| asad | |
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| 1. * | HAS THERE [not] been an endless span of time^ [2]1 before man [appeared - a time] when he was not yet a thing to be thought of? [3]2 |
| 2. * | Verily, it is We who have created man out of a drop of sperm intermingled, [4]3 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: [5]4 [and it rests with him to prove himself] either grateful or ungrateful. |
| 4. * | [Now,] behold, for those who deny the truth [6]5 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: [7]7 |
| 6. * | a source [of bliss] whereof God's servants shall drink, seeing it flow in a flow abundant. [8]8 |
| 7. * | [The truly virtuous are] they [who] fulfil their vows, [9]9 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, [10]11 |
| 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 [11]12 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. [12]13 |
| 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, [13]14 and low will hang down its clusters of fruit, most easy to reach. [14]15 |
| 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. [15]16 |
| 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". [16]17 |
| 19. * | And immortal youths will wait upon them: [17]18 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. [18]19 And their Sustainer will them to drink of a drink most pure. [19]20 |
| 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 [20]21 - truly a bestowal from on high! |
| 24. * | Await, then, in all patience thy Sustainer's judgment, [21]22 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^ [22]23 at morn and evening |
| 26. * | and during some of the night, [23]24 and prostrate thyself before Him, and extol His limitless glory throughout the long night. [24]25 |
| 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^ [25]26 - and [that] if it be Our will We can replace them entirely with others of their kind. [26]27 |
| 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]: [27]28 for, behold, God is indeed all-seeing, wise. |
| 31. * | He admits unto His grace everyone who wills [to be admitted]; [28]29 but as for the evildoers - for them has He readied grievous suffering [in the life to come]. |