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);
By the sky and the night comer -
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم والسماء والطارق
And what will make you to know what At-Tariq (night-comer) is?
And what can make you know what is the night comer?
وما أدراك ما الطارق
(It is) the star of piercing brightness;
It is the piercing star -
النجم الثاقب
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)
There is no soul but that it has over it a protector.
إن كل نفس لما عليها حافظ
So let man see from what he is created!
So let man observe from what he was created.
فلينظر الإنسان مم خلق
He is created from a water gushing forth,
He was created from a fluid, ejected,
خلق من ماء دافق
Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.
Emerging from between the backbone and the ribs.
يخرج من بين الصلب والترائب
Verily, (Allah) is Able to bring him back (to life)!
Indeed, Allah, to return him [to life], is Able.
إنه على رجعه لقادر
The Day when all the secrets (deeds, prayers, fasting, etc.) will be examined (as to their truth).
The Day when secrets will be put on trial,
يوم تبلى السرائر
Then he will have no power, nor any helper.
Then man will have no power or any helper.
فما له من قوة ولا ناصر
By the sky (having rain clouds) which gives rain, again and again.
By the sky which returns [rain]
والسماء ذات الرجع
And the earth which splits (with the growth of trees and plants).
And [by] the earth which cracks open,
والأرض ذات الصدع
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).
Indeed, the Qur'an is a decisive statement,
إنه لقول فصل
And it is not a thing for amusement.
And it is not amusement.
وما هو بالهزل
Verily, they are but plotting a plot (against you O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم).
Indeed, they are planning a plan,
إنهم يكيدون كيدا
And I (too) am planning a plan.
But I am planning a plan.
وأكيد كيدا
So give a respite to the disbelievers; deal gently with them for a while.
So allow time for the disbelievers. Leave them awhile.
فمهل الكافرين أمهلهم رويدا