The Reality · Surah 69

The Reality

What is the Reality

Ah, what will convey unto thee what the reality is

(The tribes of) Thamud and A'ad disbelieved in the judgment to come

As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the lightning

And as for A'ad, they were destroyed by a fierce roaring wind

Which He imposed on them for seven long nights and eight long days so that thou mightest have seen men lying overthrown, as they were hollow trunks of palm-trees

Canst thou (O Muhammad) see any remnant of them

And Pharaoh and those before him, and the communities that were destroyed, brought error

And they disobeyed the messenger of their Lord, therefor did He grip them with a tightening grip

Lo! when the waters rose, We carried you upon the ship

That We might make it a memorial for you, and that remembering ears (that heard the story) might remember

And when the trumpet shall sound one blast

And the earth with the mountains shall be lifted up and crushed with one crash

Then, on that day will the Event befall

And the heaven will split asunder, for that day it will be frail

And the angels will be on the sides thereof, and eight will uphold the Throne of thy Lord that day, above them

On that day ye will be exposed; not a secret of you will be hidden

Then, as for him who is given his record in his right hand, he will say: Take, read my book

Surely I knew that I should have to meet my reckoning

Then he will be in blissful state

In a high garden

Whereof the clusters are in easy reach

(And it will be said unto those therein): Eat and drink at ease for that which ye sent on before you in past days

But as for him who is given his record in his left hand, he will say: Oh, would that I had not been given my book

And knew not what my reckoning

Oh, would that it had been death

My wealth hath not availed me

My power hath gone from me

(It will be said): Take him and fetter him

And then expose him to hell-fire

And then insert him in a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits

Lo! He used not to believe in Allah the Tremendous

And urged not on the feeding of the wretched

Therefor hath he no lover here this day

Nor any food save filth

Which none but sinners eat

But nay! I swear by all that ye see

And all that ye see not

That it is indeed the speech of an illustrious messenger

It is not poet's speech - little is it that ye believe

Nor diviner's speech - little is it that ye remember

It is a revelation from the Lord of the Worlds

And if he had invented false sayings concerning Us

We assuredly had taken him by the right hand

And then severed his life-artery

And not one of you could have held Us off from him

And lo! it is a warrant unto those who ward off (evil)

And lo! We know that some among you will deny (it)

And lo! it is indeed an anguish for the disbelievers

And lo! it is absolute truth

So glorify the name of thy Tremendous Lord