Chapter 85, 22 verses
By the sky containing great stars
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم والسماء ذات البروج
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. By the heaven holding the big stars.
And [by] the promised Day
واليوم الموعود
And by the Promised Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection).
And [by] the witness and what is witnessed,
وشاهد ومشهود
And by the Witnessing day (i.e. Friday), and by the Witnessed day [i.e. the day of 'Arafat (Hajj) the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah];
Cursed were the companions of the trench
قتل أصحاب الأخدود
Cursed were the people of the Ditch (in the story of the Boy and the King).
[Containing] the fire full of fuel,
النار ذات الوقود
Of fire fed with fuel,
When they were sitting near it
إذ هم عليها قعود
When they sat by it (fire),
And they, to what they were doing against the believers, were witnesses.
وهم على ما يفعلون بالمؤمنين شهود
And they witnessed what they were doing against the believers (i.e. burning them).
And they resented them not except because they believed in Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy,
وما نقموا منهم إلا أن يؤمنوا بالله العزيز الحميد
And they had no fault except that they believed in Allah, the All-Mighty, Worthy of all Praise!
To whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. And Allah, over all things, is Witness.
الذي له ملك السماوات والأرض ۚ والله على كل شيء شهيد
To Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth! And Allah is Witness over everything.
Indeed, those who have tortured the believing men and believing women and then have not repented will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Burning Fire.
إن الذين فتنوا المؤمنين والمؤمنات ثم لم يتوبوا فلهم عذاب جهنم ولهم عذاب الحريق
Verily, those who put into trial the believing men and believing women (by torturing them and burning them), and then do not turn in repentance (to Allah), then they will have the torment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the burning Fire.
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds will have gardens beneath which rivers flow. That is the great attainment.
إن الذين آمنوا وعملوا الصالحات لهم جنات تجري من تحتها الأنهار ۚ ذلك الفوز الكبير
Verily, those who believe and do righteous good deeds, for them will be Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise). That is the great success.
Indeed, the vengeance of your Lord is severe.
إن بطش ربك لشديد
Verily, (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) the Seizure (punishment) of your Lord is severe and painful. [See V.11:102].
Indeed, it is He who originates [creation] and repeats.
إنه هو يبدئ ويعيد
Verily, He it is Who begins (punishment) and repeats (punishment in the Hereafter) (or originates the creation of everything, and then repeats it on the Day of Resurrection).
And He is the Forgiving, the Affectionate,
وهو الغفور الودود
And He is Oft-Forgiving, full of love (towards the pious who are real true believers of Islamic Monotheism),
Honorable Owner of the Throne,
ذو العرش المجيد
Owner of the throne, the Glorious,
Effecter of what He intends.
فعال لما يريد
(He is the) Doer of whatsoever He intends (or wills).
Has there reached you the story of the soldiers -
هل أتاك حديث الجنود
Has the story reached you of the hosts,
[Those of] Pharaoh and Thamud?
فرعون وثمود
Of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) and Thamud?
But they who disbelieve are in [persistent] denial,
بل الذين كفروا في تكذيب
Nay! The disbelievers (persisted) in denying (Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and his Message of Islamic Monotheism).
While Allah encompasses them from behind.
والله من ورائهم محيط
And Allah encompasses them from behind! (i.e. all their deeds are within His Knowledge, and He will requite them for their deeds).
But this is an honored Qur'an
بل هو قرآن مجيد
Nay! This is a Glorious Qur'an,
[Inscribed] in a Preserved Slate.
في لوح محفوظ
(Inscribed) in Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz (The Preserved Tablet)!