3. Sura al-Imran, Medina 89

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ...

3: 185. Every soul shall have a taste of death:

C491. The soul will not die; but the death of the body will give a taste of death to the soul when the soul separates from the body. The soul will then know that this life was but a probation. And seeming inequalities will be adjusted finally on the Day of Judgment.

... وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ...

and only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense.

فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ...

Only he who is saved far from the fire and admitted to the garden will have attained the object (of life):

...وَما الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ ﴿١٨٥﴾

for the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.

C492. Cf. Longfellow's Psalm of Life:

"All this world's a fleeting show. For man's illusion given".

The only reality will be when we have attained our final goal.

3: 185

Asad Every human being is bound to taste death: but only on the Day of Resurrection will you be requited in full [for whatever you have done] – whereupon he that shall be drawn away from the fire and brought into paradise will indeed have gained a triumph: for the life of this world is nothing but an enjoyment of self-delusion.

Pickthall Every soul will taste of death. And ye will be paid on the Day of Resurrection only that which ye have fairly earned. Whoso is removed from the Fire and is made to enter Paradise, he indeed is triumphant. The life of this world is but comfort of illusion.

Transliteration Kullu nafsin za_'iqatul maut(i), wa innama_ tuwaffauna uju_rakum yaumal qiya_mah(ti), faman zuhziha'anin na_ri wa udkhilal jannata faqad fa_z(a), wa mal haya_tud dunya_ illa_ mata_'ul guru_r(i).

[[ Ali’s note 492 Cf. Longfellow's Psalm of Life: "All this world's a fleeting show. For man's illusion given". The only reality will be when we have attained our final goal. (3.185) ]]