1
ٱقۡتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلۡقَمَرُ ١
The Hour has drawn near and the moon has split asunder[1].
Footnotes
[1] The Quraysh pagans challenged the Prophet (ﷺ) to split the moon in two so that they believe in him. The moon was split as they requested and then re-joined, and the incident was reported by several eyewitnesses in different parts of the land; however, they still refused to believe, considering it magic.
2
وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ ءَايَةࣰ يُعۡرِضُواْ وَيَقُولُواْ سِحۡرࣱ مُّسۡتَمِرࣱّ ٢
Whenever they see a sign[2], they turn away and say, “Same old magic!”
Footnotes
[2] The prophets were given signs or miracles as a proof that they were commissioned by Allah. Moses (عليه السلام) was given the miracles of staff and a bright hand. Jesus (عليه السلام) would give life to the dead and heal the blind and the leper. Muhammad (ﷺ) was given the Qur’an, a literary miracle, challenging the masters of Arabic eloquence. Nonetheless, he (ﷺ) performed other miracles such as splitting the moon, increasing food and water, and healing some ailments.
3
وَكَذَّبُواْ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓاْ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡۚ وَكُلُّ أَمۡرࣲ مُّسۡتَقِرࣱّ ٣
They deny [the truth] and follow their desires, but every matter will reach its inevitable end.
4
وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَنۢبَآءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزۡدَجَرٌ ٤
There have already come to them stories [of destroyed nations] that are sufficient to deter them,
5
حِكۡمَةُۢ بَٰلِغَةࣱۖ فَمَا تُغۡنِ ٱلنُّذُرُ ٥
which contain extensive wisdom, but the warnings are of no avail.
6
فَتَوَلَّ عَنۡهُمۡۘ يَوۡمَ يَدۡعُ ٱلدَّاعِ إِلَىٰ شَيۡءࣲ نُّكُرٍ ٦
So turn away from them [O Prophet]. On the Day when the caller[3] will summon them to a horrific event[4],
Footnotes
[3] Isrāfīl, the angel assigned to blow the Trumpet and call all for resurrection. [4] i.e., Judgment Day.
7
خُشَّعًا أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ يَخۡرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَجۡدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمۡ جَرَادࣱ مُّنتَشِرࣱ ٧
with eyes downcast, they will come out of the graves like scattered locusts,
8
مُّهۡطِعِينَ إِلَى ٱلدَّاعِۖ يَقُولُ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا يَوۡمٌ عَسِرࣱ ٨
rushing headlong towards the caller. The disbelievers will say, “This is a hard Day!”
9
۞ كَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوحࣲ فَكَذَّبُواْ عَبۡدَنَا وَقَالُواْ مَجۡنُونࣱ وَٱزۡدُجِرَ ٩
The people of Noah rejected [the truth] before them; they rejected Our slave and said, “He is a madman,” and he was intimidated.
10
فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّي مَغۡلُوبࣱ فَٱنتَصِرۡ ١٠
So he called upon his Lord, “I am overpowered, so help me!”
11
فَفَتَحۡنَآ أَبۡوَٰبَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَآءࣲ مُّنۡهَمِرࣲ ١١
So We opened the gates of the sky with water pouring down in torrents,
12
وَفَجَّرۡنَا ٱلۡأَرۡضَ عُيُونࣰا فَٱلۡتَقَى ٱلۡمَآءُ عَلَىٰٓ أَمۡرࣲ قَدۡ قُدِرَ ١٢
and We caused the earth to burst forth with springs, then the waters met for a preordained purpose.
13
وَحَمَلۡنَٰهُ عَلَىٰ ذَاتِ أَلۡوَٰحࣲ وَدُسُرࣲ ١٣
We carried him on an [Ark made] of planks and nails,
14
تَجۡرِي بِأَعۡيُنِنَا جَزَآءࣰ لِّمَن كَانَ كُفِرَ ١٤
sailing under Our [Watchful] Eyes; as a reward for the one [they] denied.
15
وَلَقَد تَّرَكۡنَٰهَآ ءَايَةࣰ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ ١٥
We have certainly left it[5] as a sign; is there anyone to take heed?
Footnotes
[5] i.e., the punishment, the Flood, or the Ark.
16
فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ ١٦
Then how were My punishment and My warnings[6]?
Footnotes
[6] As a warning to those who came after them.
17
وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ ١٧
We have certainly made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember; is there anyone to take heed?
18
كَذَّبَتۡ عَادࣱ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ ١٨
‘Ād disbelieved. Then how were My punishment and My warnings?
19
إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ رِيحࣰا صَرۡصَرࣰا فِي يَوۡمِ نَحۡسࣲ مُّسۡتَمِرࣲّ ١٩
We sent against them a furious wind[7] on a day of continuous misfortune,
Footnotes
[7] i.e., a tumultuous and screaming wind.
20
تَنزِعُ ٱلنَّاسَ كَأَنَّهُمۡ أَعۡجَازُ نَخۡلࣲ مُّنقَعِرࣲ ٢٠
sweeping people away[8], as if they were trunks of uprooted palm trees.
Footnotes
[8] i.e., extracting them from the earth.
21
فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ ٢١
Then how were My punishment and My warnings?
22
وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ ٢٢
We have certainly made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember; is there anyone to take heed?
23
كَذَّبَتۡ ثَمُودُ بِٱلنُّذُرِ ٢٣
Thamūd rejected the warnings,
24
فَقَالُوٓاْ أَبَشَرࣰا مِّنَّا وَٰحِدࣰا نَّتَّبِعُهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذࣰا لَّفِي ضَلَٰلࣲ وَسُعُرٍ ٢٤
They said, “Shall we follow a single human being[9] from among us? Then we would surely be in error and insanity!
Footnotes
[9] i.e., Prophet Sālih (عليه السلام).
25
أَءُلۡقِيَ ٱلذِّكۡرُ عَلَيۡهِ مِنۢ بَيۡنِنَا بَلۡ هُوَ كَذَّابٌ أَشِرࣱ ٢٥
Has the revelation been sent down upon him out of all of us? Rather, he is an insolent liar.”
26
سَيَعۡلَمُونَ غَدࣰا مَّنِ ٱلۡكَذَّابُ ٱلۡأَشِرُ ٢٦
Tomorrow they will know who the insolent liar is.
27
إِنَّا مُرۡسِلُواْ ٱلنَّاقَةِ فِتۡنَةࣰ لَّهُمۡ فَٱرۡتَقِبۡهُمۡ وَٱصۡطَبِرۡ ٢٧
We are sending the she-camel as a test for them, so watch them [O Sālih] and be patient,
28
وَنَبِّئۡهُمۡ أَنَّ ٱلۡمَآءَ قِسۡمَةُۢ بَيۡنَهُمۡۖ كُلُّ شِرۡبࣲ مُّحۡتَضَرࣱ ٢٨
and tell them that the water is to be shared between them[10]; each should take its drink in turn.
Footnotes
[10] i.e., one day for the tribe of Thamūd and one day for the she-camel.
29
فَنَادَوۡاْ صَاحِبَهُمۡ فَتَعَاطَىٰ فَعَقَرَ ٢٩
But they called their companion[11], and he undertook the task[12] and hamstrung her.
Footnotes
[11] i.e., the worst among them.
[12] Or took his sword.
30
فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ ٣٠
Then how [terrible] My punishment and My warnings were!
31
إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ صَيۡحَةࣰ وَٰحِدَةࣰ فَكَانُواْ كَهَشِيمِ ٱلۡمُحۡتَظِرِ ٣١
We sent against them a single blast, leaving them like trampled hedge-building twigs[13].
Footnotes
[13] The people of Thamūd were crushed like trampled and trodden twigs and pieces of bush lying around an enclosure for cattle.
32
وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ ٣٢
We have certainly made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember; is there anyone to take heed?
33
كَذَّبَتۡ قَوۡمُ لُوطِۭ بِٱلنُّذُرِ ٣٣
The people of Lot rejected the warnings.
34
إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ حَاصِبًا إِلَّآ ءَالَ لُوطࣲۖ نَّجَّيۡنَٰهُم بِسَحَرࣲ ٣٤
We sent against them a storm of pebbles, except the family of Lot whom We saved before dawn,
35
نِّعۡمَةࣰ مِّنۡ عِندِنَاۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي مَن شَكَرَ ٣٥
as a blessing from Us. Thus do We reward those who give thanks.
36
وَلَقَدۡ أَنذَرَهُم بَطۡشَتَنَا فَتَمَارَوۡاْ بِٱلنُّذُرِ ٣٦
He had already warned them of Our punishing assault, but they doubted the warnings.
37
وَلَقَدۡ رَٰوَدُوهُ عَن ضَيۡفِهِۦ فَطَمَسۡنَآ أَعۡيُنَهُمۡ فَذُوقُواْ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ ٣٧
They even demanded that he let them have their way with his angel-guests[14], so We blinded their eyes, [saying], “Taste My punishment and My warnings!”
Footnotes
[14] Whom Allah sent in the form of handsome young men.
38
وَلَقَدۡ صَبَّحَهُم بُكۡرَةً عَذَابࣱ مُّسۡتَقِرࣱّ ٣٨
By the early morning a lasting torment overtook them.
39
فَذُوقُواْ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ ٣٩
Taste My punishment and My warnings!
40
وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ ٤٠
We have certainly made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember; is there anyone to take heed?
41
وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَ ءَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ ٱلنُّذُرُ ٤١
Indeed, warnings came to the people of Pharaoh.
42
كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا كُلِّهَا فَأَخَذۡنَٰهُمۡ أَخۡذَ عَزِيزࣲ مُّقۡتَدِرٍ ٤٢
But they rejected all of Our signs, so We seized them with the grip of the All-Mighty, Most Powerful.
43
أَكُفَّارُكُمۡ خَيۡرࣱ مِّنۡ أُوْلَٰٓئِكُمۡ أَمۡ لَكُم بَرَآءَةࣱ فِي ٱلزُّبُرِ ٤٣
Are your disbelievers [O Makkans] superior to those[15] or have you been granted immunity in divine Scriptures?
Footnotes
[15] i.e., those destroyed peoples.
44
أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ نَحۡنُ جَمِيعࣱ مُّنتَصِرࣱ ٤٤
Or do they say, “We are a united front, bound to prevail.”?
45
سَيُهۡزَمُ ٱلۡجَمۡعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ ٱلدُّبُرَ ٤٥
Soon their united front will be defeated, and they will flee[16].
Footnotes
[16] This foretold event was fulfilled in the Battle of Badr.
46
بَلِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ مَوۡعِدُهُمۡ وَٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدۡهَىٰ وَأَمَرُّ ٤٦
But the Hour is their appointed time, and the Hour is more catastrophic and more bitter.
47
إِنَّ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ فِي ضَلَٰلࣲ وَسُعُرࣲ ٤٧
Indeed, the wicked are in error and blazes[17].
Footnotes
[17] i.e., will burn in the Hellfire.
48
يَوۡمَ يُسۡحَبُونَ فِي ٱلنَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمۡ ذُوقُواْ مَسَّ سَقَرَ ٤٨
On the Day when they will be dragged into the Fire on their faces, [they will be told], “Taste the agony of Hell[18]!”
Footnotes
[18] "Saqar" is one of the names of Hell.
49
إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقۡنَٰهُ بِقَدَرࣲ ٤٩
We have surely created everything in a determined measure[19].
Footnotes
[19] Or perfectly preordained.
50
وَمَآ أَمۡرُنَآ إِلَّا وَٰحِدَةࣱ كَلَمۡحِۭ بِٱلۡبَصَرِ ٥٠
Our command is but a single word[20], which is fulfilled in the blink of an eye.
Footnotes
[20] Our command when We want something, We only say, "Be," and it is.
51
وَلَقَدۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَآ أَشۡيَاعَكُمۡ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ ٥١
We have destroyed many like you [O Makkans][21]; is there anyone to take heed?
Footnotes
[21] In rejecting Allah's messengers.
52
وَكُلُّ شَيۡءࣲ فَعَلُوهُ فِي ٱلزُّبُرِ ٥٢
Everything they did is in the written records,
53
وَكُلُّ صَغِيرࣲ وَكَبِيرࣲ مُّسۡتَطَرٌ ٥٣
and everything, small or big, is written down.
54
إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّٰتࣲ وَنَهَرࣲ ٥٤
Indeed, the righteous will be in gardens and rivers[22],
Footnotes
[22] Rivers of water, honey, milk, and wine. See 47:15.
55
فِي مَقۡعَدِ صِدۡقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكࣲ مُّقۡتَدِرِۭ ٥٥
seated in honor in the presence of the Most Powerful Sovereign.
