THE CHAPTER OF THE MERCIFUL
(LV. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
The Merciful taught the Koran;
He created man, taught him plain speech.
The sun and the moon have their appointed time;
The herbs and the trees adore;
And the heavens, He raised them and set the balance, that ye should not be outrageous in the balance;
But weigh ye aright, and stint not the balance.
And the earth He has set it for living creatures therein are fruits and palms, with sheaths; and grain with chaff and frequent shoots;
Then which of your Lords bounties will ye twain deny?
He created men of crackling clay like the potters.
And He created the ginn from smokeless fire.
The Lord of the two easts and the Lord of the two wests!
He has let loose the two seas that meet together; between them is a barrier they cannot pass!
He brings forth from each pearls both large and small!
His are the ships which rear aloft in the sea like mountains.
Every one upon it is transient, but the face of thy Lord endowed with majesty and honour shall endure.
Of Him whosoever is in the heaven and the earth does beg; every day He is in (some fresh) business!
We shall be at leisure for you, O ye two weighty ones!
O assembly of ginns and mankind! if ye are able to pass through the confines of heaven and earth then pass through them!-ye cannot pass through save by authority!
There shall be sent against you a flash of fire,
and molten copper, and ye shall not be helped!
And when the heaven is rent asunder and become rosy red - (melting) like grease!
On that day neither man nor ginn shall be asked about his crime!
The sinners shall be known by their marks, and shall be seized by the forelock and the feet!
This is hell, which the sinners did call it lie! They shall circulate between it and water boiling quite!
But for him who fears the station of his Lord are gardens twain!
Both furnished with branching trees.
In each are flowing springs.
In each are, of every fruit, two kinds.
Reclining on beds the linings of which are of brocade, and the fruit of the two gardens within reach to cull.
Therein are maids of modest glances whom no man nor ginn has deflowered before.
As though they were rubies and pearls.
Is the reward of goodness aught but goodness?
And besides these, are gardens twain,
Then which of your Lords bounties will be twain deny?
With dark green foliage.
In each two gushing springs.
In each fruit and palms and pomegranates.
In them maidens best and fairest!
Bright and large-eyed maids kept in their tents.
Whom no man nor ginn has deflowered before them.
Reclining on green cushions and beautiful carpets.
Blessed be the name of thy Lord possessed of majesty and honour!