This beautiful Meccan Sura is not quite so early as the last (Sura 77) nor quite so late as Sura 76, but nearer in time to the latter. It sets forth Allah's loving care in a fine nature passage, and deduces from it the Promise of the Future, when Evil will be destroyed and Good will come to its own; and invites all who have the will, to seek refuge with their Lord.
C.258-(Verses 1 to 40)-The Great News for man, in his spiritual Destiny, is the Judgment to come, the Day of Sorting Out. Do not the Power, the Goodness, and the Justice of Allah reveal themselves in all nature? -- The Panorama around us, the voice in our souls, and the harmony between heaven and earth? That Day is sure to arrive at its time appointed, when behold! The present order will pass away. Then will the Fruits of Evil appear, and the Fruits of Righteousness. Allah's blessings will be more than the merits of men; but who can argue with the Fountain of Grace? And who can prevent the course of Justice? Let us then, before it becomes too late, betake ourselves to our Lord Most Gracious!
78:1 SURA 78. Nabaa, or The (Great) News. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Concerning what are they disputing?
78:2 Concerning the Great News,
78:3 About which they cannot agree.
78:4 Verily, they shall soon (come to) know!
78:5 Verily, verily they shall soon (come to) know!
78:6 Have We not made the earth as a wide Expanse,
78:7 And the mountains as pegs?
78:8 And (have We not) created you in pairs,
78:9 And made your sleep for rest,
78:10 And made the night as a covering,
78:11 And made the day as a means of subsistence?
78:12 And (have We not) built over you the seven firmaments,
78:13 And placed (therein) a Light of Splendor?
78:14 And do We not send down from the clouds water in abundance,
78:15 That We may produce therewith corn and vegetables,
78:16 And gardens of luxurious growth?
78:17 Verily the Day of Sorting Out is a thing appointed, --
78:18 The Day that the Trumpet shall be sounded, and ye shall come forth in crowds;
78:19 And the heavens shall be opened as if there were doors,
78:20 And the mountains shall vanish, as if they were a mirage.
78:21 Truly Hell is as a place of ambush, --
78:22 For the transgressors a place of destination:
78:23 They will dwell therein for ages.
78:24 Nothing cool shall they taste therein, nor any drink,
78:25 Save a boiling fluid and a fluid, dark, murky, intensely cold, --
78:26 A fitting recompense (for them).
78:27 For that they used not to fear any account (for their deeds),
78:28 But they (impudently) treated Our Signs as false.
78:29 And all things have We preserved on record.
78:30 "So taste ye (the fruits of your deeds); for no increase shall We grant you, except in Punishment. "
78:31 Section 2. Verily for the Righteous there will be a fulfillment of (the Heart's) desires;
78:32 Gardens enclosed, and Grapevines;
78:33 Companions of Equal Age;
78:34 And a Cup full (to the Brim).
78:35 No Vanity shall they hear therein, nor Untruth; --
78:36 Recompense from thy Lord, a Gift, (amply) sufficient, --
78:37 (From) the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and all between, -- (Allah) Most Gracious: None shall have power to argue with Him.
78:38 The Day that the Spirit and the angels will stand forth in ranks, none shall speak except any who is permitted by (Allah) Most Gracious, and he will say what is right.
78:39 That Day will be the sure Reality: Therefore, whoso will, let him take a (straight) Return to his Lord!
78:40 Verily, We have warned you of a Penalty near, -- the Day when man will see (the Deeds) which his hands have sent forth, and the Unbeliever will say, "Woe unto me! Would that I were (mere) dust!"
