HAS THERE [not] been an endless span of time before man [appeared - a time] when he was not yet a thing to be thought of
Verily, it is We who have created man out of a drop of sperm intermingled, so that We might try him [in his later life]: and therefore We made him a being endowed with hearing and sight
Verily, We have shown him the way: [and it rests with him to prove himself] either grateful or ungrateful
[Now,] behold, for those who deny the truth We have readied chains and shackles, and a blazing flam
[whereas,] behold, the truly virtuous shall drink from a cup flavoured with the calyx of sweet-smelling flowers
a source [of bliss] whereof God's servants shall drink, seeing it flow in a flow abundant
[The truly virtuous are] they [who] fulfil their vows, and stand in awe of a Day the woe of which is bound to spread far and wide
and who give food - however great be their own want of it - unto the needy, and the orphan, and the captive
[saying, in their hearts,] "We feed you for the sake of God alone: we desire no recompense from you, nor thanks
behold, we stand in awe of our Sustainer's judgment on a distressful, fateful Day!"
And so, God will preserve them from the woes of that Day, and will bestow on them brightness and joy
and will reward them for all their patience in adversity with a garden [of bliss] and with [garments of] silk
In that [garden] they will on couches recline, and will know therein neither [burning] sun nor cold severe
since its [blissful] shades will come down low over them, and low will hang down its clusters of fruit, most easy to reach
And they will be waited upon with vessels of silver and goblets that will [seem to] be crystal –
crystal-like, [but] of silver - the measure whereof they alone will determine
And in that [paradise] they will be given to drink of a cup flavoured with ginger
[derived from] a source [to be found] therein, whose name is "Seek Thy Way"
And immortal youths will wait upon them: when thou seest them, thou wouldst deem them to be scattered pearls
and when thou seest [anything that is] there thou wilt see [only] bliss and a realm transcenden
Upon those [blest] will be garments of green silk and brocade; and they will be adorned with bracelets of silver. And their Sustainer will give them to drink of a drink most pure
[And they will be told:] "Verily, all this is your reward since Your endeavour [in life] has met [God's] goodly acceptance!"
VERILY, [O believer,] it is We who have bestowed from on high this Qur’an upon thee, step by step - truly a bestowal from on high
Await, then, in all patience thy Sustainer's judgment, and pay no heed to any of them, who is a wilful sinner or an ingrate
and bear in mind thy Sustainer's name at morn and evening
and during some of the night, and prostrate thyself before Him, and extol His limitless glory throughout the long night
Behold, they [who are unmindful of God] love this fleeting life, and leave behind them [all thought of] a grief-laden Day
[They will not admit to themselves that] it We who have created them and strengthened their make - and [that] if it be Our will We can replace them entirely with others of their kind
VERILY, all this is an admonition: whoever, then, so wills, may unto his Sustainer find a way
But you cannot will it unless God wills [to show you that way]: for, behold, God is indeed all-seeing, wise
He admits unto His grace everyone who wills [to be admitted]; but as for the evildoers - for them has He readied grievous suffering [in the life to come]