1. Has man (Adam) ever known a point of time – said to be forty years, during which he was being formed from mud – when he was not something remembered? Or it may be that the word “man” is being used here as a generic term and the “time” referred to is the period in the womb.

2. We created man from a mingled drop – referring to the liquid coming from the man mixing with that of the woman – to test him by making him responsible for his actions once he reaches puberty, and We made him hearing and seeing.

3. We guided him on the Way – the Path of guidance, by sending the Messengers – whether he is thankful – by being a believer – or unthankful – by being an ungrateful unbeliever, the two states being clear and distinct from one another.

4. We have made ready for the unbelievers shackles with which they will be chained in the Fire and collars on their necks which are attached to chains and they will be punished in a Searing Blaze.

5. The truly good – they are those who obey Allah – will drink from a cup of wine mixed with the coolness of camphor in its sweetness:

6. …a spring – a fountain of camphor in which is a cool fragrance – from which Allah’s slaves (the awliya’) will drink, making it gush forth at will abundantly. They will be guided to it from their homes in the Garden.

7. They fulfil their vows to obey Allah and fear a Day whose evil will spread far and wide.

8. They give food, despite their love for it, to the poor and orphans and captives (those rightly imprisoned):

9. ‘We feed you only out of desire for the Face of Allah – for His reward. We do not want any repayment from you or any thanks for feeding you. There are two views about this ayat: either they may be saying that or Allah knows it about them and praises them for it.

10. Truly We fear from our Lord a glowering, calamitous Day’ on the Day when faces look gloomy because of the hardship which they experience.

11. So Allah has safeguarded them from the evil of that Day and has made them meet with radiance and pure joy – Allah has given their faces beauty and light,

12. …and will reward them for their steadfastness – in avoiding disobedience with a Garden and with silk – to wear.

13. This is their state when they enter it – reclining in it on couches, they will experience there neither burning sun nor bitter cold. The word for “sun”, zamharır, is also said to mean the moon, indicating that there will be neither sun nor moon there.

14. Its shading branches – those of its trees – will droop down over them close at hand from a place which they cannot see, its ripe fruit hanging ready to be picked – so that anyone standing, sitting down or lying down can pluck them.

15. Vessels – cups without handles – of silver and goblets of pure crystal will be passed round among them –

16. …crystalline silver – made of silver so fine that it is like glass in its transparency; they have measured them very exactly. Those who pass them around have measured the amount very exactly so that they contain the amount which they want to drink, no more and no less; and it is the most delicious drink.

17. They will be given there a cup of wine to drink mixed with the warmth of ginger.

18. In it there is a flowing spring called Salsabıl – a spring whose water is like zanjabil (ginger) which the Arabs enjoy and which is easy to drink.

19. Ageless youths – who never grow old – will circulate among them, serving them. Seeing them – because of their beauty and how they are dispersed – you would think them scattered pearls – detached from a necklace or from a shell, or more beautiful still.

20. Seeing them in the Garden, you see delight and a great kingdom – indescribable bliss and a vast, limitless realm.

21. They will wear (read as’aliyahum and ‘alihim) green garments of fine silk and rich silk brocade which has the thick silk on the outside and the fine on the inside, or the reverse. They will be adorned with silver bracelets. Silver bracelets are mentioned here, whereas gold bracelets are mentioned elsewhere (in Surat al-Kahf). They wear both together or separately. And their Lord will give them a pure draught to drink: extremely pure and clean, which is not the case with the wine of this world.

22. ‘This bliss is your reward. Your striving is fully acknowledged.’

23. It is We – the word “We” is stressed – who have sent the Qur’an down to you little by little: in parts, not all at once.

24. Therefore wait patiently for the judgement of your Lord as to how He decides to convey His Message. Do not obey any unbelieving evildoer or thankless man among them. This refers to ‘Utba ibn Rabi‘a and al-Walıd ibn al-Mughıra, who said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “Desist from this business.” It can also refer to every evildoer or unbeliever, meaning “Do not obey any of them, whoever they are, in respect of any act of evildoing or unbelief they invite you to do.”

25. Remember the Name of your Lord in the morning and the evening – in the prayers of Fajr, Zuhr and ‘Asr.

26. Prostrate to Him during the night – in the prayers of Maghrib and ‘Isha’ – and glorify Him throughout the long night – in the voluntary night prayers of tahajjud, for two-thirds, a half or a third of it.

27. Those people love this fleeting world and have put the thought of a Momentous Day (the Day of Rising) behind their backs – for which they did not work.

28. We created them and made their limbs and their joints strong, and if We wish We can replace them with others like them. We can destroy them and put others in their place.

29. This sura truly is a Reminder for all creation; so whoever wills should take the Way towards his Lord through obedience to Him.

30. But you will not will (read as tasha’una, and yasha’una, “they will not will”) unless Allah wills. This refers to taking the path of obedience. “You will not do this unless Allah wills it.” Allah is All- Knowing of His creation, All-Wise in what He does.

31. He admits whomever He wills into His mercy – His Garden. That means are the believers. But He has prepared a painful punishment for the wrongdoers – the unbelievers