The Qur'an (Palmer)/Rahman

The Chapter of the Merciful.

(ⅬⅤ. Mecca.)

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God.

The Merciful taught the Qurʼân ;

He created man, taught him plain speech.

The sun and the moon have their appointed time ;

⁵ The herbs and the trees adore ;

And the heavens, He raised them and set the balance, that ye should not be outrageous in the balance ;

But weigh ye aright, and stint not the balance.

And the earth He has set it for living creatures; ¹⁰ therein are fruits and palms, with sheaths; and grain with chaff and frequent shoots ;

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

He created men of crackling clay like the potters. And He created the ginn from smokeless fire.

¹⁵ Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

The Lord of the two easts^[1] and the Lord of the two wests !

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

He has let loose the two seas that meet together ; ²⁰ between them is a barrier they cannot pass !

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

He brings forth from each pearls both large and small !

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

His are the ships which rear aloft in the sea like mountains.

²⁵ Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

Every one upon it^[2] is transient, but the face of thy Lord endowed with majesty and honour shall endure.

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

Of Him whosoever is in the heaven and the earth does beg; every day He is in (some fresh) business !

³⁰ Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

We shall be at leisure for you, O ye two weighty ones^[3]!

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

O assembly of ginns and mankind ! if ye are able to pass through the confines of heaven and earth

then pass through them ! — ye cannot pass through save by authority !

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

³⁵ There shall be sent against you a flash of fire, and molten copper, and ye shall not be helped !

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

And when the heaven is rent asunder and become rosy red^[4] — (melting) like grease !

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

On that day neither man nor ginn shall be asked about his crime !

⁴⁰ Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

The sinners shall be known by their marks, and shall be seized by the forelock and the feet !

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

‘ This is hell, which the sinners did call a lie ! they shall circulate between it and water boiling quite !’

⁴⁵ Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

But for him who fears the station of his Lord are gardens twain !

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

Both furnished with branching trees.

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

⁵⁰ In each are flowing springs.

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

In each are, of every fruit, two kinds.

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

Reclining on beds the linings of which are of brocade, and the fruit of the two gardens within reach to cull.

⁵⁵ Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

Therein are maids of modest glances whom no man nor ginn has deflowered before.

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

As though they were rubies and pearls.

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

⁶⁰ Is the reward of goodness aught but goodness ?

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

And besides these, are gardens twain^[5],

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will be twain deny ?

With dark green foliage.

⁶⁵ Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

In each two gushing springs.

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

In each fruit and palms and pomegranates.

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

⁷⁰ In them maidens best and fairest !

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

Bright and large-eyed maids kept in their tents.

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

Whom no man nor ginn has deflowered before them.

⁷⁵ Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

Reclining on green cushions and beautiful carpets.

Then which of your Lord’s bounties will ye twain deny ?

Blessed be the name of thy Lord possessed of majesty and honour!

   

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Footnotes

1. See p. 214, note 1.
2. The earth.
3. I. e. mankind and the ginn ; the meaning is, that God will have leisure to judge them both.
4. The word is also said to mean red leather.
5. For the inferior inhabitants of Paradise.