The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/69. The Sure Truth

69. The Sure Truth (Al-Huqqah)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

The sure Truth! 

What is the sure Truth? 

And what would make thee realize what the sure Truth is? 

Thamud and 'Ad called the calamity a lie. 

Then as for Thamud, they were destroyed by the severe punishment. 

And as for 'Ad, they were destroyed by a roaring, violent wind, 

Which He made to prevail against them for seven nights and eight days continuously, so that thou mightest have seen the people therein prostrate as if they were trunks of hollow palm-trees. 

So canst thou see a remnant of them? 

<section begin="69:9"/>And Pharaoh and those before him and the overthrown cities wrought evil. <section end="69:9"/>

<section begin="69:10"/>And they disobeyed the messenger of their Lord, so He punished them with a vehement punishment. <section end="69:10"/>

<section begin="69:11"/>Surely We carried you in the ship, when the water rose high, <section end="69:11"/>

<section begin="69:12"/>That We might make it a reminder for you, and that the retaining ear might retain it. <section end="69:12"/>

<section begin="69:13"/>So when the trumpet is blown with a single blast, <section end="69:13"/>

<section begin="69:14"/>And the earth and the mountains are borne away and crushed with one crash -- <section end="69:14"/>

<section begin="69:15"/>On that day will the Event come to pass, <section end="69:15"/>

<section begin="69:16"/>And the heaven will be cleft asunder; so that day it will be frail, <section end="69:16"/>

<section begin="69:17"/>And the angels will be on its sides. And above them eight will bear that day thy Lord's Throne of Power. <section end="69:17"/>

<section begin="69:18"/>On that day you will be exposed to view -- no secret of yours will remain hidden. <section end="69:18"/>

<section begin="69:19"/>Then as for him who is given his book in his right hand, he will say: Lo! Read my book. <section end="69:19"/>

<section begin="69:20"/>Surely I knew that I should meet my account. <section end="69:20"/>

<section begin="69:21"/>So he will be in a life of bliss, <section end="69:21"/>

<section begin="69:22"/>In a lofty Garden, <section end="69:22"/>

<section begin="69:23"/>Its fruits are near. <section end="69:23"/>

<section begin="69:24"/>Eat and drink pleasantly for that which you sent on before in bygone days. <section end="69:24"/>

<section begin="69:25"/>And as for him who is given his book in his left hand -- he will say: O would that my book had not been given to me! <section end="69:25"/>

<section begin="69:26"/>And I had not known what my account was! <section end="69:26"/>

<section begin="69:27"/>O would that (death) had made an end (of me)! <section end="69:27"/>

<section begin="69:28"/>My wealth has not availed me. <section end="69:28"/>

<section begin="69:29"/>My authority has gone from me. <section end="69:29"/>

<section begin="69:30"/>Seize him, then fetter him, <section end="69:30"/>

<section begin="69:31"/>Then cast him into the burning Fire, <section end="69:31"/>

<section begin="69:32"/>Then insert him in a chain the length of which is seventy cubits. <section end="69:32"/>

<section begin="69:33"/>Surely he believed not in Allah, the Great, <section end="69:33"/>

<section begin="69:34"/>Nor did he urge the feeding of the poor. <section end="69:34"/>

<section begin="69:35"/>Therefore he has nor here this day a true friend, <section end="69:35"/>

<section begin="69:36"/>Nor any fond except refuse, <section end="69:36"/>

<section begin="69:37"/>Which none but the wrongdoers eat. <section end="69:37"/>

<section begin="69:38"/>But nay! I sweat by that which you see, <section end="69:38"/>

<section begin="69:39"/>And that which you see not! <section end="69:39"/>

<section begin="69:40"/>Surely, it is the word of an honoured Messenger; <section end="69:40"/>

<section begin="69:41"/>And it is not the word of a poet. Little is it that you believe! <section end="69:41"/>

<section begin="69:42"/>Nor the word of a soothsayer. Little is it that you mind! <section end="69:42"/>

<section begin="69:43"/>It is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. <section end="69:43"/>

<section begin="69:44"/>And if he had fabricated against Us certain sayings, <section end="69:44"/>

<section begin="69:45"/>We would certainly have seized him by the right hand, <section end="69:45"/>

<section begin="69:46"/>Then cut off his heart's vein. <section end="69:46"/>

<section begin="69:47"/>And not one of you could have withheld Us from him. <section end="69:47"/>

<section begin="69:48"/>And surely it is a Reminder for the dutiful. <section end="69:48"/>

<section begin="69:49"/>And We certainly know that some of you are rejectors. <section end="69:49"/>

<section begin="69:50"/>And it is indeed a (source of) grief to the disbelievers. <section end="69:50"/>

<section begin="69:51"/>And surely it is the certain Truth. <section end="69:51"/>

<section begin="69:52"/>So glorify the name of thy Lord, the Incomparably Great. <section end="69:52"/>