The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

By the dawn

And [by] ten nights[1913]

And [by] the even [number] and the odd

And [by] the night when it passes,

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

Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with ʿAad -

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

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

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

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

[All of] whom oppressed within the lands

And increased therein the corruption.

So your Lord poured upon them a scourge of punishment.

Indeed, your Lord is in observation.

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]

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

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

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

And you consume inheritance, devouring [it] altogether,[1920]

And you love wealth with immense love.

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

And enter among My [righteous] servants

And enter My Paradise."