Al-Qamar

THE LAST HOUR draws near, and the moon is split asunder!

But if they [who reject all thought of the Last Hour] were to see a sign [of its approach], they would turn aside and say, “An ever-recurring delusion!” –

for they are bent on giving it the lie, being always wont to follow their own desires. Yet everything reveals its truth in the end.

And withal, there has come unto them many a tiding that should have restrained [their arrogance]:

far-reaching wisdom [was held out to them]: but [since] all warnings have been of no avail,

turn thou away from them. On the Day when the Summoning Voice will sum­mon [man] unto something that the mind cannot conceive,

they will come forth from their graves, with their eyes downcast, [swarming about] like locusts scattered [by the wind],

running in con­fusion towards the Summoning Voice; [and] those who [now] deny the truth will exclaim, “Calamitous is this Day!”

[LONG] BEFORE those [who now deny resurrec­tion] did Noah’s people call it a lie; and they gave the lie to Our servant and said, “Mad is he!” - and he was repulsed.

Thereupon he called out to his Sustainer, “Verily, I am defeated; come Thou, then, to my succour!”

And so We caused the gates of heaven to open with water pouring down in torrents,

and caused the earth to burst forth with springs, so that the waters met for a purpose pre-ordained:

but him We bore on that [vessel] made of [mere] planks and nails,

and it floated under Our eyes: a recom­pense for him who had been rejected with ingratitude.

And, indeed, We have caused such [floating vessels] to remain forever a sign [of Our grace unto man]: who, then, is willing to take it to heart?