Quran — Page 576

Behold, [when Our messages are conveyed to one who is bent on denying the truth,] he reflects and meditates [as to how to disprove them] –

and thus he destroys himself, the way he meditates:

yea, he destroys himself, the way he meditates!

and then he looks [around for new arguments],

and then he frowns and glares,

and in the end he turns his back [on Our message], and glories in his arrogance,

and says, "All this is mere spellbinding eloquence handed down [from olden times]!

This is nothing but the word of mortal man!"

[Hence,] I shall cause him to endure hell-fire [in the life to come]!

And what could make thee conceive what hell-fire is?

It does not allow to live, and neither leaves [to die],

making [all truth] visible to mortal man.

Over it are nineteen [powers].

For We have caused none but angelic powers to lord over the fire [of hell]; and We have not caused their number to be aught but a trial for those who are bent on denying the truth - to the end that they who have been granted revelation aforetime might be convinced [of the truth of this divine writ]; and that they who have attained to faith [in it] might grow yet more firm in their faith; and that [both] they who have been granted the earlier revelation and they who believe [in this one] might be freed of all doubt; and that they in whose hearts is disease and the who deny the truth outright might ask, "What does [your] God mean by this parable?" In this way God lets go astray him that wills [to go astray], and guides aright him that wills [to be guided]. And none can comprehend thy Sustainers forces save Him alone: and all this is but a reminder to mortal man.

NAY, but consider the moon!

Consider the night when it departs,

and the morn when it dawns!

Verily, that [hell-fire) is Indeed one of the great [forewarnings] –

a warning to mortal man –

to everyone of you, whether he chooses to come forward or to hang back!

[On the Day of Judgment,] every human being will be held in pledge for whatever [evil] he has wrought –

save those who shall have attained to righteousness:

[dwelling] In gardens [of paradise], they will inquire

of those who were lost in sin:

"What has brought you into hell-fire?"

They will answer: "We were not among those who prayed;

and neither did we feed the needy;

and we were wont to indulge in sinning together with all [the others] who indulged in it;

and the Day of Judgment we were wont to call a lie –

until certainty came upon us [in death]."