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
By the Sky and the Night - Visitant (therein); -
And what will make you to know what At-Tariq (night-comer) is?
وما أدراك ما الطارق
And what will explain to thee what the Night - Visitant is? -
(It is) the star of piercing brightness;
النجم الثاقب
(It is) the Star of piercing brightness; -
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
There is no soul but has a protector over it.
So let man see from what he is created!
فلينظر الإنسان مم خلق
Now let man but think from what he is created!
He is created from a water gushing forth,
خلق من ماء دافق
He is created from a drop emitted -
Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.
يخرج من بين الصلب والترائب
Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs:
Verily, (Allah) is Able to bring him back (to life)!
إنه على رجعه لقادر
Surely (Allah) is able to bring him back (to life)!
The Day when all the secrets (deeds, prayers, fasting, etc.) will be examined (as to their truth).
يوم تبلى السرائر
The Day that (all) things secret will be tested,
Then he will have no power, nor any helper.
فما له من قوة ولا ناصر
(Man) will have no power, and no helper.
By the sky (having rain clouds) which gives rain, again and again.
والسماء ذات الرجع
By the Firmament which returns (in its round),
And the earth which splits (with the growth of trees and plants).
والأرض ذات الصدع
And by the Earth which opens out (for the gushing of springs or the sprouting of vegetation), -
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
Behold this is the Word that distinguishes (Good from Evil):
And it is not a thing for amusement.
وما هو بالهزل
It is not a thing for amusement.
Verily, they are but plotting a plot (against you O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم).
إنهم يكيدون كيدا
As for them, they are but plotting a scheme,
And I (too) am planning a plan.
وأكيد كيدا
And I am planning a scheme.
So give a respite to the disbelievers; deal gently with them for a while.
فمهل الكافرين أمهلهم رويدا
Therefore grant a delay to the Unbelievers: Give respite to them gently (for awhile).