Nay! I swear by (or call to witness) the Day of Resurrection.
Nay! I swear by (or call to witness) the self-accusing soul.
Does man think that We shall not gather his bones?
Yea! We are able to make complete his very fingertips
Nay! Man desires to give the lie to what is before him.
He asks, "When is the day of resurrection?"
So when the sight becomes dazzled,
And the moon becomes dark,
And the sun and the moon are brought together,
Man shall say on that day, "Whither can I flee for refuge?"
By no means! There shall be no place of refuge!
With your Lord alone shall on that day be the place of rest.
Man shall on that day be informed of what he sent before and what he put off.
Nay! Man is telling evidence against himself,
Though he puts forth his excuses.
Move not your tongue with it (the Quran) to make haste with it,
Surely it is for Us to collect it and to recite (or enact) it.
Therefore when We have recited it, follow its recitation.
Nay, more, it is for Us to explain (and clarify) it.
Nay! But you do love the fleeting Now,
And neglect the Hereafter.
Some faces on that Day shall be bright,
Looking to their Lord.
And other faces on that Day shall be gloomy,
Knowing that there will be made to befall them some great calamity.
Nay! When the soul comes up to the throat,
And it is said, "Who will be a magician (to restore him)?
And he is sure that it is the time of parting
And one leg will be tied to another (i.e. after death);
To your Lord on that day shall be the driving.
So he did not accept the truth, nor did he pray,
But called the truth a lie and turned back,
Then he went to his folk, arrogant.
Nearer unto you and nearer (comes the doom),
Again, nearer unto you and nearer (comes the doom).
Does man think that he is to be left to wander aimless (or purposeless)?
Was he not a small seed in the seminal elements,
Then he was a clot of blood, so He created (him) then made (him) perfect.
Then He made of him two kinds, the male and the female.
Is not He able to give life to the dead?