Chapter 86, 17 verses
By the sky and the night comer -
By the Sky and the Night - Visitant (therein); -
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم والسماء والطارق
I swear by the heaven and the comer by night;
And what can make you know what is the night comer?
And what will explain to thee what the Night - Visitant is? -
وما أدراك ما الطارق
And what will make you know what the comer by night is?
It is the piercing star -
(It is) the Star of piercing brightness; -
النجم الثاقب
The star of piercing brightness;
There is no soul but that it has over it a protector.
There is no soul but has a protector over it.
إن كل نفس لما عليها حافظ
There is not a soul but over it is a keeper.
So let man observe from what he was created.
Now let man but think from what he is created!
فلينظر الإنسان مم خلق
So let man consider of what he is created:
He was created from a fluid, ejected,
He is created from a drop emitted -
خلق من ماء دافق
He is created of water pouring forth,
Emerging from between the backbone and the ribs.
Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs:
يخرج من بين الصلب والترائب
Coming from between the back and the ribs.
Indeed, Allah, to return him [to life], is Able.
Surely (Allah) is able to bring him back (to life)!
إنه على رجعه لقادر
Most surely He is able to return him (to life).
The Day when secrets will be put on trial,
The Day that (all) things secret will be tested,
يوم تبلى السرائر
On the day when hidden things shall be made manifest,
Then man will have no power or any helper.
(Man) will have no power, and no helper.
فما له من قوة ولا ناصر
He shall have neither strength nor helper.
By the sky which returns [rain]
By the Firmament which returns (in its round),
والسماء ذات الرجع
I swear by the raingiving heavens,
And [by] the earth which cracks open,
And by the Earth which opens out (for the gushing of springs or the sprouting of vegetation), -
والأرض ذات الصدع
And the earth splitting (with plants);
Indeed, the Qur'an is a decisive statement,
Behold this is the Word that distinguishes (Good from Evil):
إنه لقول فصل
Most surely it is a decisive word,
And it is not amusement.
It is not a thing for amusement.
وما هو بالهزل
And it is no joke.
Indeed, they are planning a plan,
As for them, they are but plotting a scheme,
إنهم يكيدون كيدا
Surely they will make a scheme,
But I am planning a plan.
And I am planning a scheme.
وأكيد كيدا
And I (too) will make a scheme.
So allow time for the disbelievers. Leave them awhile.
Therefore grant a delay to the Unbelievers: Give respite to them gently (for awhile).
فمهل الكافرين أمهلهم رويدا
So grant the unbelievers a respite: let them alone for a while.