Koran Curious - A Guide for Infidels and Believers (38 page)
Read Koran Curious - A Guide for Infidels and Believers Online
Authors: C.J. Werleman
[77:15] Woe on that day to the rejectors.
[77:16] Did we not annihilate the earlier generations?
[77:17] Then we made others follow them?
[77:18] This is what we do to the criminals.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
A Meccan sura of forty verses, the theme of ‘The News’ is identical to the previous, concerning itself with the Hereafter.
[78:17] The Day of Decision is appointed.
[78:18] The day the horn is blown, and you come in throngs.
[78:19] The heaven will be opened like gates.
[78:20] The mountains will be removed, as if they were a mirage.
[78:21] Gehenna is inevitable.
[78:22] For the transgressors; it will be their abode.
[78:23] They stay in it for ages.
[78:24] They never taste in it coolness, nor a drink.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
An early Meccan sura of forty-six verses, ‘Those Who Drag Forth’ is essentially a repetitive theme of the previous two suras, with rewards and punishments stated for the believers and infidels.
[79:1] The (angels who) snatch (the souls of the disbelievers) forcibly.
[79:2] And those who gently take (the souls of the believers) joyfully.
[79:3] And those floating everywhere.
[79:4] Eagerly racing with one another –
[79:5] to carry out various commands.
[79:6] The day the quake quakes.
[79:7] Followed by the second blow.
[79:8] Certain minds will be terrified.
[79:9] Their eyes will be subdued.
[79:25] Consequently, GOD committed him to the retribution in the Hereafter, as well as in the first life.
[79:26] This is a lesson for the reverent.
[79:27] Are you more difficult to create than the heaven? He constructed it.
[79:28] He raised its masses, and perfected it.
[79:29] He made its night dark, and brightened its morn.
[79:30] He made the earth egg-shaped.
[79:31] From it, He produced its own water and pasture.
[79:32] He established the mountains.
[79:33] All this to provide life support for you and your animals.
[79:34] Then, when the great blow comes.
[79:35] That is the day when the human will remember everything he did.
[79:36] Hell will be brought into existence.
[79:37] As for the one who transgressed.
[79:38] Who was preoccupied with this life.
[79:39] Hell will be the abode.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
A Meccan sura comprising forty-two verses, ‘The Frowned’ tells the story of a blind man named Ibn Umm Maktum, who approached Muhammad with a question about Islam. The prophet didn’t like the question and dismissed him, but later that evening God sent down this sura. Muhammad claims God told him he had wronged, and that the Lord holds rich people in no higher esteem than the disadvantaged.
[80:1] He (Muhammad) frowned and turned away.
[80:2] When the blind man came to him.
[80:3] How do you know? He may purify himself.
[80:4] Or he may take heed, and benefit from the message.
[80:5] As for the rich man.
[80:6] You gave him your attention.
[80:7] Even though you could not guarantee his salvation.
[80:8] The one who came to you eagerly.
[80:9] And is really reverent.
[80:10] You ignored him.
[80:11] Indeed, this is a reminder.
[80:12] Whoever wills shall take heed.
[80:13] In honorable scriptures.
[80:14] Exalted and pure.
[80:15] (Written) by the hands of messengers.
[80:16] Who are honorable and righteous.
[80:17] Woe to the human being; he is so unappreciative!
[80:18] What did He create him from?
[80:19] From a tiny drop, He creates him and designs him.
[80:20] Then He points out the path for him.
[80:21] Then He puts him to death, and into the grave.
[80:22] When He wills, He resurrects him.
[80:23] He shall uphold His commandments.
[80:24] Let the human consider his food!
[80:25] We pour the water generously.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
An early Meccan sura of twenty-nine verses, Muhammad condemns the pagans for their practice of female infanticide.
[81:1] When the sun is rolled.
[81:2] The stars are crashed into each other.
[81:3] The mountains are wiped out.
[81:4] The reproduction is halted.
[81:5] The beasts are summoned.
[81:6] The oceans are set aflame.
[81:7] The souls are restored to their bodies.
[81:8] The girl who was buried alive is asked:
[81:9] For what crime was she killed?
[81:10] The records are made known.
[81:11] The heaven is removed.
[81:12] Hell is ignited.
[81:13] Paradise is presented.
[81:14] Every soul will know everything it brought.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
A Meccan sura of nineteen verses, ‘The Cleaving’ promises the Day of Resurrection, a day when all righteous soles will assemble in paradise.
[82:13] Surely, the pious have deserved bliss.
[82:14] While the wicked have deserved Hell.
[82:15] Will incur it on the Day of Judgment.
[82:16] They never leave it.
[82:17] Awesome is the Day of Judgment.
[82:18] What a day; the Day of Judgment!
[82:19] That is the day when no soul can help another soul, and all decisions, on that day, will belong to GOD.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
An early Meccan sura comprising thirty-six verses, ‘Those Who Stint’ is an address to the first Muslim converts regarding the Hereafter. Muhammad makes the point that every action a person makes is recorded and he or she will have to give account on the Day of Judgment.
Interestingly, Muhammad targets the immorality of unscrupulous business practices.
[83:1] Woe to the cheaters.
[83:2] Who demand full measure when receiving from the people.
[83:3] But when giving them the measures or weights, they cheat.
[83:4] Do they not know that they will be resurrected?
[83:5] On a tremendous day?
[83:6] That is the day when all people will stand before the Lord of the universe.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
An early Meccan sura comprising twenty-five verses, Muhammad provides details of the Day of Judgment whereby everyone will be questioned about their deeds in this world.
[84:6] O humans, you are irreversibly heading for a meeting with your Lord.
[84:7] As for the one who receives his record in his right hand,
[84:8] His reckoning will be easy.
[84:9] He will return to his people joyfully.
[84:10] As for the one who receives his record behind his back,
[84:11] He will be ridden with remorse.
[84:12] And will burn in Hell.
[84:13] He used to act arrogantly among his people.
[84:14] He thought that he will never be called to account.
[84:15] Yes indeed, his Lord was Seer of him.
[84:16] I solemnly swear by the rosy dusk.
[84:17] And the night as it spreads.
[84:18] And the moon and its phases.
[84:19] You will move from stage to stage.
[84:20] Why do they not believe?
[84:21] And when the Quran is recited to them, they do not fall prostrate.
[84:22] This is because those who disbelieved are rejecting (the Quran).
