The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/84. The Bursting Asunder

84. The Bursting Asunder (Al-Inshiqaq)

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

¹ When the heaven bursts asunder,

² And listens to its Lord and is made fit;

³ And when the earth is stretched,

⁴ And casts forth what is in it and becomes empty,

⁵ And listens to its Lord and is made fit.

⁶ O man, thou must strive a hard striving (to attain) to thy Lord, until thou meet Him.

⁷ Then as to him who is given his book in his right hand,

⁸ His account will be taken by an easy reckoning,

⁹ And he will go back to his people rejoicing.

¹⁰ And as to him who is given his book behind his back,

¹¹ He will call for perdition,

¹² And enter into burning Fire.

¹³ Surely he was (erstwhile) joyful among his people.

¹⁴ Surely he thought that he would never return (to Allah) --

¹⁵ Yea, surely his Lord is ever Seer of him.

¹⁶ But nay, I call to witness the sunset redness,

¹⁷ And the night and that which it drives on,

¹⁸ And the moon when it grows full,

¹⁹ That you shall certainly ascend to one state after another.

²⁰ But what is the matter with them that they believe not?

²¹ And, when the Qur'an is recited to them, they adore (Him) not?

²² Nay, those who disbelieve give the lie --

²³ And Allah knows best what they hide.

²⁴ So announce to them a painful chastisement,

²⁵ Except those who believe and do good -- for them is a reward that shall never be cut off.