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Sale, 1734

CHAP. LXXXIV.

Intitled, The Rending in sunder; revealed at Mecca [a] .


In the name of the most merciful God.
WHEN the heaven shall be rent in sunder, and shall obey its Lord, and shall be capable thereof; and when the earth shall be stretched out [b] , and shall cast forth that which is therein [c] , and shall remain empty, and shall obey its Lord, and shall be capable thereof: O man, verily labouring thou labourest to meet thy Lord, and thou shalt meet him [d] . And he who shall have his book given into his right hand shall be called to an easy account, and shall turn unto his family [e] with joy: but he who shall have his book given him behind his back [f] , shall invoke destruction to fall upon him, and he shall be sent into hell to be burned; because he rejoiced insolently amidst his family on earth. Verily he thought he should never return unto God : yea verily, but his Lord beheld him. Wherefore I swear [g] by the redness of the sky after sunset, and by the night, and the animals which it driveth together, and by the moon when she is in the full; ye shall surely be transferred successively from state to state [h] . What aileth them, therefore, that they believe not the resurrection; and that, when the Koran is read unto them, they worship not [i] ? Yea: the unbelievers accuse the same of imposture: but God well knoweth the malice [486] which they keep hidden in their breasts. Wherefore denounce unto them a grievous punishment, except those who believe and do good works: for them is prepared a never failing reward.

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[a] There are some who take this chapter to have been revealed at Medina.

[b] When the earth shall be stretched out;] Like a skin; every mountain and hill being levelled.

[c] And shall cast forth that which is therein;] As the treasures hidden in its bowels, and the dead bodies which lye in their graves.

[d] And thou shalt meet him;] Or, And thou shalt meet thy labour; whether thy works be good, or whether they be evil

[e] His family;] i.e. His relations or friends who are true believers; or rather, to his wives and servants, of the damsels and youths of paradise, who wait to receive him [1] .

[1] Idem.

[f] Behind his back;] That is, into his left hand; for the wicked will have that hand bound behind their back, and their right hand to their neck.

[g] I swear;] Or, I will not swear. See chap. 56. p. 436. not. f.

[h] Ye shall surely be transferred from state to state to another;] i.e. From the state of the living, to that of the dead; and from the state of the dead, to a new state of life in another world.

[i] They worship not;] Or, humble not themselves.