Chapter 86, 17 verses
I swear by the heaven and the comer by night;
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. By the heaven, and At-Tariq (the night-comer, i.e. the bright star);
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم والسماء والطارق
And what will make you know what the comer by night is?
And what will make you to know what At-Tariq (night-comer) is?
وما أدراك ما الطارق
The star of piercing brightness;
(It is) the star of piercing brightness;
النجم الثاقب
There is not a soul but over it is a keeper.
There is no human being but has a protector over him (or her) (i.e. angels in charge of each human being guarding him, writing his good and bad deeds)
إن كل نفس لما عليها حافظ
So let man consider of what he is created:
So let man see from what he is created!
فلينظر الإنسان مم خلق
He is created of water pouring forth,
He is created from a water gushing forth,
خلق من ماء دافق
Coming from between the back and the ribs.
Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.
يخرج من بين الصلب والترائب
Most surely He is able to return him (to life).
Verily, (Allah) is Able to bring him back (to life)!
إنه على رجعه لقادر
On the day when hidden things shall be made manifest,
The Day when all the secrets (deeds, prayers, fasting, etc.) will be examined (as to their truth).
يوم تبلى السرائر
He shall have neither strength nor helper.
Then he will have no power, nor any helper.
فما له من قوة ولا ناصر
I swear by the raingiving heavens,
By the sky (having rain clouds) which gives rain, again and again.
والسماء ذات الرجع
And the earth splitting (with plants);
And the earth which splits (with the growth of trees and plants).
والأرض ذات الصدع
Most surely it is a decisive word,
Verily, this (the Qur'an) is the Word that separates (the truth from falsehood, and commands strict laws for mankind to cut the roots of evil).
إنه لقول فصل
And it is no joke.
And it is not a thing for amusement.
وما هو بالهزل
Surely they will make a scheme,
Verily, they are but plotting a plot (against you O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم).
إنهم يكيدون كيدا
And I (too) will make a scheme.
And I (too) am planning a plan.
وأكيد كيدا
So grant the unbelievers a respite: let them alone for a while.
So give a respite to the disbelievers; deal gently with them for a while.
فمهل الكافرين أمهلهم رويدا