When the Inevitable Event happens, there shall be none to belie its happening!  It will be a calamity which will abase (some people) and exalt (others).  The earth shall be shaken all of a sudden, and the mountains shall crumble and become like scattered dust.  You, then, shall be divided into three classes the People of the Right Hand¾Oh! how fortunate the People of the Right Hand!; the People of the Left Hand¾Oh! how unfortunate shall be the People of the Left Hand!; and the Foremost shall still be the Foremost.

        (The Foremost) will be those nearest (to God).  They shall abide in the Gardens of bliss.  Most of them will be from among the former people, and a few of them from among those of latter day.  They will be reclining on jeweled couches, facing each other.  Eternal youths shall go round them briskly with brimful goblets and beakers and cups of wine from a flowing spring, which will neither cause them giddiness nor affect their senses.  And they shall present before them every kind of tasty fruit, whichever they may choose; and the flesh of fowls, whatever they may desire.  And for them will be beautiful-eyed maidens, as lovely as well-guarded pearls.  All this they will get in reward for the (good) works they had been doing in the world.  There they shall neither hear idle talk nor sinful speech.  Whatever they hear shall be right and proper.

       And the People of the Right Hand!  Oh, how fortunate the People of the Right Hand!  They shall be among thornless lote trees, and piled up bananas¾one upon the other, and outspread shade, and ever flowing waters, and abundant fruits¾neither failing in supply nor forbidden, and in upraised couches.  We shall create their wives anew and make them virgins, lovers of their husbands and of equal age.  All this is for the People of the Right Hand.  A good number of them will be from among the former people and a good number also from those of latter day.

       And the People of the Left Hand!  Oh, how unfortunate will be the People of the Left Hand!  They will be in scorching wind, and boiling waters, and the shadow of black smoke, which will be neither cool nor refreshing.  These will be the people who had lived in ease and comfort before meeting this fate.  They persisted in heinous sins and used to say, "What, when we are dead and become dust and bones, shall we be raised up again?!  And our forefathers, too, who have gone before us?!"  Say to them, O Prophet, "Surely the former and the latter, all shall be gathered together One Day, the hour of which has already been appointed.  Then, O deviators and deniers, you shall eat of the Zaqqum tree and fill your bellies with it, and wash it down with boiling water, as thirsty camels drink!"  This shall be the provision of the People of the Left Hand on the Day of Great Rewards.

       We [pronoun of Divine majesty] have created you, so why don't you acknowledge it?  Have you ever considered the sperm-drop that you emit?  Is it you who create the child from it, or are We the Creators?  We have distributed death among you, and We are not helpless from this, that We may change your forms and create you in a form that you do not know of.  You already know well your first creation.  Why, then, don't you take heed?

       Have you ever considered the seeds which you sow?  Is it you who cause them to grow into crops, or do We?  If We so pleased We could turn these crops into chaff, and you would be left lamenting, "We have been penalized!  Ah, we are doomed!"

       Have you ever seen with open eyes the water that you drink?  Is it you who cause it to rain from the clouds, or do We?  If We so pleased We could make it bitter.  Then why don't you become grateful?

       Have you ever considered the fire which you kindle?  Is it you who have created its tree, or are We its Creator?  We have made it a means of remembrance and a provision of life for the needy.

       So, O Prophet, glorify the name of your Lord, the Supreme!

But nay!  I swear by the position of the stars¾and it is indeed a great oath, if you but knew it!¾that this is a glorious Quran, inscribed in a well-guarded Book, which none can touch but the purified.  This has been sent down by the Lord of the universe.  Then, do you regard this discourse as unworthy of serious attention, and do you have in its blessings only this share, that you deny it?

       If you think that you are subject to nobody, and you deem you are right in thinking so, then why don't you return to the dying person his soul as it reaches his throat, and you are helplessly watching that he is at the point of death?  At that time We are closer to him than you, but you do not see Us. 

       Then, if the dying person be of those nearest to Us, for him there is comfort and good provision and the blissful Garden!  And if he be of the People of the Right Hand, he is greeted with, "Peace be upon you, you are among the People of the Right!"  And if he be of the deniers, gone astray, he is met with boiling water and the burning of Hellfire.

       And this is absolute truth.  So, O Prophet, glorify the name of your Lord, the Supreme!