The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

75. THE RESURRECTION
A Meccan sura, dealing with the Day of Resurrection and man’s denial of that
Day. God’s power is convincingly described in several vignettes (verses 3–4,
26–30, 34–40). The third paragraph instructs the Prophet on appropriate
reception of the revelation (verses 16–19), and thereby serves to emphasize
that the Quran is indeed God’s word.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1 By a the Day of Resurrection 2 and by the self-reproaching soul!
3 Does man think We shall not put his bones back together?
4 In fact, We can reshape his very fingertips. 5 Yet man wants to
deny what is ahead of him: 6 he says, ‘So, when will this Day of
Resurrection be?’
7 When eyes are dazzled 8 and the moon eclipsed, 9 when the sun
and the moon are brought together, 10 on that Day man will say,
‘Where can I escape?’ 11 Truly, there is no refuge: 12 they will all
return to your Lord on that Day. 13 On that Day, man will be told
what he put first and what he put last. 14 Truly, man is a clear witness
against himself, 15 despite all the excuses he may put forward.
16 [Prophet], do not rush your tongue in an attempt to hasten
[your memorization of] the Revelation: 17 We shall make sure of its
safe collection and recitation. 18 When We have recited it, repeat the
recitation 19 and We shall make it clear.
20 Truly you [people] love this fleeting world 21 and neglect the life
to come. 22 On that Day there will be radiant faces, 23 looking towards
their Lord, 24 and on that Day there will be the sad and despairing
faces 25 of those who realize that a great calamity is about to befall
them.
26 Truly, when the soul reaches the collarbone; 27 when it is said,
‘Could any charm-healer save him now?’; 28 when he knows it is the
final parting; 29 when his legs are brought together: b 30 on that day he
will be driven towards your Lord. 31 He neither believed nor prayed,
a This is preceded by a phrase which can be rendered either ‘I swear’ or ‘I do not
swear’ (i.e. there is no need for me to swear), depending on how la is read.
b This is taken to refer to when a corpse is wrapped in the shroud.