The Speeches & Table-Talk of the Prophet Mohammad · Prophet Muhammad
K.
_In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful._ K. By the glorious Korān. Nay, they marvel that a warner from among themselves hath come to them: and the unbelievers say, “This is a marvellous thing! When we are dead and are become dust!--that is a far-fetched return!” We know what the earth consumeth of them, and with us is a book that keepeth count. Nay, they called the truth a lie when it came to them, but they are in a perplexed state. Will they not look up to the heaven above them, how we built it, and beautified it, and there are no flaws therein? And we spread out the earth, and cast stable mountains upon it, and caused to grow there plants of all beauteous kinds, For consideration and warning to every repentant servant. And we sent down water from heaven as a blessing, and caused thereby gardens and harvest grain to grow, And tall palm-trees with spathes heaped up, A provision for our servants; and revived thereby a barren land. Like that shall the resurrection be. Before them the people of Noah and the people of Er-Rass and Thamūd called the prophets liars, And Ad, and Pharaoh, and the brethren of Lot, and the people of the grove, and the people of Tubba´--one and all called the apostles liars,--and found the threat true. Were we then impotent as to the first creation? yet they are in doubt about a new creation. We created man, and we know what his soul whispereth, and we are nearer to him than his jugular vein.
When the two note-takers take note, sitting on the right hand and on the left, Not a word doth he utter, but a watcher is by him ready. And the stupor of death shall come in truth;--“this is what thou would’st have avoided.” And the trumpet shall be blown,--that is the Day of the Threat! And every soul shall come, along with a driver and a witness-- “Thou didst not heed this: so we have taken away from thee thy veil, and to-day thy sight is keen.” And his companion shall say, “This is what I am ready to witness.” “Cast ye into Hell every unbelieving rebel, Hinderer of the good, transgressor, doubter, Who setteth up other gods with God; cast ye him into the fierce torment.” His companion shall say, “O our Lord! I misled him not; but he was in fathomless error.” God shall say, “Wrangle not before me, for I charged you before about the threat. My word does not change, and I am not unjust to my servants.” On that day will we say to Hell, “Art thou full?” and it shall say, “Is there more?” And Paradise shall be brought nigh to the righteous, not afar:-- “This is what ye were promised, unto every one who turneth himself to God and keepeth His laws, Who feareth the Merciful in secret, and cometh with a contrite heart; Enter it in peace:”--that is the Day of Eternity! They shall have what they please therein, and increase at our hands.
And how many generations have we destroyed before them, mightier than they in valour! then seek through the land--is there any refuge? Verily in that is a warning to him who hath a heart, or giveth ear, and is a beholder. And We created the heavens, and the earth, and what is between them, in six days, and no weariness touched us. Then be patient with what they say, magnify thy Lord with praise before the rising of the sun and its setting, And in the night magnify Him, and in the endings of the prayers. And give ear to the day when the crier shall cry from a near place, The day when they shall hear the shout in truth--that is the day of resurrection! Verily it is we who give life and death, and to us do all return. The day when the earth shall gape asunder over them suddenly--that is the gathering easy to us! We know well what they say: and thou art not a tyrant over them. But warn by the Korān him who feareth the threat. (l.)
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.