* | quran | * | 54. al-qamar. the moon      <   > 

rodwell
 
1.  *     The hour hath approached and the MOON hath been cleft:
 
2.  *     But whenever they see a miracle they turn aside and say, This is well-devised magic.
 
3.  *     And they have treated the prophets as impostors, and follow their own lusts; but everything is unalterably fixed.
 
4.  *     A message of prohibition had come to them-
 
5.  *     Consummate wisdom-but warners profit them not.
 
6.  *     Quit them then. On the day when the summoner shall summon to a stern business,
 
7.  *     With downcast eyes shall they come forth from their graves, as if they were scattered locusts,
 
8.  *     Hastening to the summoner. "This," shall the infidels say, "is the distressful day."
 
9.  *     Before them the people of Noah treated the truth as a lie. Our servant did they charge with falsehood, and said, "Demoniac!" and he was rejected.
 
10.  *     Then cried he to his Lord, "Verily, they prevail against me; come thou therefore to my succour."
 
11.  *     So we opened the gates of Heaven with water which fell in torrents,
 
12.  *     And we caused the earth to break forth with springs, and their waters met by settled decree.
 
13.  *     And we bare him on a vessel made with planks and nails.
 
14.  *     Under our eyes it floated on: a recompence to him who had been rejected with unbelief.
 
15.  *     And we left it a sign: but, is there any one who receives the warning?
 
16.  *     And how great was my vengeance and my menace!
 
17.  *     Easy for warning have we made the Koran-but, is there any one who receives the warning?
 
18.  *     The Adites called the truth a lie: but how great was my vengeance and my menace;
 
19.  *     For we sent against them a roaring wind in a day of continued distress:
 
20.  *     It tore men away as though they were uprooted palm stumps.
 
21.  *     And how great was my vengeance and my menace!
 
22.  *     Easy for warning have we made the Koran-but, is there any one who receives the warning?
 
23.  *     The tribe of Themoud treated the threatenings as lies:
 
24.  *     And they said, "Shall we follow a single man from among ourselves? Then verily should we be in error and in folly.
 
25.  *     To him alone among us is the office of warning entrusted? No! he is an impostor, an insolent person."
 
26.  *     To-morrow shall they learn who is the impostor, the insolent.
 
27.  *     For we will send the she-camel to prove them: do thou mark them well, O Saleh, and be patient:
 
28.  *     And foretell them that their waters shall be divided between themselves and her, and that every draught shall come by turns to them.
 
29.  *     But they called to their comrade, and he took a knife and ham-strung her.
 
30.  *     And how great was my vengeance and my menance!
 
31.  *     We sent against them a single shout; and they became like the dry sticks of the fold-builders.
 
32.  *     Easy have we made the Koran for warning-but, is there any one who receives the warning?
 
33.  *     The people of Lot treated his warning as a lie;
 
34.  *     But we sent a stone-charged wind against them all, except the family of Lot, whom at daybreak we delivered,
 
35.  *     By our special grace-for thus we reward the thankful.
 
36.  *     He, indeed, had warned them of our severity, but of that warning they doubted.
 
37.  *     Even this guess did they demand: therefore we deprived them of sight,
 
38.  *     And said, "Taste ye my vengeance and my menace;"
 
39.  *     And in the morning a relentless punishment overtook them.
 
40.  *     Easy have we made the Koran for warning but, is there any one who receives the warning?
 
41.  *     To the people of Pharaoh also came the threatenings:
 
42.  *     All our miracles did they treat as impostures. Therefore seized we them as he only can seize, who is the Mighty, the Strong.
 
43.  *     Are your infidels, O Meccans, better men than these? Is there an exemption for you in the sacred Books?
 
44.  *     Will they say, "We are a host that lend one another aid?"
 
45.  *     The host shall be routed, and they shall turn them back.
 
46.  *     But, that Hour is their threatened time, and that Hour shall be most severe and bitter.
 
47.  *     Verily, the wicked are sunk in bewilderment and folly.
 
48.  *     On that day they shall be dragged into the fire on their faces. "Taste ye the touch of Hell."
 
49.  *     All things have we created after a fixed decree:
 
50.  *     Our command was but one word, swift as the twinkling of an eye.
 
51.  *     Of old, too, have we destroyed the like of you-yet is any one warned?
 
52.  *     And everything that they do is in the Books;
 
53.  *     Each action, both small and great, is written down.
 
54.  *     Verily, amid gardens and rivers shall the pious dwell.
 
55.  *     In the seat of truth, in the presence of the potent King.