When the Terror descend
(and none denies its descending
abasing, exalting
when the earth shall be rocked
and the mountains crumble
and become a dust, scattered
and you shall be three bands -
Companions of the Right (O Companions of the Right!
Companions of the Left (O Companions of the Left!
and the Outstrippers: the Outstripper
those are they brought nigh the Throne
in the Gardens of Delight
(a throng of the ancient)
and how few of the later folk
upon close-wrought couche
reclining upon them, set face to face
immortal youths going round about the
with goblets, and ewers, and a cup from a spring
(no brows throbbing, no intoxication
and such fruits as they shall choose
and such flesh of fowl as they desire
and wide-eyed houri
as the likeness of hidden pearls
a recompense for that they laboured
Therein they shall hear no idle talk, no cause of sin
only the saying 'Peace, Peace!
The Companions of the Right (O Companions of the Right!
mid thornless lote-tree
and serried acacias
and spreading shad
and outpoured waters
and fruits aboundin
unfailing, unforbidden
and upraised couches
Perfectly We formed them, perfect
and We made them spotless virgins
chastely amorous
like of age for the Companions of the Right
A throng of the ancient
and a throng of the later folk
The Companions of the Left (O Companions of the Left!
mid burning winds and boiling water
and the shadow of a smoking blaze
neither cool, neither goodly
and before that they lived at ease
and persisted in the Great Sin
ever saying, 'What, when we are dead and become dust and bones, shall we indeed be raised up
What, and our fathers, the ancients?
Say: 'The ancients, and the later fol
shall be gathered to the appointed time of a known day
Then you erring ones, you that cried lies
you shall eat of a tree called Zakkoum
and you shall fill therewith your bellies
and drink on top of that boiling water
lapping it down like thirsty camels.
This shall be their hospitality on the Day of Doom
We created you; therefore why will you not believe
Have you considered the seed you spill
Do you yourselves create it, or are We the Creators
We have decreed among you Death; We shall not be outstripped
that We may exchange the likes of you, and make you to grow again in a fashion you know not
You have known the first growth; so why will you not remember
Have you considered the soil you till
Do you yourselves sow it, or are We the Sowers
Did We will, We would make it broken orts, and you would remain bitterly jesting -
'We are debt-loaded
nay, we have been robbed!
Have you considered the water you drink
Did you send it down from the clouds, or did We send it
Did We will, We would make it bitter; so why are you not thankful
Have you considered the fire you kindle
Did you make its timber to grow, or did We make it
We Ourselves made it for a reminder, and a boon to the desert-dwellers
Then magnify the Name of thy Lord, the All-mighty
No! I swear by the fallings of the star
(and that is indeed a mighty oath, did you but know it
it is surely a noble Kora
in a hidden Book
none but the purified shall touch
a sending down from the Lord of all Being
What, do you hold this discourse in disdain
and do you make it your living to cry lies
Why, but when the soul leaps to the throat of the dying
and that hour you are watchin
(And We are nigher him than you, but you do not see Us
why, if you are not at Our disposal
do you not bring back his soul, if you speak truly
Then, if he be of those brought nigh the Throne
there shall be repose and ease, and a Garden of Delight
and if he be a Companion of the Right
'Peace be upon thee, Companion of the Right!
But if he be of them that cried lies, and went astray
there shall be a hospitality of boiling water
and the roasting in Hell
Surely this is the truth of certainty
Then magnify the Name of thy Lord, the All-mighty