Ash-Shams

Wash shamsi wa duhaa haa

CONSIDER the sun and its radiant brightness,

Wal qamari izaa talaa haa

and the moon as it reflects the sun!

Wannahaari izaa jallaa haa

Consider the day as it reveals the world,

Wallaili izaa yaghshaa haa

and the night as it veils it darkly!

Wassamaaa'i wa maa banaahaa

Consider the sky and its wondrous make,

Wal ardi wa maa tahaahaa

and the earth and all its expanse!

Wa nafsinw wa maa sawwaahaa

Consider the human self, and how it is formed in accordance with what it is meant to be,

Fa-alhamahaa fujoorahaa wa taqwaahaa

and how it is imbued with moral failings as well as with consciousness of God!

Qad aflaha man zakkaahaa

To a happy state shall indeed attain he who causes this [self] to grow in purity,

Wa qad khaaba man dassaahaa

and truly lost is he who buries it [in darkness].

Kazzabat Samoodu bi taghwaahaaa

TO [THIS] TRUTH gave the lie, in their overweening arrogance, [the tribe of] Thamud,

Izim ba'asa ashqaahaa

when that most hapless wretch from among them rushed forward [to commit his evil deed],

Faqaala lahum Rasoolul laahi naaqatal laahi wa suqiyaahaa

although God's apostle had told them, "It is a she-camel belonging to God, so let her drink [and do her no harm]!"

Fakazzaboohu fa'aqaroohaa fadamdama 'alaihim Rabbuhum bizambihim fasaw waahaa

But they gave him the lie, and cruelly slaughtered her - whereupon their Sustainer visited them with utter destruction for this their sin, destroying them all alike:

Wa laa yakhaafu'uqbaahaa

for none [of them] had any fear of what might befall them.