Nay, I swear by the Day of Resurrection

Nay, I swear by the accusing soul (that this Scripture is true)

Thinketh man that We shall not assemble his bones

Yea, verily. We are Able to restore his very fingers

But man would fain deny what is before him

He asketh: When will be this Day of Resurrection

But when sight is confounded

And the moon is eclipsed

And sun and moon are united

On that day man will cry: Whither to flee

Alas! No refuge

Unto thy Lord is the recourse that day

On that day man is told the tale of that which he hath sent before and left behind

Oh, but man is a telling witness against himself

Although he tender his excuses

Stir not thy tongue herewith to hasten it

Lo! upon Us (resteth) the putting together thereof and the reading thereof

And when We read it, follow thou the reading

Then lo! upon Us (resteth) the explanation thereof

Nay, but ye do love the fleeting Now

And neglect the Hereafter

That day will faces be resplendent

Looking toward their Lord

And that day will other faces be despondent

Thou wilt know that some great disaster is about to fall on them

Nay, but when the life cometh up to the throat

And men say: Where is the wizard (who can save him now)

And he knoweth that it is the parting

And agony is heaped on agony

Unto thy Lord that day will be the driving

For he neither trusted, nor prayed

But he denied and flouted

Then went he to his folk with glee

Nearer unto thee and nearer

Again nearer unto thee and nearer (is the doom)

Thinketh man that he is to be left aimless

Was he not a drop of fluid which gushed forth

Then he became a clot; then (Allah) shaped and fashioned

And made of him a pair, the male and female

Is not He (Who doeth so) Able to bring the dead to life