
[11] And so We caused the gates of heaven to open with water pouring down in torrents,
[12] and caused the earth to burst forth with springs, so that the waters met for a purpose pre-ordained:
[13] but him We bore on that [vessel] made of [mere] planks and nails,
[14] and it floated under Our eyes: a recomÂpense for him who had been rejected with ingratitude.
[15] And, indeed, We have caused such [floating vessels] to remain forever a sign [of Our grace unto man]: who, then, is willing to take it to heart?
[16] And how severe is the suffering which I inflict when My warnings are disregarded!
[17] Hence, indeed, We made this Qur’an easy to bear in mind: who, then, is willing to take it to heart?
[18] TO THE TRUTH gave the lie [the tribe of] Ad: and how severe was the suffering which I inflicted when My warnings were disregarded!
[19] Behold, We let loose upon them a raging storm wind on a day of bitter misfortune:
[20] it swept the people away as though they were palm-trunks uprooted:
[21] for, how severe is the suffering which I inflict when My warnings are disregarded!
[22] Hence, indeed, We made this Qur’an easy to bear in mind: who, then, is willing to take it to heart?
[23] [AND the tribe of] Thamud gave the lie to all [Our] warnings;
[24] and they said: “Are we to follow one single mortal, one from among ourselves? In that case, behold, we would certainly sink into error and folly!
[25] Why - on him alone from among all of us should a [divine] reminder have been bestowed? Nay, but he is a boastful liar!”
[26] [And God said:] “On the morrow they will come to know who the boastful liar is!
[27] Behold, [O Salih] We are letting loose this she-camel as a test for them; and thou but watch them, and contain thyself in patience.
[28] And let them know that the water [of their wells] is to be divided between them, with each share of water equitably apportioned.”
[29] But they summoned their [boldest] companion, and he ventured [upon the evil deed], and cruelly slaughtered [the animal]:
[30] and how severe was the suffering which I inflicted when My warnings were disregarded!
[31] Behold, We let loose upon them one single blast [of Our punishment], and they became like the dried-up, crumbling twigs of a sheepfold.
[32] Hence, indeed, We made this Qur’an easy to bear in mind: who, then, is willing to take it to heart?
[33] LOT ’S PEOPLE [too] gave the lie to all [Our] warnÂings:
[34] [and so,] behold, We let loose upon them a deadly tempest; and only Lot ’s kinsfolk did We save at the break of dawn,
[35] as a blessing from Us: thus do We reward all who are grateful.
[36] For he had truly warned them of Our punishing might; but they stubbornly cast doubt on these warnÂings,
[37] and even demanded that he give up his guests [to them]: whereupon We deprived them of their sight [and thus told them, as it were]: “Taste, then, the suffering which I inflict when My warnings are disregarded!”
[38] And, indeed, abiding suffering did befall them early on the morrow:
[39] “Taste, then, the suffering which I inflict when My warnings are disregarded!”
[40] Hence, indeed, We made this Qur’an easy to bear in mind: who, then, is willing to take it to heart?
[41] Now surely, unto Pharaoh’s folk [too] came such warnings;
[42] they, too, gave the lie to all Our messages: and thereupon We took them to task as only the Almighty, who determines all things, can take to task.
[43] ARE, THEN, those of you who [now] deny the truth better than those others - or have you, perÂchance, [been promised] immunity in the [ancient] books of [divine] wisdom?
[44] Or do they say, “We are a group united, [and therefore] bound to prevail”?
[45] [Yet] the hosts [of those who deny the truth] shall be routed, and they shall turn their backs [in flight]!
[46] But nay - the Last Hour is the time when they shall truly meet their fate; and that Last Hour will be most calamitous, and most bitter:
[47] for, behold, those who are lost in sin [will at that time come to know that it is they who] were sunk in error and folly!
[48] On the Day when they shall be dragged into the fire on their faces, [they will be told:] “Taste now the touch of hell-fire!”
[49] BEHOLD, everything have We created in due measure and proportion;
[50] and Our ordaining [a thing and its coming into being] is but one [act], like the twinkling of an eye.
[51] Thus, indeed, did We destroy people like you [in the past]: who, then, is willing to take it to heart?
[52] [They were truly guilty] because all [the evil] that they ever did had been [revealed to them as such] in the [ancient] books of [divine] wisdom;
[53] and everything [that man does], be it small or great, is recorded [with God].
[54] [Hence, too,] behold, the God-conscious will find themselves in [a paradise of] gardens and running waters,
[55] in a seat of truth, in the presence of a Sovereign who determines all things.