Al Nazaat

1 By those [angels] who extract with violence

1 In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. By those (angels) who pull out (the souls of the disbelievers and the wicked) with great violence.

2 And [by] those who remove with ease

2 By those (angels) who gently take out (the souls of the believers).

3 And [by] those who glide [as if] swimming

3 And by those that swim along (i.e. angels or planets in their orbits).

4 And those who race each other in a race

4 And by those that press forward as in a race (i.e. the angels or stars or the horses).

5 And those who arrange [each] matter,

5 And by those angels who arrange to do the Commands of their Lord, (so verily, you disbelievers will be called to account).

6 On the Day the blast [of the Horn] will convulse [creation],

6 On the Day (when the first blowing of the Trumpet is blown), the earth and the mountains will shake violently (and everybody will die).

7 There will follow it the subsequent [one].

7 The second blowing of the Trumpet follows it (and everybody will be resurrected).

8 Hearts, that Day, will tremble,

8 (Some) hearts that Day will shake with fear and anxiety.

9 Their eyes humbled.

9 Their eyes will be downcast.

10 They are [presently] saying, "Will we indeed be returned to [our] former state [of life]?

10 They say: "Shall we indeed be returned to (our) former state of life?

11 Even if we should be decayed bones?

11 "Even after we are crumbled bones?"

12 They say, "That, then, would be a losing return."

12 They say: "It would in that case, be a return with loss!"

13 Indeed, it will be but one shout,

13 But it will be only a single Zajrah [shout (i.e., the second blowing of the Trumpet)], (See Verse 37:19).

14 And suddenly they will be [alert] upon the earth's surface.

14 When behold, they find themselves on the surface of the earth alive after their death,

15 Has there reached you the story of Moses? -

15 Has there come to you the story of Musa (Moses)?

16 When his Lord called to him in the sacred valley of Tuwa,

16 When his Lord called him in the sacred valley of Tuwa,

17 "Go to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed.

17 Go to Fir'aun (Pharaoh); verily he has transgressed all bounds (in crimes, sins, polytheism, disbelief).

18 And say to him, 'Would you [be willing to] purify yourself

18 And say to him: "Would you purify yourself (from the sin of disbelief by becoming a believer)?"

19 And let me guide you to your Lord so you would fear [Him]?'"

19 "And that I guide you to your Lord, so you should fear Him?"

20 And he showed him the greatest sign,

20 Then [Musa (Moses)] showed him the great sign (miracles).

21 But Pharaoh denied and disobeyed.

21 But [Fir'aun (Pharaoh)] belied and disobeyed.

22 Then he turned his back, striving.

22 Then he turned his back, striving (against Allah).

23 And he gathered [his people] and called out

23 Then he gathered (his people) and cried aloud,

24 And said, "I am your most exalted lord."

24 Saying: "I am your lord, most high."

25 So Allah seized him in exemplary punishment for the last and the first [transgression].

25 So Allah, seized him with punishment for his last and first transgression. [Tafsir At-Tabari]

26 Indeed in that is a warning for whoever would fear [Allah].

26 Verily, in this is an instructive admonition for whosoever fears Allah.

27 Are you a more difficult creation or is the heaven? Allah constructed it.

27 Are you more difficult to create or is the heaven that He constructed?

28 He raised its ceiling and proportioned it.

28 He raised its height, and has perfected it.

29 And He darkened its night and extracted its brightness.

29 Its night He covers with darkness and its forenoon He brings out (with light)

30 And after that He spread the earth.

30 And after that He spread the earth,

31 He extracted from it its water and its pasture,

31 And brought forth therefrom its water and its pasture.

32 And the mountains He set firmly

32 And the mountains He has fixed firmly,

33 As provision for you and your grazing livestock.

33 (To be) a provision and benefit for you and your cattle.

34 But when there comes the greatest Overwhelming Calamity -

34 But when there comes the greatest catastrophe (i.e. the Day of Recompense) -

35 The Day when man will remember that for which he strove,

35 The Day when man shall remember what he strove for.

36 And Hellfire will be exposed for [all] those who see -

36 And Hell-fire shall be made apparent in full view for (every) one who sees.

37 So as for he who transgressed

37 Then for him who transgressed all bounds, (in disbelief, oppression and evil deeds of disobedience to Allah).

38 And preferred the life of the world,

38 And preferred the life of this world (by following his evil desires and lusts),

39 Then indeed, Hellfire will be [his] refuge.

39 Verily, his abode will be Hell-fire;

40 But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination,

40 But as for him who feared standing before his Lord, and restrained himself from impure evil desires and lusts.

41 Then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge.

41 Verily, Paradise will be his abode.

42 They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the Hour: when is its arrival?

42 They ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) about the Hour - when will be its appointed time?

43 In what [position] are you that you should mention it?

43 You have no knowledge to say anything about it.

44 To your Lord is its finality.

44 To your Lord belongs (the knowledge of) the term thereof?

45 You are only a warner for those who fear it.

45 You (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) are only a warner for those who fear it,

46 It will be, on the Day they see it, as though they had not remained [in the world] except for an afternoon or a morning thereof.

46 The Day they see it, (it will be) as if they had not tarried (in this world) except an afternoon or a morning.