The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/75. The Resurrection

75. The Resurrection (Al-Qiyamah)

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

¹ Nay, I swear by the day of resurrection!

² Nay, I swear by the self-accusing spirit!

³ Does man think that We shall not gather his bones?

⁴ Yea, We are Powerful to make complete his whole make.

⁵ Nay, man desires to go on doing evil in front of him.

⁶ He asks: When is the day of Resurrection?

⁷ So when the sight is confused,

⁸ And the moon becomes dark,

⁹ And the sun and the moon are brought together --

¹⁰ Man will say on that day Whither to flee?

¹¹ No! There is no refuge!

¹² With thy Lord on that day is the place of rest.

¹³ Man will that day be informed of what he sent before and what he put off.

¹⁴ Nay, man is evidence against himself,

¹⁵ Though he put up excuses.

¹⁶ Move not thy tongue therewith to make haste with it.

¹⁷ Surely on Us tests the collecting of it and the reciting of it.

¹⁸ So when We recite it, follow its recitation.

¹⁹ Again on Us rests the explaining of it.

²⁰ Nay, but you love the present life,

²¹ And neglect the Hereafter.

²² (Some) faces that day will be bright,

²³ Looking to their Lord.

²⁴ And (other) faces that day will be gloomy,

²⁵ Knowing that a great disaster will be made to befall them.

²⁶ Nay, when it comes up to the throat,

²⁷ And it is said: Who will ascend (with it)?

²⁸ And he is sure that it is the parting,

²⁹ And affliction is combined with affliction --

³⁰ To thy Lord on that day is the driving.

* * *

³¹ So he accepted not the truth, nor prayed,

³² But denied and turned back,

³³ Then he went to his people in haughtiness.

³⁴ Nearer to thee and nearer,

³⁵ Again, neater to thee and nearer (is woe).

³⁶ Does man think that he will be left aimless?

³⁷ Was he not a small life-germ in sperm emitted?

³⁸ Then he was a clot; so He created (him), then made (him) perfect.

³⁹ Then He made of him two kinds, the male and the female.

⁴⁰ Is not He Powerful to give life to the dead?