The Reality

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

[69:1]

The Reality!

[69:2]

What is the Reality ?

[69:3]

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

[69:4]

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

[69:5]

As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the lightning.

[69:6]

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

[69:7]

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.

[69:8]

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

[69:9]

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

[69:10]

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

[69:11]

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

[69:12]

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

[69:13]

And when the trumpet shall sound one blast

[69:14]

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

[69:15]

Then, on that day will the Event befall.

[69:16]

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

[69:17]

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

[69:18]

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

[69:19]

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

[69:20]

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

[69:21]

Then he will be in blissful state

[69:22]

In a high garden

[69:23]

Whereof the clusters are in easy reach.

[69:24]

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

[69:25]

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

[69:26]

And knew not what my reckoning!

[69:27]

Oh, would that it had been death!

[69:28]

My wealth hath not availed me,

[69:29]

My power hath gone from me.

[69:30]

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

[69:31]

And then expose him to hell-fire

[69:32]

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

[69:33]

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

[69:34]

And urged not on the feeding of the wretched.

[69:35]

Therefor hath he no lover here this day,

[69:36]

Nor any food save filth

[69:37]

Which none but sinners eat.

[69:38]

But nay! I swear by all that ye see

[69:39]

And all that ye see not

[69:40]

That it is indeed the speech of an illustrious messenger.

[69:41]

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

[69:42]

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

[69:43]

It is a revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.

[69:44]

And if he had invented false sayings concerning Us,

[69:45]

We assuredly had taken him by the right hand

[69:46]

And then severed his life-artery,

[69:47]

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

[69:48]

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

[69:49]

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

[69:50]

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

[69:51]

And lo! it is absolute truth.

[69:52]

So glorify the name of thy Tremendous Lord.