By the Daybreak

by the Ten Nights

by the even and the odd

by the passing night––

is this oath strong enough for a rational person

Have you [Prophet] considered how your Lord dealt with [the people] of 'Ad

of Iram, [the city] of lofty pillars

whose like has never been made in any land

and the Thamud, who hewed into the rocks in the valley

and the mighty and powerful Pharaoh

All of them committed excesses in their lands

and spread corruption there

your Lord let a scourge of punishment loose on them

Your Lord is always watchful

[The nature of] man is that, when his Lord tries him through honour and blessings, he says, ‘My Lord has honoured me,’

but when He tries him through the restriction of his provision, he says, ‘My Lord has humiliated me.’

No indeed! You [people] do not honour orphans

you do not urge one another to feed the poor

you consume inheritance greedily

and you love wealth with a passion

No indeed! When the earth is pounded to dust, pounded and pounded

when your Lord comes with the angels, rank upon rank

when Hell is that Day brought near- on that Day man will take heed, but what good will that be to him then