Al Inshiqaq

1 When the heaven bursts asunder,

1 When the sky is rent asunder,

2 And obeys its Lord and it must.

2 And hearkens to (the Command of) its Lord, and it must needs (do so); -

3 And when the earth is stretched,

3 And when the earth is flattened out,

4 And casts forth what is in it and becomes empty,

4 And casts forth what is within it and becomes (clean) empty,

5 And obeys its Lord and it must.

5 And hearkens to (the Command of) its Lord, - and it must needs (do so); - (then will come Home the full reality).

6 O man! surely you must strive (to attain) to your Lord, a hard striving until you meet Him.

6 O thou man! Verily thou art ever toiling on towards thy Lord - painfully toiling, - but thou shalt meet Him.

7 Then as to him who is given his book in his right hand,

7 Then he who is given his Record in his right hand,

8 He shall be reckoned with by an easy reckoning,

8 Soon will his account be taken by an easy reckoning,

9 And he shall go back to his people joyful.

9 And he will turn to his people, rejoicing!

10 And as to him who is given his book behind his back,

10 But he who is given his Record behind his back, -

11 He shall call for perdition,

11 Soon will he cry for perdition,

12 And enter into burning fire.

12 And he will enter a Blazing Fire.

13 Surely he was (erstwhile) joyful among his followers.

13 Truly, did he go about among his people, rejoicing!

14 Surely he thought that he would never return.

14 Truly, did he think that he would not have to return (to Us)!

15 Yea! surely his Lord does ever see him.

15 Nay, nay! for his Lord was (ever) watchful of him!

16 But nay! I swear by the sunset redness,

16 So I do call to witness the ruddy glow of Sunset;

17 And the night and that which it drives on,

17 The Night and its Homing;

18 And the moon when it grows full,

18 And the Moon in her fullness:

19 That you shall most certainly enter one state after another.

19 Ye shall surely travel from stage to stage.

20 But what is the matter with them that they do not believe,

20 What then is the matter with them, that they believe not? -

21 And when the Quran is recited to them they do not make obeisance?

21 And when the Qur'an is read to them, they fall not prostrate,

22 Nay! those who disbelieve give the lie to the truth.

22 But on the contrary the Unbelievers reject (it).

23 And Allah knows best what they hide,

23 But Allah has full knowledge of what they secrete (in their breasts)

24 So announce to them a painful punishment~

24 So announce to them a Penalty Grievous,

25 Except those who believe and do good; for them is a reward that shall never be cut off.

25 Except to those who believe and work righteous deeds: For them is a Reward that will never fail.