By the break of Day; (Allah swears by the Dawn of the Day)
And by the ten nights
And by the even and odd (contrasted)
And by the night when it passes away; —
Is there (not) in these a Sign for those who understand
Do you not see how your Mighty Lord dealt with the people of 'Ad —
(And with the people) of the (city of) Iram, with lofty pillars
Which have not been reproduced in (all) the land
And with the people of Samood (Thamud) who cut out (huge) rocks in the valley? —
And with Firon (Pharaoh), the lord of stakes
These (people) exceeded beyond limits in the lands
And here (they) piled mischief (upon mischief)
Therefore did your Mighty Lord send upon them very lowly punishments
Because your (Mighty) Lord is (like a Guardian) on a watch tower
Now, as for man, when his Mighty Lord tries him (by) giving him honor and gifts then he (proudly) says, "My Mighty Lord has honored me."
But when He tries him, (by) restricting his livelihood for him, then he says (in despair), "My Mighty Lord has put me to shame!"
No, no! But you do not honor the orphans
Nor do you encourage one another to feed the poor! —
And you (wrongly) consume inheritance— With all (the) greed
And you love wealth with passion
No! When the earth is pounded to powder
And your Mighty Lord arrives and His angels, rank upon rank
And on that Day, (when) Hell is brought (face to face), — On that Day will man remember, but (alas!) how will that remembrance profit him
He (the man) will say: "Ah! Had I sent forward (good deeds) for my (future) Life!"
Because, that Day, his punishment will be such like no one (else) can inflict
And His bonds will be such as none (else) can bind
(To the righteous person will be said:) "O, (you) soul, with (complete) rest and satisfaction
"Come back you to your Lord,— Well pleased (yourself), and well-pleasing to Him
"Enter you, among My devotees
"Yes, enter you My heaven!"