Al Inshiqaq

1 When the sky is rent asunder,

1 When the heaven bursts asunder,

2 And hearkens to (the Command of) its Lord, and it must needs (do so); -

2 And obeys its Lord and it must.

3 And when the earth is flattened out,

3 And when the earth is stretched,

4 And casts forth what is within it and becomes (clean) empty,

4 And casts forth what is in it and becomes empty,

5 And hearkens to (the Command of) its Lord, - and it must needs (do so); - (then will come Home the full reality).

5 And obeys its Lord and it must.

6 O thou man! Verily thou art ever toiling on towards thy Lord - painfully toiling, - but thou shalt meet Him.

6 O man! surely you must strive (to attain) to your Lord, a hard striving until you meet Him.

7 Then he who is given his Record in his right hand,

7 Then as to him who is given his book in his right hand,

8 Soon will his account be taken by an easy reckoning,

8 He shall be reckoned with by an easy reckoning,

9 And he will turn to his people, rejoicing!

9 And he shall go back to his people joyful.

10 But he who is given his Record behind his back, -

10 And as to him who is given his book behind his back,

11 Soon will he cry for perdition,

11 He shall call for perdition,

12 And he will enter a Blazing Fire.

12 And enter into burning fire.

13 Truly, did he go about among his people, rejoicing!

13 Surely he was (erstwhile) joyful among his followers.

14 Truly, did he think that he would not have to return (to Us)!

14 Surely he thought that he would never return.

15 Nay, nay! for his Lord was (ever) watchful of him!

15 Yea! surely his Lord does ever see him.

16 So I do call to witness the ruddy glow of Sunset;

16 But nay! I swear by the sunset redness,

17 The Night and its Homing;

17 And the night and that which it drives on,

18 And the Moon in her fullness:

18 And the moon when it grows full,

19 Ye shall surely travel from stage to stage.

19 That you shall most certainly enter one state after another.

20 What then is the matter with them, that they believe not? -

20 But what is the matter with them that they do not believe,

21 And when the Qur'an is read to them, they fall not prostrate,

21 And when the Quran is recited to them they do not make obeisance?

22 But on the contrary the Unbelievers reject (it).

22 Nay! those who disbelieve give the lie to the truth.

23 But Allah has full knowledge of what they secrete (in their breasts)

23 And Allah knows best what they hide,

24 So announce to them a Penalty Grievous,

24 So announce to them a painful punishment~

25 Except to those who believe and work righteous deeds: For them is a Reward that will never fail.

25 Except those who believe and do good; for them is a reward that shall never be cut off.