Chapter 86, 17 verses
I swear by the heaven and the comer by night;
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ وَالسَّمَاءِ وَالطَّارِقِ
By the Sky and the Night - Visitant (therein); -
And what will make you know what the comer by night is?
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الطَّارِقُ
And what will explain to thee what the Night - Visitant 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 soul but has a protector over it.
So let man consider of what he is created:
فَلْيَنظُرِ الْإِنسَانُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ
Now let man but think from what he is created!
He is created of water pouring forth,
خُلِقَ مِن مَّاءٍ دَافِقٍ
He is created from a drop emitted -
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
Surely (Allah) is able to bring him back (to life)!
On the day when hidden things shall be made manifest,
يَوْمَ تُبْلَى السَّرَائِرُ
The Day that (all) things secret will be tested,
He shall have neither strength nor helper.
فَمَا لَهُ مِن قُوَّةٍ وَلَا نَاصِرٍ
(Man) will have no power, and no helper.
I swear by the raingiving heavens,
وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الرَّجْعِ
By the Firmament which returns (in its round),
And the earth splitting (with plants);
وَالْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ الصَّدْعِ
And by the Earth which opens out (for the gushing of springs or the sprouting of vegetation), -
Most surely it is a decisive word,
إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ
Behold this is the Word that distinguishes (Good from Evil):
And it is no joke.
وَمَا هُوَ بِالْهَزْلِ
It is not a thing for amusement.
Surely they will make a scheme,
إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًا
As for them, they are but plotting a scheme,
And I (too) will make a scheme.
وَأَكِيدُ كَيْدًا
And I am planning a scheme.
So grant the unbelievers a respite: let them alone for a while.
فَمَهِّلِ الْكَافِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًا
Therefore grant a delay to the Unbelievers: Give respite to them gently (for awhile).