Chapter 86, 17 verses
I swear by the heaven and the comer by night;
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ وَالسَّمَاءِ وَالطَّارِقِ
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);
And what will make you know what the comer by night is?
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الطَّارِقُ
And what will make you to know what At-Tariq (night-comer) is?
The star of piercing brightness;
النَّجْمُ الثَّاقِبُ
(It is) the star of piercing brightness;
There is not a soul but over it is a keeper.
إِن كُلُّ نَفْسٍ لَّمَّا عَلَيْهَا حَافِظٌ
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)
So let man consider of what he is created:
فَلْيَنظُرِ الْإِنسَانُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ
So let man see from what he is created!
He is created of water pouring forth,
خُلِقَ مِن مَّاءٍ دَافِقٍ
He is created from a water gushing forth,
Coming from between the back and the ribs.
يَخْرُجُ مِن بَيْنِ الصُّلْبِ وَالتَّرَائِبِ
Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.
Most surely He is able to return him (to life).
إِنَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَجْعِهِ لَقَادِرٌ
Verily, (Allah) is Able to bring him back (to life)!
On the day when hidden things shall be made manifest,
يَوْمَ تُبْلَى السَّرَائِرُ
The Day when all the secrets (deeds, prayers, fasting, etc.) will be examined (as to their truth).
He shall have neither strength nor helper.
فَمَا لَهُ مِن قُوَّةٍ وَلَا نَاصِرٍ
Then he will have no power, nor any helper.
I swear by the raingiving heavens,
وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الرَّجْعِ
By the sky (having rain clouds) which gives rain, again and again.
And the earth splitting (with plants);
وَالْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ الصَّدْعِ
And the earth which splits (with the growth of trees and plants).
Most surely it is a decisive word,
إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ
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).
And it is no joke.
وَمَا هُوَ بِالْهَزْلِ
And it is not a thing for amusement.
Surely they will make a scheme,
إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًا
Verily, they are but plotting a plot (against you O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم).
And I (too) will make a scheme.
وَأَكِيدُ كَيْدًا
And I (too) am planning a plan.
So grant the unbelievers a respite: let them alone for a while.
فَمَهِّلِ الْكَافِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًا
So give a respite to the disbelievers; deal gently with them for a while.