The Rolling Up
In the name of God, the Benevolent, the Merciful
When the sun is rolled up
and when the stars fall lusterless
and when the mountains are blown away
and when the pregnant camels are neglected
and when the wild beasts are herded
and when the oceans are flooded
and when the souls are matched
and when the infant girl who was buried is asked
for what offense she was killed;
And when the pages are opened,
and when the sky is stripped
and when the blaze is fired up
and when the garden is drawn near
each soul will know what it has brought about.
Yes, I swear by the planets that recede,
run, and disappear,
and the night as it darkens
and the dawn as it breaks
that this is the word of a noble messenger,
endowed with power, his rank established in the presence of the Lord of the Throne
obeyed and faithful there.
So your companion is not insane --
he saw him on the clear horizon.
And he isn't grudging with the unseen;
and this isn't the word of an accursed devil.
So where are you going?
This is a message to all peoples,
for any of you who want to be upright.
But you won't want to unless it is the will of God, Lord of the universe.