Surah “The Dawn, Daybreak”

By the emerging dawn (that dispels the darkness of night),

And by the ten (blessed) nights,

And by the even and the odd,

And by the night as it departs. (Every night or particularly the night of Muzdalifa or the night of Qadr.

Surely, in that is a mighty oath for the wise

Have you not seen how your Lord treated (the people of ‘Ad)

(They) were (the people) of Iram (and) were (tall like) lofty columns (possessing towering castles)

The like of which has not (at all) been created in the countries (of the world)

And (what treatment was given to) Thamud, who carved rocks (and constructed hundreds of cities) in the (Qura) valley

And (how was) Pharaoh (dealt with), who wielded large armies (and used to punish victims with stakes)

(They were) the people who perpetrated tyranny in their (respective) countries

And spread great mischief and corruption there

Then your Lord unleashed the scourge of punishment on them

Indeed, your Lord is Ever-Watchful (over the tyrant transgressors)

But as for man, when his Lord tests him (by providing him pleasure and comfort) and honours him and gives him bounties, he says: ‘My Lord has honoured me.

But when He tries him (by afflicting him with pain and discomfort) and limits his means of sustenance, he says: ‘My Lord has humiliated me.

No indeed! But (the truth is that after you gain honour and good fortune), you do not give honour and care to orphans

Nor do you inspire one another (in society) to promote the feeding of the destitute (i.e., the poor and the needy)

And you lay hand on the inherited wealth and devour it (yourselves and do not pay the poverty-stricken their due)

And you love wealth and riches inordinately

Assuredly, when the earth will be cleft asunder and crushed to dust particles

And your Lord will unveil His Light and the angels will appear (before His presence) rank upon rank

And that Day, Hell will be brought forth. On that Day man will come to understand, but how will admonition (avail him then)

He will say: ‘Would that I had sent (something) ahead of me for my (real) life (which would have helped me Today)!

But that Day no one will be able to torment like His torment

And no one will be able to bind as He binds

O contented (pleased) self

Return to your Lord in such a state that you are both the aspirant to, and the aspired of, His pleasure (i.e., you seek His pleasure and He seeks yours)

So join My (perfect) servants

And enter My Paradise (of nearness and sight)