۞ (God will command the angels), "Gather together the unjust, their spouses, and what they had worshipped 22 “Instead of Allah – and herd them to the path leading to hell.” 23 Stop them. They must be questioned." 24 They will be asked, "Why do you not help each other?" 25 They will submit to questioning then, 26 And they will turn to one another, and question one another. 27 They said, “It is you who used to come to us from our right, in order to sway.” 28 They shall say: Nay, you (yourselves) were not believers; 29 And we had no authority over you, but you were an inordinate people; 30 “So the Word of our Lord has proved true upon us; we will surely have to taste (the punishment).” 31 Thus we misled you. Lo! we were (ourselves) astray. 32 Then verily, that Day, they will (all) share in the torment. 33 Even so We do with the sinners; 34 Whenever it was said to them: “There is no true deity apart from Allah,” they waxed proud 35 and replied, "Shall we then give up our deities at the bidding of a mad poet?" 36 Nay! he has come with the (very) Truth, and he confirms (the Message of) the messengers (before him). 37 Indeed, you [disbelievers] will be tasters of the painful punishment, 38 But it will be no more than the retribution of (the Evil) that ye have wrought;- 39 But not the chosen servants of Allah. 40 [in the hereafter,] theirs shall be a sustenance which they will recognize 41 fruits -- and they high-honoured 42 (They will live) in the bountiful gardens, 43 sitting face to face upon couches, 44 With cups from a flowing stream being passed around, 45 delicious to those who drink it 46 No bad effect is there in it, nor from it will they be intoxicated. 47 Theirs shall be wide-eyed maidens with bashful, restrained glances, 48 Like sheltered eggs in a nest. 49 So one among them turns to the other, questioning. – 50 One of them will start the talk and say: "I had an intimate companion (on the earth), 51 who used to ask, 'Do you really believe that 52 ‘That when we are dead and have turned into dust and bones, that we will either be rewarded or punished?’ 53 [And] he adds: "Would you like to look [and see him]?" 54 Then he will look downwards, and will see him in the depths of Hell. 55 And he will say: by Allah, thou hadst wellnigh causedest me to perish. 56 If it had not been for the blessing of my Lord, I would also have been taken to Hell." 57 What, do we then not die 58 “Except our earlier death, and nor will we be punished?” 59 This will indeed be great happiness. 60 For this the toilers should strive." 61 Is this better as an entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum? 62 Lo! We have appointed it a torment for wrong-doers. 63 For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hellfire: 64 and its fruits are like the heads of devils. 65 on it they shall feed, and with it they shall fill their bellies. 66 Then they will have on top of it a mixture of boiling water. 67 Then surely their return is towards hell. 68 Surely they found their fathers going astray, 69 So they (too) were rushed down on their footsteps! 70 And truly before them, many of the ancients went astray;- 71 And assuredly We sent among them warners. 72 Observe, then, what was the end of those that had been warned, 73 Except the servants of Allah, the purified ones. 74