Chapter 86, 17 verses
By the Sky and the Night - Visitant (therein); -
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);
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم والسماء والطارق
And what will explain to thee what the Night - Visitant is? -
And what will make you to know what At-Tariq (night-comer) is?
وما أدراك ما الطارق
(It is) the Star of piercing brightness; -
(It is) the star of piercing brightness;
النجم الثاقب
There is no soul but has a protector over it.
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)
إن كل نفس لما عليها حافظ
Now let man but think from what he is created!
So let man see from what he is created!
فلينظر الإنسان مم خلق
He is created from a drop emitted -
He is created from a water gushing forth,
خلق من ماء دافق
Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs:
Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.
يخرج من بين الصلب والترائب
Surely (Allah) is able to bring him back (to life)!
Verily, (Allah) is Able to bring him back (to life)!
إنه على رجعه لقادر
The Day that (all) things secret will be tested,
The Day when all the secrets (deeds, prayers, fasting, etc.) will be examined (as to their truth).
يوم تبلى السرائر
(Man) will have no power, and no helper.
Then he will have no power, nor any helper.
فما له من قوة ولا ناصر
By the Firmament which returns (in its round),
By the sky (having rain clouds) which gives rain, again and again.
والسماء ذات الرجع
And by the Earth which opens out (for the gushing of springs or the sprouting of vegetation), -
And the earth which splits (with the growth of trees and plants).
والأرض ذات الصدع
Behold this is the Word that distinguishes (Good from Evil):
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).
إنه لقول فصل
It is not a thing for amusement.
And it is not a thing for amusement.
وما هو بالهزل
As for them, they are but plotting a scheme,
Verily, they are but plotting a plot (against you O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم).
إنهم يكيدون كيدا
And I am planning a scheme.
And I (too) am planning a plan.
وأكيد كيدا
Therefore grant a delay to the Unbelievers: Give respite to them gently (for awhile).
So give a respite to the disbelievers; deal gently with them for a while.
فمهل الكافرين أمهلهم رويدا