88. Al-Ghashiyah

Has there reached you the report of the Overwhelming [event]?

Have you heard about the Overwhelming Event

Has the news of the Dominating Event reached you

[Some] faces, that Day, will be humbled,

On that Day, there shall be downcast faces

Some faces on that Day will be downcast

Working [hard] and exhausted.1

labouring, weary

Laboring, exhausted. (They were in motion without action. They toiled without clear direction)

They will [enter to] burn in an intensely hot Fire.

they shall enter a burning Fire

As they enter a sizzling Fire

They will be given drink from a boiling spring.

and will be made to drink from a boiling spring

Given to drink from a spring of burning anguish

For them there will be no food except from a poisonous, thorny plant

they shall have no food but thorns

No food for them but the bitterness of dry thorns (that they scattered to hurt others during their wayward journey through life)

Which neither nourishes nor avails against hunger.

which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger

Which nourishes not, nor relieves hunger

[Other] faces, that Day, will show pleasure.

Some faces on that Day will be radiant

On that Day some faces will shine with Bliss

With their effort [they are] satisfied

well pleased with the result of their striving

Happy with the fruit of their effort

In an elevated garden,

in a sublime garden

In a Garden exalted in honor

Wherein they will hear no unsuitable speech.1

where they will hear no idle talk

Wherein you hear not senseless speech

Within it is a flowing spring.

with a flowing spring

Therein is an ever-flowing Spring of Grace

Within it are couches raised high

raised couches

Therein are thrones of honor

And cups put in place

and goblets set at hand

And shiny glasses set at hand

And cushions lined up

cushions ranged

And cushions set in rows

And carpets spread around.

and carpets spread out

And silken carpets spread out

Then do they not look at the camels - how they are created?

Do they never reflect on the camels and how they were created

Will they not, then, look at: the water-laden clouds, how they are made

And at the sky - how it is raised?

and on the sky, how it is raised aloft

And at the sky, how it is raised high? (Without visible pillars)

And at the mountains - how they are erected?

and on the mountains, how they are firmly set up

And at the mountains, how they are entrenched

And at the earth - how it is spread out?

and on the earth, how it is spread out

And at the earth, how it is spread out? (That you do not even feel the sphere, nor feel its speedy rotations (31:10), (39:5)

So remind, [O Muḥammad]; you are only a reminder.

So, [O Prophet] exhort them: your task is only to exhort

(This is some evidence, O Messenger!) Remind them, for you are one to remind

You are not over them a controller.

you are not their keeper

You are not a task master over them

However, he who turns away and disbelieves

But whoever turns back and denies the truth

But whoever turns away and denies the Truth

Then Allāh will punish him with the greatest punishment.

will be punished by God with the greatest punishment

Allah will requite him with a great requital

Indeed, to Us is their return.

Certainly, it is to Us that they will return

Behold, unto Us is their return

Then indeed, upon Us is their account.

Then, surely, it is for Us to call them to account

Then it is for Us to call them to account