The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

(1) By the dawn

(2) And [by] ten nights[1913]

(3) And [by] the even [number] and the odd

(4) And [by] the night when it passes,

(5) Is there [not] in [all] that an oath [sufficient] for one of perception?[1914]

(6) Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with ʿAad -

(7) [With] Iram[1915] - who had lofty pillars,[1916]

(8) The likes of whom had never been created in the land?

(9) And [with] Thamūd, who carved out the rocks in the valley?

(10) And [with] Pharaoh, owner of the stakes?[1917]

(11) [All of] whom oppressed within the lands

(12) And increased therein the corruption.

(13) So your Lord poured upon them a scourge of punishment.

(14) Indeed, your Lord is in observation.

(15) And as for man, when his Lord tries him and [thus] is generous to him and favors him, he says, "My Lord has honored me."[1918]

(16) But when He tries him and restricts his provision, he says, "My Lord has humiliated me."

(17) No![1919] But you do not honor the orphan

(18) And you do not encourage one another to feed the poor.

(19) And you consume inheritance, devouring [it] altogether,[1920]

(20) And you love wealth with immense love.

(21) No! When the earth has been leveled - pounded and crushed

(22) And your Lord has come[1921] and the angels, rank upon rank,

(23) And brought [within view], that Day, is Hell - that Day, man will remember, but how [i.e., what good] to him will be the remembrance?

(24) He will say, "Oh, I wish I had sent ahead [some good] for my life."[1922]

(25) So on that Day, none will punish [as severely] as His punishment,

(26) And none will bind [as severely] as His binding [of the evildoers].

(27) [To the righteous it will be said], "O reassured soul,

(28) Return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him],

(29) And enter among My [righteous] servants

(30) And enter My Paradise."