۞ [And God will thus command:] "Assemble all those who were bent on evildoing, together with others of their ilk and [with] all that they were wont to worship 22 Instead of Allah, and lead them to the path to hell; 23 and stop them there for questioning: 24 What aileth you that ye help not one another? 25 They will submit to questioning then, 26 And they will turn to one another and question one another. 27 They will say: verily ye! ye were wont to come unto us Imposing. 28 They will say: nay! ye yourselves were not believers. 29 Moreover, we had no power at all over you: nay, you were people filled with overweening arrogance! 30 “So the Word of our Lord has proved true upon us; we will surely have to taste (the punishment).” 31 So we led you astray, for we ourselves were erring. 32 Truly, that Day, they will (all) share in the Penalty. 33 As such We shall deal with the evildoers. 34 Truly, when it was said to them: La ilaha ill-Allah "(none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)," they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it). 35 and said: “Shall we forsake our deities for the sake of a distracted poet?” 36 Nay: he has come with the truth and verified the apostles. 37 “You surely have to taste the painful punishment.” 38 But it will be no more than the retribution of (the Evil) that ye have wrought;- 39 Except the chosen creatures of God, 40 Those will have a provision determined - 41 Fruits; and they will be honoured. 42 In gardens of pleasure 43 upon couches, set face to face, 44 They will be served with a cup full of crystal clear wine, 45 White, a pleasure unto the drinkers. 46 but not harmful or intoxicating. 47 And with them shall be damsels of refraining looks, large-eyed 48 As if they were eggs carefully protected. 49 Then one turned to the other in an enquiry. 50 One of them will say: “I had a companion in the world 51 “Who used to tell me, ‘Do you believe it is true?’ – 52 [that] after we have died and become mere dust and bones we shall, forsooth, be brought to judgment?"' 53 He will say: -- Do you wish to know where he is now?' 54 He will look down and see him in hell. 55 and says: "By God! Verily, thou hast almost destroyed me [too, O my erstwhile companion] 56 But for my Lord's blessing, I were one of the arraigned. 57 Is it then that we are not going to die, 58 except for our first death? And shall we suffer no chastisement?'” 59 This is indeed the mighty triumph, 60 It is for the like of this that all should strive. 61 Is Paradise a better accommodation or the tree of zaqqum? 62 Truly We have made it (as) a trail for the Zalimun (polytheists, disbelievers, wrong-doers, etc.). 63 for, behold, it is a tree that grows in the very heart of the blazing fire [of hell,] 64 Its emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils. 65 They will eat from it and fill their bellies with it; 66 Then after it, indeed for them is the drink of boiling hot water. 67 Then thereafter, verily, their return is to the flaming fire of Hell. 68 Verily, they found their fathers on the wrong path; 69 and they are running in their footsteps. 70 Thus, indeed, most of the people of old went astray before them, 71 and We had sent among them Messengers to warn them. 72 Then see how was the end of those warned, 73 Other than the chosen creatures of God. 74