CHAPTER 70.  THE WAYS OF ASCENT                                       SECTION 1.  PART XXIX 

IN THE NAME OF GOD
THE MOST GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL GOD

1  A QUESTION WAS ASKED ABOUT A PENALTY BY A QUESTIONER

2  THE WHICH THERE IS NONE TO AVERT FROM THE DISBELIEVERS

3  A PUNISHMENT
FROM THE LORD OF THE WAYS OF ASCENT

4  THE ANGELS ASCEND TO HIM IN A DAY THE MEASURE  
OF WHICH IS AS FIFTY THOUSAND YEARS 

5  THEREFORE BE PATIENT WITH CONTENTMENT

6  THEY SEE THE DAY AS A FAR OFF EVENT

7  BUT WE SEE IT AS A QUITE NEAR EVENT

8  THE DAY THAT LIKE MOLTEN BRASS THE SKY WILL BE 

9  AND LIKE WOOL THE MOUNTAINS WILL BE 

10  AND NO FRIEND
WILL ASK AFTER A FRIEND

11  THOUGH THEY WILL BE PUT IN SIGHT OF EACH OTHER
TO SACRIFICE HIS CHILDREN WOULD BE THE SINNER'S DESIRE 
IF IT WOULD REDEEM HIM FROM THE FIRE

12  HIS WIFE AND HIS BROTHER

13  HIS KINDRED WHO HAVE HIM SHELTER

14  AND ALL THAT IS ON EARTH SO THAT HIM IT COULD DELIVER

15  BY NO MEANS FOR IT WOULD BE HELL FIRE

16  RIGHT TO THE SKULL AND PLUCKING
OUT HIS VERY BEING

17  INVITING ALL THOSE WHO TURN THEIR BACKS IN FLIGHT
AND TURN AWAY THEIR FACES AWAY FROM RIGHT

18  AND COLLECT WEALTH AND HIDE IT FROM USE FOR RIGHT

19  TRULY MAN WAS CREATED VERY IMPATIENT

20  FRETFUL WHEN TOUCHED WITH TORMENT

21  AND MISERLY WHEN TOUCHED BY GOOD, UNWILLING TO SHARE

22  NOT SO THOSE DEVOTED TO PRAYER

23  WHO ARE CONSTANT IN THEIR PRAYER

566
CHAPTER 70.  THE WAYS OF ASCENT                      SECTION 1 (CONT'D). PART XXIX 

24  AND THOSE IN WHOSE WEALTH IS A RECOGNIZED RIGHT 

25  FOR THE BEGGAR AND THE DESTITUTE ALIKE

26  AND THOSE WHO TO THE DAY OF JUDGMENT HOLD TO RIGHT

27  AND THOSE WHO FEAR THEIR LORD'S DISLIKE

28  FOR THEIR LORD'S DISLIKE IS SURELY
THE OPPOSITE OF PEACE AND TRANQUILLITY

29  AND THOSE WHO GUARD THEIR CHASTITY

30  EXCEPT WITH THEIR WIVES AND WHOM THEIR RIGHT HANDS POSSESS 
FOR THEN IN THAT CASE THEY ARE BLAMELESS

31  BUT THOSE WHO ARE TRESPASSERS
BEYOND THIS ARE TRANSGRESSORS

32  AND THOSE WHO RESPECT THEIR TRUSTS AND COVENANTS

33  AND THOSE WHO STAND FIRM ON THEIR TESTAMENTS

34  AND THOSE WHO GUARD THE SACREDNESS OF THEIR WORSHIPS

35  THEY WILL BE THE HONORED ONES IN THE GARDEN OF BLISS

567
CHAPTER 70.  THE WAYS OF ASCENT                                       SECTION 2.  PART XXIX 

36  WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH THE DISBELIEVERS AMONG YOU
THAT THEY RUSH MADLY BEFORE YOU?

37  FROM THE RIGHT AND FROM THE LEFT OF YOU?

38  DOES EVERY MAN AMONG THEM LONG TO ENTER 
THE GARDEN OF BLISS WHEREIN FLOW RIVERS?

39  BY NO MEANS, FOR WE HAVE CREATED THEM 
OUT OF THE BASE MATTER KNOWN TO THEM

40  NOW I CALL TO WITNESS THE LORD OF THE EASTERN LANDS
AND THE LORD AND SUSTAINER OF THE WESTERN LANDS
THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY IN OUR PLANS

41  SUBSTITUTE FOR THEM BETTER MEN  
WE ARE NOT TO BE DEFEATED OUR PLAN

42  SO LEAVE THEM TO PLUNGE IN VAIN TALK AND PLAY 
UNTIL THEY ENCOUNTER THAT PROMISED DAY 

43  WHEN THEY WILL ISSUE FROM THEIR GRAVES ALL OF A SUDDEN  
AS IF THEY WERE RUSHING TO A FIXED DESTINATION

44  THEIR EYES LOWERED IN DEJECTION, IGNOMINY COVERING THEM 
THIS IS THE DAY WHICH IS PROMISED TO THEM

 

568