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