Al-Insan

hal atā ʿalā l-insāni ḥīnun mina l-dahri lam yakun shayan madhkūran

Was there not a period of time when man was nothing to speak of ?

innā khalaqnā l-insāna min nuṭ'fatin amshājin nabtalīhi fajaʿalnāhu samīʿan baṣīran

We created man from a drop of mingled fluid to put him to the test; We gave him hearing and sight;

innā hadaynāhu l-sabīla immā shākiran wa-immā kafūran

We guided him to the right path, whether he was grateful or not.

innā aʿtadnā lil'kāfirīna salāsilā wa-aghlālan wasaʿīran

We have prepared chains, iron collars, and blazing Fire for the disbelievers, but

inna l-abrāra yashrabūna min kasin kāna mizājuhā kāfūran

the righteous will have a drink mixed with kafur,

ʿaynan yashrabu bihā ʿibādu l-lahi yufajjirūnahā tafjīran

a spring for God’s servants, which flows abundantly at their wish.

yūfūna bil-nadhri wayakhāfūna yawman kāna sharruhu mus'taṭīran

They fulfil their vows; they fear a day of widespread woes;

wayuṭ'ʿimūna l-ṭaʿāma ʿalā ḥubbihi mis'kīnan wayatīman wa-asīran

they give food to the poor, the orphan, and the captive, though they love it themselves,

innamā nuṭ'ʿimukum liwajhi l-lahi lā nurīdu minkum jazāan walā shukūran

saying, ‘We feed you for the sake of God alone: We seek neither recompense nor thanks from you.

innā nakhāfu min rabbinā yawman ʿabūsan qamṭarīran

We fear the Day of our Lord––a woefully grim Day.’

fawaqāhumu l-lahu sharra dhālika l-yawmi walaqqāhum naḍratan wasurūran

So God will save them from the woes of that Day, give them radiance and gladness,

wajazāhum bimā ṣabarū jannatan waḥarīran

and reward them, for their steadfastness, with a Garden and silken robes.

muttakiīna fīhā ʿalā l-arāiki lā yarawna fīhā shamsan walā zamharīran

They will sit on couches, feeling neither scorching heat nor biting cold,

wadāniyatan ʿalayhim ẓilāluhā wadhullilat quṭūfuhā tadhlīlan

with shady [branches] spread above them and clusters of fruit hanging close at hand.

wayuṭāfu ʿalayhim biāniyatin min fiḍḍatin wa-akwābin kānat qawārīrā

They will be served with silver plates

qawārīrā min fiḍḍatin qaddarūhā taqdīran

and gleaming silver goblets according to their fancy,

wayus'qawna fīhā kasan kāna mizājuhā zanjabīlan

and they will be given a drink infused with ginger

ʿaynan fīhā tusammā salsabīlan

from a spring called Salsabil.

wayaṭūfu ʿalayhim wil'dānun mukhalladūna idhā ra-aytahum ḥasib'tahum lu'lu-an manthūran

Everlasting youths will attend them––if you could see them, you would think they were scattered pearls––

wa-idhā ra-ayta thamma ra-ayta naʿīman wamul'kan kabīran

and if you were to look around, you would see bliss and great wealth:

ʿāliyahum thiyābu sundusin khuḍ'run wa-is'tabraqun waḥullū asāwira min fiḍḍatin wasaqāhum rabbuhum sharāban ṭahūran

they will wear garments of green silk and brocade; they will be adorned with silver bracelets; their Lord will give them a pure drink.

inna hādhā kāna lakum jazāan wakāna saʿyukum mashkūran

[It will be said], ‘This is your reward. Your endeavours are appreciated.’

innā naḥnu nazzalnā ʿalayka l-qur'āna tanzīlan

We Ourself have sent down this Quran to you [Prophet] in gradual revelation.

fa-iṣ'bir liḥuk'mi rabbika walā tuṭiʿ min'hum āthiman aw kafūran

Await your Lord’s Judgement with patience; do not yield to any of these sinners or disbelievers;

wa-udh'kuri is'ma rabbika buk'ratan wa-aṣīlan

remember the name of your Lord at dawn and in the evening;

wamina al-layli fa-us'jud lahu wasabbiḥ'hu laylan ṭawīlan

bow down before Him, and glorify Him at length by night.

inna hāulāi yuḥibbūna l-ʿājilata wayadharūna warāahum yawman thaqīlan

These people love the fleeting life. They put aside [all thoughts of] a Heavy Day.

naḥnu khalaqnāhum washadadnā asrahum wa-idhā shi'nā baddalnā amthālahum tabdīlan

Yet We created them; We strengthened their constitution; if We please, We can replace such people completely.

inna hādhihi tadhkiratun faman shāa ittakhadha ilā rabbihi sabīlan

This is a reminder. Let whoever wishes, take the way to his Lord.

wamā tashāūna illā an yashāa l-lahu inna l-laha kāna ʿalīman ḥakīman

But you will only wish to do so if God wills- God is all knowing, all wise-

yud'khilu man yashāu fī raḥmatihi wal-ẓālimīna aʿadda lahum ʿadhāban alīman

He admits whoever He will into His Mercy and has prepared a painful torment for the disbelievers.