Setting
Surah The Sundering, Splitting Open [Al-Inshiqaq] in English
إِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ ٱنشَقَّتْ ﴿١﴾
When the sky has split [open]
Itha alssamao inshaqqat
WHEN THE SKY is cleft asunder,
When the heaven breaks apart.
When heaven is rent asunder
When the heaven is sundered.
When the heaven is split asunder,
When the sky is ruptured.
When the sky is rent asunder
When the heaven is split asunder
When the sky is split open
When the sky is torn apart,
When the heavens are rent asunder
When the heaven bursts asunder,
When the sky bursts open,
When the sky is rent asunder,
وَأَذِنَتْ لِرَبِّهَا وَحُقَّتْ ﴿٢﴾
And has responded to its Lord and was obligated [to do so]
Waathinat lirabbiha wahuqqat
And hearkens to its Lord and is dutiful,
And it listens to the command of its Lord – and that befits it.
and gives ear to its Lord, and is fitly disposed;
And it hearkeneth to its Lord, and is duteous,
And listens and obeys its Lord, and it must do so;
And hearkens to its Lord, as it must.
and hearkens to the command of its Lord, doing what it should;
And attentive to her Lord in fear,
and gives ear to its Lord as it should.
hearing and obeying its Lord, as it must do;
in obedience to the commands of their Lord which are incumbent on them,
And obeys its Lord and it must.
and obeys its Lord as it must,
And hearkens to (the Command of) its Lord, and it must needs (do so);-
وَإِذَا ٱلْأَرْضُ مُدَّتْ ﴿٣﴾
And when the earth has been extended
Waitha alardu muddat
When the earth is stretched out taut
And when the earth is spread out.
when earth is stretched out
And when the earth shall be stretched forth.
And when the earth is stretched forth,
And when the earth is leveled out.
and when the earth is stretched out
And when the earth is spread out
When the earth is spread out
when the earth is stretched out
when the earth is stretched out
And when the earth is stretched,
when the earth flattens out,
And when the earth is flattened out,
وَأَلْقَتْ مَا فِيهَا وَتَخَلَّتْ ﴿٤﴾
And has cast out that within it and relinquished [it]
Waalqat ma feeha watakhallat
And throws out whatever it contains and is empty,
And it unburdens itself of all that is in it, and becomes empty.
and casts forth what is in it, and voids itself,
And shall cast forth that which is therein, and shall become empty.
And has cast out all that was in it and became empty,
And casts out what is in it, and becomes empty.
and casts out what is within it and is emptied,
And hath cast out all that was in her, and is empty
and throws out what is in it, emptying itself,
and casts out all that is within and voids itself,
and throws out of itself all that it contains
And casts forth what is in it and becomes empty,
and casts out all that is within it and becomes empty;
And casts forth what is within it and becomes (clean) empty,
وَأَذِنَتْ لِرَبِّهَا وَحُقَّتْ ﴿٥﴾
And has responded to its Lord and was obligated [to do so] -
Waathinat lirabbiha wahuqqat
And hearkens to its Lord and is dutiful,
And it listens to the command of its Lord – and that befits it.
and gives ear to its Lord, and is fitly disposed!
And it hearkeneth to its Lord, and is duteous.
And listens and obeys its Lord, and it must do so;
And hearkens to its Lord, as it must.
and hearkens to the command of its Lord, doing what it should.
And attentive to her Lord in fear!
and gives ear to its Lord as it should.
obeying its Lord, as it must do!
in obedience to the commands of its Lord which are incumbent on it, (the human being will receive due recompense for his deeds).
And obeys its Lord and it must.
and obeys its Lord as it must,
And hearkens to (the Command of) its Lord,- and it must needs (do so);- (then will come Home the full reality).
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدْحًۭا فَمُلَٰقِيهِ ﴿٦﴾
O mankind, indeed you are laboring toward your Lord with [great] exertion and will meet it.
Ya ayyuha alinsanu innaka kadihun ila rabbika kadhan famulaqeehi
O man, you have to strive and go on striving towards your Lord, then will you meet Him.
O man, indeed you have to surely run towards your Lord, and to meet him.
O Man! Thou art labouring unto thy Lord laboriously, and thou shalt encounter Him.
O man! verily thou art toiling toward thy Lord a painful toiling, and art about to meet Him.
O man! Verily, you are returning towards your Lord with your deeds and actions (good or bad), a sure returning, so you will meet (i.e. the results of your deeds which you did).
O man! You are laboring towards your Lord, and you will meet Him.
O man, you are striving unto your Lord and you will meet Him.
Thou, verily, O man, art working toward thy Lord a work which thou wilt meet (in His presence).
O man! You are labouring toward your Lord laboriously, and you will encounter Him.
O human, you are working hard towards your Lord and you will meet Him.
Human being, you strive hard to get closer to your Lord, and so you will certainly receive the recompense (of your deeds).
O man! surely you must strive (to attain) to your Lord, a hard striving until you meet Him.
O man, having striven hard towards your Lord, you shall meet Him:
O thou man! Verily thou art ever toiling on towards thy Lord- painfully toiling,- but thou shalt meet Him.
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ ﴿٧﴾
Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand,
Faama man ootiya kitabahu biyameenihi
And he who is given his ledger in his right hand
So whoever is given his record of deeds in his right hand –
Then as for him who is given his book in his right hand,
Then as to him who shall be given his book in his right hand -
Then, as for him who will be given his Record in his right hand,
As for him who is given his book in his right hand.
Whoever is given the Record in his right hand
Then whoso is given his account in his right hand
Then, as for him who is given his record [of deeds] in his right hand,
Then, he who is given his Book in his right hand
The reckoning of those whose Book of records will be given into their right hands
Then as to him who is given his book in his right hand,
he who is given his record in his right hand
Then he who is given his Record in his right hand,
فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًۭا يَسِيرًۭا ﴿٨﴾
He will be judged with an easy account
Fasawfa yuhasabu hisaban yaseeran
Will have an easy reckoning,
Soon an easy account will be taken from him.
he shall surely receive an easy reckoning
His account shall presently be taken by an easy reckoning.
He surely will receive an easy reckoning,
He will have an easy settlement.
shall be called to an easy accounting,
He truly will receive an easy reckoning
he will receive an easy reckoning,
shall have an easy reckoning
will be easy,
He shall be reckoned with by an easy reckoning,
shall have an easy reckoning
Soon will his account be taken by an easy reckoning,
وَيَنقَلِبُ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ مَسْرُورًۭا ﴿٩﴾
And return to his people in happiness.
Wayanqalibu ila ahlihi masrooran
And will return to his people full of joy.
And he will return to his family rejoicing.
and he will return to his family joyfully.
And he shall return Unto his people joyfully.
And will return to his family in joy!
And will return to his family delighted.
and shall return to his people joyfully.
And will return unto his folk in joy.
and he will return to his folks joyfully.
and will return rejoicing to his family.
and they will return to their people, delighted
And he shall go back to his people joyful.
and he shall return to his people, joyfully,
And he will turn to his people, rejoicing!
وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ وَرَآءَ ظَهْرِهِۦ ﴿١٠﴾
But as for he who is given his record behind his back,
Waamma man ootiya kitabahu waraa thahrihi
But he who is given his ledger from behind his back
And whoever is given his record of deeds behind his back –
But as for him who is given his book behind his back,
And as to him who shall be given his book from behind his back-
But whosoever is given his Record behind his back,
But as for him who is given his book behind his back.
But he who is given the Record behind his back,
But whoso is given his account behind his back,
But as for him who is given his record from behind his back,
But he who is given his Book from behind his back
But as for those whose Book of records will be given behind their backs,
And as to him who is given his book behind his back,
but as for him whose record shall be given to him from behind his back,
But he who is given his Record behind his back,-
فَسَوْفَ يَدْعُوا۟ ثُبُورًۭا ﴿١١﴾
He will cry out for destruction
Fasawfa yadAAoo thubooran
Will pray for death,
Soon he will pray for death.
he shall call for destruction
He shall presently call for death,
He will invoke (his) destruction,
He will call for death.
shall cry for “perdition,”
He surely will invoke destruction
he will pray for annihilation
shall call for destruction
they will say, \"Woe to us!\"
He shall call for perdition,
he will pray for utter destruction
Soon will he cry for perdition,
وَيَصْلَىٰ سَعِيرًا ﴿١٢﴾
And [enter to] burn in a Blaze.
Wayasla saAAeeran
But will be roasted in the fire.
And will go into the blazing fire.
and he shall roast at a Blaze.
And he shall roast into a Blaze.
And shall enter a blazing Fire, and made to taste its burning.
And will enter the Blaze.
and will enter the Blazing Fire.
And be thrown to scorching fire.
and enter the Blaze.
and roast at the Blaze.
They will suffer the heat of hell fire.
And enter into burning fire.
and he will enter the blazing flame.
And he will enter a Blazing Fire.
إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فِىٓ أَهْلِهِۦ مَسْرُورًا ﴿١٣﴾
Indeed, he had [once] been among his people in happiness;
Innahu kana fee ahlihi masrooran
He lived rejoicing among his people,
Indeed he used to rejoice in his home.
He once lived among his family joyfully;
Verily he was among his people joyous.
Verily, he was among his people in joy!
He used to be happy among his family.
He used to live joyfully among his people,
He verily lived joyous with his folk,
Indeed he used to be joyful among his folk,
Once, he lived joyfully among his family
They lived among their people joyfully
Surely he was (erstwhile) joyful among his followers.
He used to be happy with his own people;
Truly, did he go about among his people, rejoicing!
إِنَّهُۥ ظَنَّ أَن لَّن يَحُورَ ﴿١٤﴾
Indeed, he had thought he would never return [to Allah].
Innahu thanna an lan yahoora
Never thinking he will return.
He assumed that he does not have to return.
he surely thought he would never revert.
Verily he imagined that he would not be back.
Verily, he thought that he would never come back (to Us)!
He thought he would never return.
thinking he would never revert (to Us).
He verily deemed that he would never return (unto Allah).
and he thought that he would never return.
and surely thought he would never return (to his Lord).
and had thought that they would never be brought back to life again.
Surely he thought that he would never return.
for he never thought that he would have to return [to God].
Truly, did he think that he would not have to return (to Us)!
بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّ رَبَّهُۥ كَانَ بِهِۦ بَصِيرًۭا ﴿١٥﴾
But yes! Indeed, his Lord was ever of him, Seeing.
Bala inna rabbahu kana bihi baseeran
Why not? His Lord was always watching him.
Surely yes, why not? Indeed his Lord is seeing him.
Yes indeed; his Lord had sight of him.
Yea! his Lord had ever been beholding him.
Yes! Verily, his Lord has been ever beholding him!
In fact, his Lord was watching him.
But no; (how would he not revert)? His Lord was ever watching him.
Nay, but lo! his Lord is ever looking on him!
Yes, his Lord had been watching him.
Yes indeed, his Lord was ever watching him.
This is a fact. Their Lord is Well-Aware of (all that they do).
Yea! surely his Lord does ever see him.
But he will indeed! His Lord was ever watching him.
Nay, nay! for his Lord was (ever) watchful of him!
فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِٱلشَّفَقِ ﴿١٦﴾
So I swear by the twilight glow
Fala oqsimu bialshshafaqi
So indeed I call to witness the evening twilight,
So by oath of the late evening’s light.
No! I swear by the twilight
I swear by the afterglow of sunset,
So I swear by the afterglow of sunset;
I swear by the twilight.
Nay; I swear by the twilight;
Oh, I swear by the afterglow of sunset,
I swear by the evening glow,
I swear by the twilight;
I do not need to swear by the sunset,
But nay! I swear by the sunset redness,
I swear by the glow of sunset,
So I do call to witness the ruddy glow of Sunset;
وَٱلَّيْلِ وَمَا وَسَقَ ﴿١٧﴾
And [by] the night and what it envelops
Waallayli wama wasaqa
And the night and all it gathers,
And by oath of the night and all that gathers in it.
and the night and what it envelops
And by the night and that which it driveth together,
And by the night and whatever it gathers in its darkness;
And by the night, and what it covers.
and by the night and what it enfolds,
And by the night and all that it enshroudeth,
by the night and what it is fraught with,
by the night and all that it envelops;
or by the night in which things all come together to rest,
And the night and that which it drives on,
by the night and what it covers,
The Night and its Homing;
وَٱلْقَمَرِ إِذَا ٱتَّسَقَ ﴿١٨﴾
And [by] the moon when it becomes full
Waalqamari itha ittasaqa
And the moon when at the full,
And by oath of the moon when it is full.
and the moon when it is at the full,
And by the moon when she becometh full.
And by the moon when it is at the full,
And by the moon, as it grows full.
and by the moon, when it reaches its fullness:
And by the moon when she is at the full,
by the moon when it blooms full:
by the moon, in its fullness
or by the moon when it is full,
And the moon when it grows full,
and the moon when it grows full,
And the Moon in her fullness:
لَتَرْكَبُنَّ طَبَقًا عَن طَبَقٍۢ ﴿١٩﴾
[That] you will surely experience state after state.
Latarkabunna tabaqan AAan tabaqin
That you will climb from stage to stage.
You will surely go up level by level.
you shall surely ride stage after stage.
Surely ye shall ride layer upon layer.
You shall certainly travel from stage to stage (in this life and in the Hereafter).
You will mount stage by stage.
you shall proceed onwards from stage to stage.
That ye shall journey on from plane to plane.
you will surely fare from stage to stage.
that you shall surely ride from stage to stage.
that you will certainly pass through one stage after another.
That you shall most certainly enter one state after another.
you will progress from stage to stage.
Ye shall surely travel from stage to stage.
فَمَا لَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٢٠﴾
So what is [the matter] with them [that] they do not believe,
Fama lahum la yuminoona
So, wherefore do they not believe?
What is the matter with them that they do not accept faith?
Then what ails them, that they believe not,
What aileth them then, that they believe not,
What is the matter with them, that they believe not?
What is the matter with them that they do not believe?
So, what is the matter with them that they do not believe,
What aileth them, then, that they believe not
What is the matter with them that they will not believe,
What is the matter with them, that they do not believe
What is the matter with them? Why do they not believe?
But what is the matter with them that they do not believe,
What is wrong with them that they do not believe?
What then is the matter with them, that they believe not?-
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ لَا يَسْجُدُونَ ۩ ﴿٢١﴾
And when the Qur'an is recited to them, they do not prostrate [to Allah]?
Waitha quria AAalayhimu alquranu la yasjudoona
And when the Qur'an is recited to them do not bow in adoration?
And when the Qur’an is recited to them, they do not fall prostrate? (Command of Prostration # 13)
and when the Koran is recited to them they do not bow?
And that, when the Qur'an is read Unto them, they prostrate not them-selves!
And when the Quran is recited to them, they fall not prostrate,
And when the Quran is read to them, they do not bow down?
and when the Qur'an is recited to them, they do not prostrate themselves?
And, when the Qur'an is recited unto them, worship not (Allah)?
and will not prostrate when the Quran is recited to them?
and when the Koran is recited to them that they do not prostrate!
Why, when the Quran is recited to them, do they not prostrate themselves?
And when the Quran is recited to them they do not make obeisance?
When the Quran is read to them, why do they not fall to their knees?
And when the Qur'an is read to them, they fall not prostrate,
بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُكَذِّبُونَ ﴿٢٢﴾
But those who have disbelieved deny,
Bali allatheena kafaroo yukaththiboona
In fact the unbelievers disavow.
In fact the disbelievers keep denying.
Nay, but the unbelievers are crying lies,
Yea those who disbelieve belie.
Nay, (on the contrary), those who disbelieve, belie (Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and whatever he brought, i.e. this Quran and Islamic Monotheism, etc.).
In fact, those who disbelieve are in denial.
Instead, the unbelievers reject it, calling it a lie.
Nay, but those who disbelieve will deny;
Indeed, the faithless impugn [the Apostle],
No, the unbelievers only belie,
In fact, they reject the Quran,
Nay! those who disbelieve give the lie to the truth.
Indeed, those who are bent on denying the truth reject it --
But on the contrary the Unbelievers reject (it).
وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يُوعُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾
And Allah is most knowing of what they keep within themselves.
WaAllahu aAAlamu bima yooAAoona
But God knows what they harbour in their breasts.
And Allah well knows what they conceal in their hearts.
and God knows very well what they are secreting.
Whereas Allah knoweth best that which they cherish.
And Allah knows best what they gather (of good and bad deeds),
But God knows what they hide inside.
Allah knows best what they are accumulating (in their Record).
And Allah knoweth best what they are hiding.
and Allah knows best what they keep to themselves.
and Allah knows very well what they gather.
but God knows best whatever they accumulate in their hearts.
And Allah knows best what they hide,
God is quite aware of what they are storing in their hearts.
But Allah has full knowledge of what they secrete (in their breasts)
فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ﴿٢٤﴾
So give them tidings of a painful punishment,
Fabashshirhum biAAathabin aleemin
So give them news of painful punishment,
Therefore give them the glad tidings of a painful punishment.
So give them good tidings of a painful chastisement,
Wherefore announce thou Unto them a torment afflictive.
So announce to them a painful torment.
So inform them of a painful punishment.
So give them the good news of a painful chastisement,
So give them tidings of a painful doom,
So inform them of a painful punishment,
Therefore give to them glad tidings of a painful punishment,
(Muhammad), tell them that they will all suffer a painful torment
So announce to them a painful punishment~
Therefore, give them the news of a painful punishment.
So announce to them a Penalty Grievous,
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ لَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍۭ ﴿٢٥﴾
Except for those who believe and do righteous deeds. For them is a reward uninterrupted.
Illa allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati lahum ajrun ghayru mamnoonin
Except those who believe and do the right: For them there is reward unending.
Except those who believed and did good deeds – for them is a reward that will never end.
except those that believe, and do righteous deeds -- theirs shall be a wage unfailing.
But those who believe and work righteous works, theirs shall be a hire unending.
Save those who believe and do righteous good deeds, for them is a reward that will never come to an end (i.e. Paradise).
Except those who believe and do good deeds; they will have an undiminished reward.
except for those who believe and do good deeds. Theirs shall be an unending reward.
Save those who believe and do good works, for theirs is a reward unfailing.
excepting such as are faithful and do righteous deeds: for them there will be an everlasting reward.
except to those who believe, and do righteous deeds, for theirs is an unfailing recompense.
except the righteously striving believers, who will receive a never-ending reward.
Except those who believe and do good; for them is a reward that shall never be cut off.
But for those who believe and do good works; for them there shall be a never-ending reward.
Except to those who believe and work righteous deeds: For them is a Reward that will never fail.