69. Sūrat Al-Haqqah · The Reality

The Inevitable Hour!

The Reality!

OH, THE LAYING-BARE of the truth!

That inevitable truth.

The surely Inevitable Hour

What is the Inevitable Hour?

What is the Reality?

How awesome that laying-bare of the truth!

How is that inevitable truth?

What is the surely Inevitable Hour

And what will make you realize what the Inevitable Hour is?

Ah, what will convey unto thee what the reality is!

And what could make thee conceive what that laying-bare of the truth will be?

And what did you know how is that inevitable?

And what has made you alert what (calamity) surely is the Inevitable Hour

˹Both˺ Thamûd and ’Ȃd denied the Striking Disaster.

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

THE LIE gave [the tribes of] Thamud and ‘Ad to [all tidings of] that sudden calamity!

Thamud and Aad belied that strong calamity.

Thamud and ‘Ad rejected the (calamity of a) Shattering Gravitational Collision (of all the existent cosmic bodies)

As for Thamûd, they were destroyed by an overwhelming blast.

As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the lightning.

Now as for the Thamud - they were destroyed by a violent upheaval [of the earth];

Then as for Thamud they were destroyed with an extreme uproar.

So, as for the people of Thamud, they were destroyed by the extremely violent, Deafening Blast

And as for ’Ȃd, they were destroyed by a furious, bitter wind

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

and as for the ‘Ad - they were destroyed by a storm wind furiously raging,

And as for Aad, they were destroyed by a fierce roaring windstorm.

And as for the people of ‘Ad, they (too) were destroyed by a violently cold, roaring gale

which Allah unleashed on them non-stop for seven nights and eight days, so that you would have seen its people lying dead like trunks of uprooted palm trees.

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.

which He willed against them for seven nights and eight days without cease, so that in the end thou couldst see those people laid low [in death], as though they were so many [uprooted] trunks of hollow palm trees:

Which He subjected them forcefully for seven nights and eight days consecutively, then see those people in it lying down, as though they were trunks of palm-trees lying down.

Allah made that (gale) seize them for consecutive seven nights and eight days. So, you could see them lying dead (during that time as if) they were hollow roots of the uprooted palm trees

Do you see any of them left alive?

Canst thou (O Muhammad) see any remnant of them?

and dost thou now see any remnant of them?

Do you see any remnant of them?

So do you see any of them surviving

Also, Pharaoh and those before him, and ˹the people of˺ the overturned cities ˹of Lot˺ indulged in sin,

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

And there was Pharaoh, too, and [many of] those who lived before him, and the cities that were overthrown - [all of them] indulged in sin upon sin

And Firawn and those before him, and the overthrown towns committed error.

And Pharaoh and those before him and (the dwellers of) the overthrown towns (of the community of Lut [Lot]) committed grave sins

each disobeying their Lord’s messenger, so He seized them with a crushing grip.

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

and rebelled against their Sustainer's apostles: and so He took them to task with a punishing grasp exceedingly severe!

And they disobeyed the Messenger of their Lord; therefore, He seized them with a strong seizing.

So they (also) disobeyed the Messenger of their Lord. And Allah seized them with a mighty seizure

Indeed, when the floodwater had overflowed, We carried you in the floating Ark ˹with Noah˺,

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

[And] behold: when the waters [of Noah's flood] burst beyond all limits, it was We who caused you to be borne [to safety] in that floating ark,

Undoubtedly, when the water rose high, We bore you in the boat.

Indeed, when the water (of the Deluge) overflowed the limit, We carried you in the floating Ark

so that We may make this a reminder to you, and that attentive ears may grasp it.

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

so that We might make all this a [lasting] reminder to you all, and that every wide-awake ear might consciously take it in.

That We might make it a reminder for you and it might be retained by the ears that retain after hearing.

So that We make this (episode a reminding) lesson of warning for you and that the retentive ears may retain it

At last, when the Trumpet will be blown with one blast,

And when the trumpet shall sound one blast

Hence, [bethink yourselves of the Last Hour,] when the trumpet [of judgment] shall be sounded with a single blast,

Then when the trumpet is blown instantly.

Then when the Trumpet will be blown once

and the earth and mountains will be lifted up and crushed with one blow,

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

and the earth and the mountains shall be lifted up and crushed with a single stroke!

And the earth and the mountains are being crushed after lifting up all at once.

And the earth and mountains will be removed (from their places), they will then be crushed to sand particles in a single crash

on that Day the Inevitable Event will have come to pass.

Then, on that day will the Event befall.

And so, that which must come to pass will on that day have come to pass;

That is the day when will happen the inevitable event.

Then that will be the Hour when the surely Inevitable (calamity) will occur

The sky will then be so torn that it will be frail,

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

and the sky will be rent asunder - for, frail will it have become on that Day -;

And the heaven will cleave as-under, then on the day it will be in a miserable condition.

And (all) the heavenly bodies will split apart and this universe will come to comprise (black) holes (by means of a force which coordinates and keeps the system going).

with the angels on its sides. On that Day eight ˹mighty angels˺ will bear the Throne of your Lord above them.

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

and the angels [will appear] at its ends, and, above them, eight will bear aloft on that Day the throne of thy Sustainer’s almightiness…

And the angels will be standing on the sides thereof, and on that day, the eight angles will bear over them the throne of your Lord.

And the angels will be standing on its edges and above them that Day, and eight (angels or parties of angels) will be carrying the Throne of your Lord

You will then be presented ˹before Him for judgment˺, and none of your secrets will stay hidden.

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

On that Day you shall be brought to judgment: not [even] the most hidden of your deeds will remain hidden.

On that day, you all shall be presented and no hiding soul shall remain hidden.

That Day you will be made to appear (for reckoning). Nothing of your secrets will remain hidden

As for those given their records in their right hand, they will cry ˹happily˺, “Here ˹everyone˺! Read my record!

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

Now as for him whose record shall be placed in his right hand, he will exclaim: "Come you all!" Read this my record!

Then as to him, whose record shall be given in his right hand, he will say, 'take and read my record'.

So the one who will be given his record in the right hand will say (pleased): ‘Come and read my record

I surely knew I would face my reckoning.”

Surely I knew that I should have to meet my reckoning.

Behold, I did know that [one day] I would have to face my account!

I was convinced that I would reach to my accounting.

I firmly believed that I would find my account (easy).

They will be in a life of bliss,

Then he will be in blissful state

And so he will find himself in a happy state of life,

Therefore, he is in his desired comfort.

So he will live a pleasant life

in an elevated Garden,

In a high garden

in a lofty paradise,

In a lofty Garden.

In an elevated lofty Paradise

whose fruit will hang within reach.

Whereof the clusters are in easy reach.

with its fruits within easy reach.

Its clusters are within reach.

The clusters of its fruits hanging low (due to abundance)

˹They will be told,˺ “Eat and drink joyfully for what you did in the days gone by.”

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

[And all who are thus blest will be told:] "Eat and drink with good cheer in return for all [the good deeds] that you have sent ahead in days gone by!"

Eat and drink a content full recompense for that you sent forth in the days gone by.

(It will be said to them:) ‘Eat and drink rejoicing, in recompense of (your deeds) that you had sent forward during the days of your past (life).

And as for those given their record in their left hand, they will cry ˹bitterly˺, “I wish I had not been given my record,

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

But as for him whose record shall be placed in his left hand, he will exclaim: "Oh, would that I had never been shown this my record,

And as for him whose record shall be given in his left hand, he will say, 'oh would that, I had not been given my record!

And as for him who will be given his record in his left hand, he will say: ‘Would that I had not been given my record

nor known anything of my reckoning!

And knew not what my reckoning!

and neither known this my account!

And I would not have known what is my reckoning.

And would that I had not known about my account

I wish death was the end!

Oh, would that it had been death!

Oh, would that this [death of mine] had been the end of me!

Oh, would that death had made an end of me.

Alas! Would that (death) had settled my affair once and for all

My wealth has not benefited me!

My wealth hath not availed me,

Of no avail to me is all that I have [ever] possessed,

My wealth has availed me nothing.

Today my wealth has not been able to keep (the torment) away from me even a little

My authority has been stripped from me.”

My power hath gone from me.

[and] all my power of argument has died away from me!"

My all strength has gone from me.

My power and domain have (also) gone from me.

˹It will be said,˺ “Seize and shackle them,

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

Thereupon the command will go forth:] "Lay hold of him, and shackle him,

Seize him and put chains in his neck.

(It will be commanded:) ‘Seize him and put him in neck-fetter

then burn them in Hell,

And then expose him to hell-fire

and then let him enter hell,

Then cast him into blowing fire.

Then cast him into Hell

then tie them up with chains seventy arms long.

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

and then thrust him into a chain [of other sinners like him - a chain] the length whereof is seventy cubits:

Then thrust him in a chain the length of which is seventy cubits.

Then bind him tightly in a seventy yard long chain

For they never had faith in Allah, the Greatest,

Lo! He used not to believe in Allah the Tremendous,

for, behold, he did not believe in God, the Tremendous,

Undoubtedly, he did not believe in Allah the Great.

Verily, he did not believe in Allah, the Lord of Majesty

nor encouraged the feeding of the poor.

And urged not on the feeding of the wretched.

and did not feel any urge to feed the needy:

And he did not urge the feeding of the needy.

Nor did he urge the feeding of the poor

So this Day they will have no close friend here,

Therefor hath he no lover here this day,

and so, no friend has here today,

Therefore, he today has no friend here.

So Today he does not have any warm friend

nor any food except ˹oozing˺ pus,

Nor any food save filth

nor any food save the filth

Nor any food saves pus of the people of Hell.

Nor has he anything to eat except filthy pus

which none will eat except the evildoers.”

Which none but sinners eat.

which none but the sinners eat!"

Which none but the sinners eat.

That no one will eat except the sinners.

Now, I do swear by whatever you see,

But nay! I swear by all that ye see

BUT NAY! I call to witness an that you can see,

But no, I swear by what you see.

So I swear by the things that you see

and whatever you cannot see!

And all that ye see not

as well as all that you cannot see!

And by all that, you see not.

And by those things that you do not see

Indeed, this ˹Quran˺ is the recitation of a noble Messenger.

That it is indeed the speech of an illustrious messenger.

Behold, this [Qur’an] is indeed the [inspired] word of a noble apostle,

Undoubtedly, this Quran is the talks with a noble Messenger.

Assuredly, this (Qur’an) is the (God-sent) commandment of the Exalted and Glorious Messenger ([blessings and peace be upon him] which he expounds as a Messenger and as a Vicegerent)

It is not the prose of a poet ˹as you claim˺, ˹yet˺ you hardly have any faith.

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

and is not – however little you may [be prepared to] believe it - the word of a poet;

And it is not the word of any poet. How little you believe!

And it is not the poetry of a poet (composed with literary expertise). You have but little faith

Nor is it the mumbling of a fortune-teller, ˹yet˺ you are hardly mindful.

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

and neither is it - however little you may [be prepared to] take it to heart - the word of a soothsayer:

And it is not the word of any sooth sayer. How little you heed!

Nor is it the word of a fortune-teller (designed by skilful guesswork). You take but little advice

˹It is˺ a revelation from the Lord of all worlds.

It is a revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.

[it is] a revelation from the Sustainer of all the worlds.

I have been sent down by Him who is the Lord of entire world.

(This) is sent down by the Lord of all the worlds

Had the Messenger made up something in Our Name,

And if he had invented false sayings concerning Us,

Now if he [whom We have entrusted with it] had dared to attribute some [of his own] sayings unto Us,

And if he would have said against Us even one word forging from himself.

And had he ascribed to Us even a (single) fabricated thing

We would have certainly seized him by his right hand,

We assuredly had taken him by the right hand

We would indeed have seized him by his right hand,

We would surely have taken revenge with full force.

We would have seized him with full force and might

then severed his aorta,

And then severed his life-artery,

and would indeed have cut his life-vein.

And then We would surely have severed his life vein.

Then certainly We would have cut his life artery

and none of you could have shielded him ˹from Us˺!

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

and none of you could have saved him!

And not any of you could have defended him.

Then no one of you could have held (Us) back from it

Indeed, this ˹Quran˺ is a reminder to those mindful ˹of Allah˺.

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

And, verily, this [Qur’an] is a reminder to all the God-conscious!

And undoubtedly; this Quran is an admonition to the God-fearing.

So no doubt this (Qur’an) is direction and guidance for the Godfearing

And We certainly know that some of you will persist in denial,

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

And, behold, well do We know that among you are such as will give the lie to it:

And surely, We know that some among you are beliers.

And surely, We know that some of you are the beliers (of this open truth)

and it will surely be a source of regret for the disbelievers.

And lo! it is indeed an anguish for the disbelievers.

yet, behold, this [rejection] will indeed become a source of bitter regret for all who deny the truth [of God's revelation] –

And undoubtedly, it is a great sorrow to the infidels.

And surely, this is (a cause of) bitter regret for the disbelievers

And indeed, this ˹Quran˺ is the absolute truth.

And lo! it is absolute truth.

for, verily, it is truth absolute!

And undoubtedly, it is the truth of absolute certainty.

And undeniably, it is the truth of Absolute Certitude

So glorify the Name of your Lord, the Greatest.

So glorify the name of thy Tremendous Lord.

Extol, then the limitless glory of thy Sustainer's mighty name!

So O beloved prophet! glorify your Lord the Great

So, (O Esteemed Beloved,) glorify your Lord, Most Magnificent, with persistence