Chapter 86, 17 verses
By the sky and the night comer -
I swear by the heaven and the comer by night;
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);
And what can make you know what is the night comer?
And what will make you know what the comer by night is?
And what will make you to know what At-Tariq (night-comer) is?
It is the piercing star -
The star of piercing brightness;
(It is) the star of piercing brightness;
There is no soul but that it has over it a protector.
There is not a soul but over it is a keeper.
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)
So let man observe from what he was created.
So let man consider of what he is created:
So let man see from what he is created!
He was created from a fluid, ejected,
He is created of water pouring forth,
He is created from a water gushing forth,
Emerging from between the backbone and the ribs.
Coming from between the back and the ribs.
Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.
Indeed, Allah, to return him [to life], is Able.
Most surely He is able to return him (to life).
Verily, (Allah) is Able to bring him back (to life)!
The Day when secrets will be put on trial,
On the day when hidden things shall be made manifest,
The Day when all the secrets (deeds, prayers, fasting, etc.) will be examined (as to their truth).
Then man will have no power or any helper.
He shall have neither strength nor helper.
Then he will have no power, nor any helper.
By the sky which returns [rain]
I swear by the raingiving heavens,
By the sky (having rain clouds) which gives rain, again and again.
And [by] the earth which cracks open,
And the earth splitting (with plants);
And the earth which splits (with the growth of trees and plants).
Indeed, the Qur'an is a decisive statement,
Most surely it is a decisive word,
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).
And it is not amusement.
And it is no joke.
And it is not a thing for amusement.
Indeed, they are planning a plan,
Surely they will make a scheme,
Verily, they are but plotting a plot (against you O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم).
But I am planning a plan.
And I (too) will make a scheme.
And I (too) am planning a plan.
So allow time for the disbelievers. Leave them awhile.
So grant the unbelievers a respite: let them alone for a while.
So give a respite to the disbelievers; deal gently with them for a while.