At-Takwir

Izash shamsu kuwwirat

WHEN THE SUN is shrouded in darkness,

Wa izan nujoomun kadarat

and when the stars lose their light,

Wa izal jibaalu suyyirat

and when the mountains are made to vanish,

Wa izal 'ishaaru 'uttilat

and when she-camels big with young, about to give birth, are left untended,

Wa izal wuhooshu hushirat

and when all beasts are gathered together,

Wa izal bihaaru sujjirat

and when the seas boil over,

Wa izan nufoosu zuwwijat

and when all human beings are coupled [with their deeds],

Wa izal maw'oodatu su'ilat

and when the girl-child that was buried alive is made to ask

Bi ayyi zambin qutilat

for what crime she had been slain,

Wa izas suhufu nushirat

and when the scrolls [of men's deeds] are unfolded,

Wa izas samaaa'u kushitat

and when heaven is laid bare,

Wa izal jaheemu su'-'irat

and when the blazing fire [of hell] is kindled bright,

Wa izal jannatu uzlifat

and when paradise is brought into view:

'Alimat nafsum maaa ahdarat

[on that Day] every human being will come to know what he has prepared [for himself].

Falaaa uqsimu bil khunnas

BUT NAY! I call to witness the revolving stars,

Al jawaaril kunnas

the planets that run their course and set,

Wallaili izaa 'as'as

and the night as it darkly falls,

Wassubhi izaa tanaffas

and the morn as it softly breathes:

Innahoo laqawlu rasoolin kareem

behold, this [divine writ] is indeed the [inspired] word of a noble apostle,

Zee quwwatin 'inda zil 'arshi makeen

with strength endowed, secure with Him who in almightiness is enthroned

Mutaa'in samma ameen

[the word] of one to be heeded, and worthy of trust!

Wa maa saahibukum bimajnoon

For, this fellow-man of yours is not a madman:

Wa laqad ra aahu bilufuqil mubeen

he truly beheld [the angel - beheld] him on the clear horizon;

Wa maa huwa 'alal ghaibi bidaneen

and he is not one to begrudge others the knowledge [of whatever has been revealed to him] out of that which is beyond the reach of human Perception.

Wa maa huwa biqawli shaitaanir rajeem

Nor is this [message] the word of any satanic force accursed.

Fa ayna tazhaboon

Whither, then, will you go?

In huwa illaa zikrul lil'aalameen

This [message] is no less than a reminder to all mankind –

Liman shaaa'a minkum ai yastaqeem

to everyone of you who wills to walk a straight way.

Wa maa tashaaa'oona illaaa ai yashaaa 'al laahu Rabbul 'Aalameen

But you cannot will it unless God, the Sustainer of all the worlds, wills [to show you that way].