Chapter 86, 17 verses
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
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. By the heaven and the Morning Star
And what will make you to know what At-Tariq (night-comer) is?
وما أدراك ما الطارق
- Ah, what will tell thee what the Morning Star is!
(It is) the star of piercing brightness;
النجم الثاقب
- The piercing Star!
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
No human soul but hath a guardian over it.
So let man see from what he is created!
فلينظر الإنسان مم خلق
So let man consider from what he is created.
He is created from a water gushing forth,
خلق من ماء دافق
He is created from a gushing fluid
Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.
يخرج من بين الصلب والترائب
That issued from between the loins and ribs.
Verily, (Allah) is Able to bring him back (to life)!
إنه على رجعه لقادر
Lo! He verily is Able to return him (unto life)
The Day when all the secrets (deeds, prayers, fasting, etc.) will be examined (as to their truth).
يوم تبلى السرائر
On the day when hidden thoughts shall be searched out.
Then he will have no power, nor any helper.
فما له من قوة ولا ناصر
Then will he have no might nor any helper.
By the sky (having rain clouds) which gives rain, again and again.
والسماء ذات الرجع
By the heaven which giveth the returning rain,
And the earth which splits (with the growth of trees and plants).
والأرض ذات الصدع
And the earth which splitteth (with the growth of trees and plants)
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
Lo! this (Qur'an) is a conclusive word,
And it is not a thing for amusement.
وما هو بالهزل
It is no pleasantry.
Verily, they are but plotting a plot (against you O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم).
إنهم يكيدون كيدا
Lo! they plot a plot (against thee, O Muhammad)
And I (too) am planning a plan.
وأكيد كيدا
And I plot a plot (against them).
So give a respite to the disbelievers; deal gently with them for a while.
فمهل الكافرين أمهلهم رويدا
So give a respite to the disbelievers. Deal thou gently with them for a while.