From: johnson@offroad.chem.wisc.edu (Arthur Johnson)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african.american
Subject: Re: The Event (Wuz Lee: Malcolm X)
Date: 4 Sep 92 20:02:35 GMT
Article-I.D.: pslu1.1992Sep4.200235.14674
Organization: Physical Sciences Lab, UW-Madison

In article <stovall.715563785@ficus.cs.ucla.edu> stovall@ficus.cs.ucla.edu  
(Steven Stovall) writes:
> 
> Because it is to me one of the most beautiful (and terrifying) passages
> of Scripture anywhere, I thought I would more fully quote the ending of
> the Quranic surah "The Event" (Pickthall):
> 
> Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim
> 
> 	Why then when (the soul) cometh up to the throat (of the dying)
> 	And ye are at that moment looking
> 	---And We are nearer unto him than ye are, but ye see not---
> 	Why then, if ye are not in bondage to (unto Us)
> 	Do ye not force it back, if ye are truthful?
> 	Thus if he is of those brought nigh,
> 	Then breath of life, and plenty, and Garden of delight
> 	And if he is of those on the right hand
> 	Then (the greeting) "Peace be upon thee" from those on the right  
hand
> 	But if he is of the rejectors, the erring,
> 	Then the welcome will be boiling water
> 	And roasting at hellfire.
> 	Lo! this is certain truth.
> 	Therefore (O Muhammad) praise the name of thy Lord, the  
Tremendous.

     The above is from surah 56. But let's take a closer look at what is  
contained in the garden of delight. From Dawood's translation:

     [55:51ff]
     Each [garden] is watered by a flowing spring. Which of
     your Lord's blessings would you deny?
     Each bears every kind of fruit in pairs. Which of your
     Lord's blessings would you deny?
     They shall recline on couches lined with thick brocade,
     and within reach will hang the fruits of both gardens.
     Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
     Therein are bashful virgins whom neither man nor jinnee
     will have touched before. Which of your Lord's blessings
     would you deny?
     Virgins as fair as corals and rubies. Which of your 
     Lord's blessings would you deny?
     Shall the reward of goodness be anything but good? Which
     of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
     And beside these there shall be two other gardens (which
     of your Lord's blessings would you deny?) of darkest
     green. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
     A gushing fountain shall flow in each. Which of your 
     Lord's blessings would you deny?
     Each planted with fruit-trees, the palm and the 
     pomegranate. Which of your Lord's blessings would you
     deny?
     In each there shall be virgins chaste and fair. Which of
     your Lord's blessings would you deny?
     Dark-eyed virgins sheltered in their tents (which of your
     Lord's blessings would you deny?) whom neither man nor
     jinnee will have touched before. Which of your Lord's 
     blessings would you deny?
     They shall recline on green cushions and fine carpets.
     Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
     Blessed be the name of your Lord, the Lord of majesty
     and glory!
     
 _________________________________________________________________________ 
______
> 
> steven stovall
> stovall@exeter.cs.ucla.edu
> (310) 825-7307
> 

Arthur Johnson
johnson@offraod.chem.wisc.edu