CONSIDER the sun and its radiant brightness
and the moon as it reflects the sun
Consider the day as it reveals the world
and the night as it veils it darkly
Consider the sky and its wondrous make
and the earth and all its expanse
Consider the human self, and how it is formed in accordance with what it is meant to be
and how it is imbued with moral failings as well as with consciousness of God
To a happy state shall indeed attain he who causes this [self] to grow in purity
and truly lost is he who buries it [in darkness]
TO [THIS] TRUTH gave the lie, in their overweening arrogance, [the tribe of] Thamud
when that most hapless wretch from among them rushed forward [to commit his evil deed]
although God's apostle had told them, "It is a she-camel belonging to God, so let her drink [and do her no harm]!"
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
for none [of them] had any fear of what might befall them