77. Al-Mursalat

By those [winds] sent forth in gusts

By the winds sent forth in swift succession

Witness are these Messages (to the Sublime Truth), sent forth one after another

And the winds that blow violently

and then storming on with a tempest's force

As they gain strength like a tempest

And [by] the winds that spread [clouds]

and the rain-spreading winds

And spread (the Truth) far and wide

And those [angels] who bring criterion1

separating one from another

While distinguishing the Right from Wrong with a clear distinction

And those [angels] who deliver a message.

by those who bring down the reminder

In order to deliver the Reminder (into the hearts)

As justification or warning,

to excuse some and warn others

Whether one erases his faults or sees the danger signs. ('Uzr' = Excuse = Justification = Good news = Reasoning = Attempt to get rid of one's shortcomings. 'Nuzr' = Warning = Posting danger signs)

Indeed, what you are promised is to occur.

that which you have been promised shall be fulfilled

Behold, all that you are promised in this Writ will come to pass

So when the stars are obliterated

When the stars lose their light

So when the stars lose their luster. (The small groups of opponents fade away)

And when the heaven is opened

and when the sky is rent asunder

And when the sky is rent asunder. (Every high tyrant is decimated)

And when the mountains are blown away

and when the mountains crumble into dust

And when the mountains are blown away as dust. (The great ones who enslave the weak float around like flakes of wool). (2)

And when the messengers' time has come...1

and when the messengers are brought together at the appointed time

And when all Messengers are summoned at the time appointed. (The unanimity of the Message of all Messengers will become evident)

For what Day was it postponed?1

for what Day has this been appointed

For what Day is the term delayed

For the Day of Judgement.

For the Day of Decision

For the Day of Decision

And what can make you know what is the Day of Judgement?

What will explain to you what the Day of Judgement is

And what will enlighten you what that Day of Decision is

Woe,1 that Day, to the deniers.

Woe on that Day to those who reject the truth

Anguish on that Day for those who deny the Truth in practice! ('Kizb' = Lie = Belie = Deny the Truth in practical dealings = Deny by action. 'Kufr' = Frank denial in word and action)

Did We not destroy the former peoples?

Did We not destroy the earlier peoples

Did We not annihilate the former generations

Then We will follow them with the later ones.

We will now cause the later ones to follow them

Then We made them followed by later generations

Thus do We deal with the criminals.

thus do We deal with the culprits

Thus do We always deal with the guilty

Woe, that Day, to the deniers.

Woe on that Day to those who reject the truth

Anguish on that Day for those who deny the Truth in practice

Did We not create you from a liquid disdained?

Did We not create you from a humble fluid

Did We not create you from a humble fluid? (How, then, you forget your common origin and being humble to one another)

And We placed it in a firm lodging [i.e., the womb]

then placed it in a secure repository [the womb]

Which We then kept in a safe place

For a known extent.

for an appointed term

For a term appointed

And We determined [it], and excellent [are We] to determine.

Thus We have determined the stages of development and Our power to determine is excellent indeed

Thus We have determined (all things). How excellent is Our determining! (Appointing due measure of all things)

Woe, that Day, to the deniers.

Woe on that Day to those who reject the truth

Anguish on that Day for those who deny the Truth in practice

Have We not made the earth a container

Have We not made the earth a receptacle

Have We not made the earth a vessel

Of the living and the dead?

for the living and the dead

Both for the living and the dead? (The cycle of life and death goes on right here). (3:27), (6:95), (1)

And We placed therein lofty, firmly set mountains and have given you to drink sweet water.

Have We not placed high mountains upon it and given you fresh water to drink

And placed therein firm lofty mountains (serving as water reservoirs), and given you fresh water to drink

Woe, that Day, to the deniers.

Woe on that Day to those who reject the truth

Anguish on that Day for those who deny the Truth in practice

[They will be told], "Proceed to that which you used to deny.

Proceed to that which you denied

Walk unto that which you used to belie

Proceed to a shadow [of smoke] having three columns.

Proceed to a shadow rising in three columns

Walk unto the threefold shadow

[But having] no cool shade and availing not against the flame."

affording neither shade, nor protection from the flames

Giving neither cooling shade nor shelter from the Flame

Indeed, it throws sparks [as huge] as a fortress,

and throwing up sparks as huge as towers

Behold, it throws up sparks huge as castles

As if they were yellowish [black] camels.

and as bright as a herd of yellow camels

Moving like the caravans of bright yellow camels

Woe, that Day, to the deniers.

Woe on that Day to those who reject the truth

Anguish on that Day for those who deny the Truth in practice

This is a Day they will not speak,

On that Day they will be speechless

This is a Day when they are not able to speak

Nor will it be permitted for them to make an excuse.

nor shall they be permitted to offer excuses

Nor will they be allowed to make excuses

Woe, that Day, to the deniers.

Woe on that Day to those who reject the truth

Anguish on that Day for those who deny the Truth in practice

This is the Day of Judgement; We will have assembled you and the former peoples.

This is the Day of Judgement. We have assembled you all together with past generations

This is the Day of Decision. We have brought you and the generations of old together

So if you have a plan, then plan against Me.

If now you have any strategy, use it against Me

Now, if you have a trick, try it against Me

Woe, that Day, to the deniers.

Woe on that Day to those who reject the truth

Anguish on that Day for those who deny the Truth in practice

Indeed, the righteous will be among shades and springs

The righteous shall dwell amidst cool shades and fountains

Behold, those who walk aright, are amid shades and springs

And fruits from whatever they desire,

and shall have fruits such as they desire

And fruit as they desire

[Being told], "Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you used to do."

[They will be told], "Eat and drink with relish in return for what you did [in life]

Enjoy, eat and drink. Welcome for what you have accomplished

Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.

this is how We reward those who do good

Behold, thus do We reward the doers of good to others

Woe, that Day, to the deniers.

[But] woe on that Day to those who reject the truth

Anguish on that Day for those who deny the Truth in practice

[O disbelievers], eat and enjoy yourselves a little; indeed, you are criminals.

Eat [your fill] and enjoy your life for a little while, O you who are lost in sin

Behold, you guilty ones! Enjoy and take your ease for a little while

Woe, that Day, to the deniers.

Woe on that Day to those who reject the truth

Anguish on that Day for those who deny the Truth in practice

And when it is said to them, "Bow [in prayer]," they do not bow.

When they are bidden to bow down, they do not bow down

And now when they are told, "Bow down", they bow not down! (They do not submit to Divine Commands)

Woe, that Day, to the deniers.

Woe on that Day to those who reject the truth

Anguish on that Day for those who deny the Truth in practice

Then in what statement after it [i.e., the Qur’ān] will they believe?

In which word then, after this, will they believe

In what Hadith, after this, will they believe