_In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful._
The Hour approacheth and the MOON is cleft asunder.
But if they see a sign they turn aside, and say “Useless magic!”
And they call it a lie, and follow their own lusts:--but everything
is ordained.
Yet there came to them messages of forbiddance--
Wisdom supreme--but warners serve not!
Then turn from them: the Day when the Summoner shall summon to a
matter of trouble,
With eyes cast down shall they come forth from their graves, as if
they were scattered locusts,
Hurrying headlong to the summoner: the unbelievers shall say, “This
is a hard day!”
The people of Noah, before them, called it a lie, and they called
our servant a liar, and said, “Mad!” and he was rejected.
Then he besought his Lord, “Verily I am overpowered: defend me.”
So we opened the gates of heaven with water pouring forth,
And we made the earth break out in springs, and the waters met by
an order foreordained;
And we carried him on a vessel of planks and nails,
Which sailed on beneath our eyes;--a reward for him who had been
disbelieved.
And we left it as a sign; but doth any one mind?
_And what was my torment and warning?_
_And we have made the Korān easy for reminding; but doth anyone
mind?_
Ad called it a lie; _but what was my torment and warning?_
Lo, we sent against them a biting wind on a day of settled ill-luck.
It tore men away as though they were trunks of palm-trees torn-up.
_But what was my torment and warning?_
_And we have made the Korān easy for reminding; but doth any one
mind?_
Thamūd called the warning a lie:
And they said, “A single mortal from among ourselves shall we
follow? verily then we should be in error and madness.
Is the reminding committed to him alone among us? Nay, he is an
insolent liar.”
They shall know to-morrow about the insolent liar!
Lo! we will send the she-camel to prove them: so mark them well,
and be patient.
And predict to them that the water shall be divided between
themselves and her, every draught taken in turn.
But they called their companion, and he took and hamstrung her--
_And what was my torment and warning?_
Lo! we sent against them one shout; and they became like the dry
sticks of the hurdle-maker.
_And we have made the Korān easy for reminding; but doth any one
mind?_
The people of Lot called the warning a lie;--
Lo! we sent a sand-storm against them, except the family of Lot,
whom we delivered at daybreak
As a favour from us; thus do we reward the thankful.
And he had warned them of our attack, but they misdoubted the
warning;
And they sought his guests, so we put out their eyes.
“_So taste ye my torment and warning!_”
And in the morning there overtook them a punishment abiding.
“_So taste my torment and warning._”
_And we have made the Korān easy for reminding; but doth any one
mind?_
And there came a warning to the people of Pharaoh:
They called our signs all a lie: so we gripped them with the grip
of omnipotent might.
Are your unbelievers better men than those? Is there immunity for
you in the Books?
Do they say, “We are a company able to defend itself?”
They shall all be routed, and turn their backs.
Nay, but the Hour is their threatened time, and the Hour shall be
most grievous and bitter.
Verily the sinners are in error and madness!
One day they shall be dragged into the fire on their faces: “_Taste
ye the touch of Hell._”
Verily all things have we created by a decree,
And our command is but one moment, like the twinkling of an eye.
And we have destroyed the like of you:--_but doth any one mind?_
And everything that they do is in the Books;
Everything, little and great, is written down.
Verily the pious shall be amid gardens and rivers,
In the seat of truth, before the King Omnipotent.
(liv.)