The Human (Al-Insan)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
WAS THERE NOT a time in the life of man when he was not even a mentionable thing? 1 Lo! We create man from a drop of thickened fluid to test him; so We make him hearing, knowing. 2 Verily We! We shewed him the way; then he becometh either thankful or ingrate. 3 Verily We! We have gotten ready for the infidels chains and collars and a Blaze. 4 [whereas,] behold, the truly virtuous shall drink from a cup flavoured with the calyx of sweet-smelling flowers: 5 A spring wherefrom the slaves of Allah drink, making it gush forth abundantly, 6 They fulfill vows and fear a day the evil of which shall be spreading far and wide. 7 they give food, despite their love for it, to the poor and orphans and captives, 8 'We feed you only for the Face of God; we desire no recompense from you, no thankfulness; 9 for we fear from our Lord a frowning day, inauspicious. 10 So God will protect them from the evil of that day, and grant them happiness and joy, 11 and recompense them for their patience with a Garden, and robes of silk. 12 Reclining therein on raised couches, they shall find therein neither (the severe heat of) the sun nor intense cold. 13 the shading branches of trees will come down low over them, and their clusters of fruit, will hang down where they are the easiest to reach. 14 and there shall be passed around them vessels of silver, and goblets of crystal, 15 goblets bright as crystal but made of silver, filled to exact measure. 16 And in that [paradise] they will be given to drink of a cup flavoured with ginger, 17 drawn from a spring (in Paradise) called Salsabil. 18 ۞ And immortal youths will wait upon them: when thou seest them, thou wouldst deem them to be scattered pearls; 19 And when thou lookest, it is there thou wilt see a Bliss and a Realm Magnificent. 20 They [i.e., the virtuous] shall be attired in garments of fine green silk and rich brocade and will be adorned with bracelets of silver. Their Lord will give them a pure wine to drink. 21 'See, this is your recompense, your striving is thanked' 22