سُورَةُ القَمَرِ

ٱقۡتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلۡقَمَرُ (۱)

THE LAST HOUR draws near, and the moon is split asunder!

وَإِن یَرَوۡا۟ ءَایَةࣰ یُعۡرِضُوا۟ وَیَقُولُوا۟ سِحۡرࣱ مُّسۡتَمِرࣱّ (۲)

But if they [who reject all thought of the Last Hour] were to see a sign [of its approach], they would turn aside and say, “An ever-recurring delusion!” –

وَكَذَّبُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعُوۤا۟ أَهۡوَاۤءَهُمۡۚ وَكُلُّ أَمۡرࣲ مُّسۡتَقِرࣱّ (۳)

for they are bent on giving it the lie, being always wont to follow their own desires. Yet everything reveals its truth in the end.

وَلَقَدۡ جَاۤءَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَنۢبَاۤءِ مَا فِیهِ مُزۡدَجَرٌ (۴)

And withal, there has come unto them many a tiding that should have restrained [their arrogance]:

حِكۡمَةُۢ بَـٰلِغَةࣱۖ فَمَا تُغۡنِ ٱلنُّذُرُ (۵)

far-reaching wisdom [was held out to them]: but [since] all warnings have been of no avail,

فَتَوَلَّ عَنۡهُمۡۘ یَوۡمَ یَدۡعُ ٱلدَّاعِ إِلَىٰ شَیۡءࣲ نُّكُرٍ (۶)

turn thou away from them. On the Day when the Summoning Voice will sum­mon [man] unto something that the mind cannot conceive,

خُشَّعًا أَبۡصَـٰرُهُمۡ یَخۡرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَجۡدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمۡ جَرَادࣱ مُّنتَشِرࣱ (۷)

they will come forth from their graves, with their eyes downcast, [swarming about] like locusts scattered [by the wind],

مُّهۡطِعِینَ إِلَى ٱلدَّاعِۖ یَقُولُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ هَـٰذَا یَوۡمٌ عَسِرࣱ (۸)

running in con­fusion towards the Summoning Voice; [and] those who [now] deny the truth will exclaim, “Calamitous is this Day!”

۞ كَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوحࣲ فَكَذَّبُوا۟ عَبۡدَنَا وَقَالُوا۟ مَجۡنُونࣱ وَٱزۡدُجِرَ (۹)

[LONG] BEFORE those [who now deny resurrec­tion] did Noah’s people call it a lie; and they gave the lie to Our servant and said, “Mad is he!” - and he was repulsed.

فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥۤ أَنِّی مَغۡلُوبࣱ فَٱنتَصِرۡ (۱۰)

Thereupon he called out to his Sustainer, “Verily, I am defeated; come Thou, then, to my succour!”

فَفَتَحۡنَاۤ أَبۡوَ ٰ⁠بَ ٱلسَّمَاۤءِ بِمَاۤءࣲ مُّنۡهَمِرࣲ (۱۱)

And so We caused the gates of heaven to open with water pouring down in torrents,

وَفَجَّرۡنَا ٱلۡأَرۡضَ عُیُونࣰا فَٱلۡتَقَى ٱلۡمَاۤءُ عَلَىٰۤ أَمۡرࣲ قَدۡ قُدِرَ (۱۲)

and caused the earth to burst forth with springs, so that the waters met for a purpose pre-ordained:

وَحَمَلۡنَـٰهُ عَلَىٰ ذَاتِ أَلۡوَ ٰ⁠حࣲ وَدُسُرࣲ (۱۳)

but him We bore on that [vessel] made of [mere] planks and nails,

تَجۡرِی بِأَعۡیُنِنَا جَزَاۤءࣰ لِّمَن كَانَ كُفِرَ (۱۴)

and it floated under Our eyes: a recom­pense for him who had been rejected with ingratitude.

وَلَقَد تَّرَكۡنَـٰهَاۤ ءَایَةࣰ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ (۱۵)

And, indeed, We have caused such [floating vessels] to remain forever a sign [of Our grace unto man]: who, then, is willing to take it to heart?

فَكَیۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِی وَنُذُرِ (۱۶)

And how severe is the suffering which I inflict when My warnings are disregarded!

وَلَقَدۡ یَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ (۱۷)

Hence, indeed, We made this Qur’an easy to bear in mind: who, then, is willing to take it to heart?

كَذَّبَتۡ عَادࣱ فَكَیۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِی وَنُذُرِ (۱۸)

TO THE TRUTH gave the lie [the tribe of] Ad: and how severe was the suffering which I inflicted when My warnings were disregarded!

إِنَّاۤ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَیۡهِمۡ رِیحࣰا صَرۡصَرࣰا فِی یَوۡمِ نَحۡسࣲ مُّسۡتَمِرࣲّ (۱۹)

Behold, We let loose upon them a raging storm wind on a day of bitter misfortune:

تَنزِعُ ٱلنَّاسَ كَأَنَّهُمۡ أَعۡجَازُ نَخۡلࣲ مُّنقَعِرࣲ (۲۰)

it swept the people away as though they were palm-trunks uprooted:

فَكَیۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِی وَنُذُرِ (۲۱)

for, how severe is the suffering which I inflict when My warnings are disregarded!

وَلَقَدۡ یَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ (۲۲)

Hence, indeed, We made this Qur’an easy to bear in mind: who, then, is willing to take it to heart?

كَذَّبَتۡ ثَمُودُ بِٱلنُّذُرِ (۲۳)

[AND the tribe of] Thamud gave the lie to all [Our] warnings;

فَقَالُوۤا۟ أَبَشَرࣰا مِّنَّا وَ ٰ⁠حِدࣰا نَّتَّبِعُهُۥۤ إِنَّاۤ إِذࣰا لَّفِی ضَلَـٰلࣲ وَسُعُرٍ (۲۴)

and they said: “Are we to follow one single mortal, one from among ourselves? In that case, behold, we would certainly sink into error and folly!

أَءُلۡقِیَ ٱلذِّكۡرُ عَلَیۡهِ مِنۢ بَیۡنِنَا بَلۡ هُوَ كَذَّابٌ أَشِرࣱ (۲۵)

Why - on him alone from among all of us should a [divine] reminder have been bestowed? Nay, but he is a boastful liar!”

سَیَعۡلَمُونَ غَدࣰا مَّنِ ٱلۡكَذَّابُ ٱلۡأَشِرُ (۲۶)

[And God said:] “On the morrow they will come to know who the boastful liar is!

إِنَّا مُرۡسِلُوا۟ ٱلنَّاقَةِ فِتۡنَةࣰ لَّهُمۡ فَٱرۡتَقِبۡهُمۡ وَٱصۡطَبِرۡ (۲۷)

Behold, [O Salih] We are letting loose this she-camel as a test for them; and thou but watch them, and contain thyself in patience.

وَنَبِّئۡهُمۡ أَنَّ ٱلۡمَاۤءَ قِسۡمَةُۢ بَیۡنَهُمۡۖ كُلُّ شِرۡبࣲ مُّحۡتَضَرࣱ (۲۸)

And let them know that the water [of their wells] is to be divided between them, with each share of water equitably apportioned.”

فَنَادَوۡا۟ صَاحِبَهُمۡ فَتَعَاطَىٰ فَعَقَرَ (۲۹)

But they summoned their [boldest] companion, and he ventured [upon the evil deed], and cruelly slaughtered [the animal]:

فَكَیۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِی وَنُذُرِ (۳۰)

and how severe was the suffering which I inflicted when My warnings were disregarded!

إِنَّاۤ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَیۡهِمۡ صَیۡحَةࣰ وَ ٰ⁠حِدَةࣰ فَكَانُوا۟ كَهَشِیمِ ٱلۡمُحۡتَظِرِ (۳۱)

Behold, We let loose upon them one single blast [of Our punishment], and they became like the dried-up, crumbling twigs of a sheepfold.

وَلَقَدۡ یَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ (۳۲)

Hence, indeed, We made this Qur’an easy to bear in mind: who, then, is willing to take it to heart?

كَذَّبَتۡ قَوۡمُ لُوطِۭ بِٱلنُّذُرِ (۳۳)

LOT ’S PEOPLE [too] gave the lie to all [Our] warn­ings:

إِنَّاۤ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَیۡهِمۡ حَاصِبًا إِلَّاۤ ءَالَ لُوطࣲۖ نَّجَّیۡنَـٰهُم بِسَحَرࣲ (۳۴)

[and so,] behold, We let loose upon them a deadly tempest; and only Lot ’s kinsfolk did We save at the break of dawn,

نِّعۡمَةࣰ مِّنۡ عِندِنَاۚ كَذَ ٰ⁠لِكَ نَجۡزِی مَن شَكَرَ (۳۵)

as a blessing from Us: thus do We reward all who are grateful.

وَلَقَدۡ أَنذَرَهُم بَطۡشَتَنَا فَتَمَارَوۡا۟ بِٱلنُّذُرِ (۳۶)

For he had truly warned them of Our punishing might; but they stubbornly cast doubt on these warn­ings,

وَلَقَدۡ رَ ٰ⁠وَدُوهُ عَن ضَیۡفِهِۦ فَطَمَسۡنَاۤ أَعۡیُنَهُمۡ فَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِی وَنُذُرِ (۳۷)

and even demanded that he give up his guests [to them]: whereupon We deprived them of their sight [and thus told them, as it were]: “Taste, then, the suffering which I inflict when My warnings are disregarded!”

وَلَقَدۡ صَبَّحَهُم بُكۡرَةً عَذَابࣱ مُّسۡتَقِرࣱّ (۳۸)

And, indeed, abiding suffering did befall them early on the morrow:

فَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِی وَنُذُرِ (۳۹)

“Taste, then, the suffering which I inflict when My warnings are disregarded!”

وَلَقَدۡ یَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ (۴۰)

Hence, indeed, We made this Qur’an easy to bear in mind: who, then, is willing to take it to heart?

وَلَقَدۡ جَاۤءَ ءَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ ٱلنُّذُرُ (۴۱)

Now surely, unto Pharaoh’s folk [too] came such warnings;

كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔایَـٰتِنَا كُلِّهَا فَأَخَذۡنَـٰهُمۡ أَخۡذَ عَزِیزࣲ مُّقۡتَدِرٍ (۴۲)

they, too, gave the lie to all Our messages: and thereupon We took them to task as only the Almighty, who determines all things, can take to task.

أَكُفَّارُكُمۡ خَیۡرࣱ مِّنۡ أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكُمۡ أَمۡ لَكُم بَرَاۤءَةࣱ فِی ٱلزُّبُرِ (۴۳)

ARE, THEN, those of you who [now] deny the truth better than those others - or have you, per­chance, [been promised] immunity in the [ancient] books of [divine] wisdom?

أَمۡ یَقُولُونَ نَحۡنُ جَمِیعࣱ مُّنتَصِرࣱ (۴۴)

Or do they say, “We are a group united, [and therefore] bound to prevail”?

سَیُهۡزَمُ ٱلۡجَمۡعُ وَیُوَلُّونَ ٱلدُّبُرَ (۴۵)

[Yet] the hosts [of those who deny the truth] shall be routed, and they shall turn their backs [in flight]!

بَلِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ مَوۡعِدُهُمۡ وَٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدۡهَىٰ وَأَمَرُّ (۴۶)

But nay - the Last Hour is the time when they shall truly meet their fate; and that Last Hour will be most calamitous, and most bitter:

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِینَ فِی ضَلَـٰلࣲ وَسُعُرࣲ (۴۷)

for, behold, those who are lost in sin [will at that time come to know that it is they who] were sunk in error and folly!

یَوۡمَ یُسۡحَبُونَ فِی ٱلنَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمۡ ذُوقُوا۟ مَسَّ سَقَرَ (۴۸)

On the Day when they shall be dragged into the fire on their faces, [they will be told:] “Taste now the touch of hell-fire!”

إِنَّا كُلَّ شَیۡءٍ خَلَقۡنَـٰهُ بِقَدَرࣲ (۴۹)

BEHOLD, everything have We created in due measure and proportion;

وَمَاۤ أَمۡرُنَاۤ إِلَّا وَ ٰ⁠حِدَةࣱ كَلَمۡحِۭ بِٱلۡبَصَرِ (۵۰)

and Our ordaining [a thing and its coming into being] is but one [act], like the twinkling of an eye.

وَلَقَدۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَاۤ أَشۡیَاعَكُمۡ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ (۵۱)

Thus, indeed, did We destroy people like you [in the past]: who, then, is willing to take it to heart?

وَكُلُّ شَیۡءࣲ فَعَلُوهُ فِی ٱلزُّبُرِ (۵۲)

[They were truly guilty] because all [the evil] that they ever did had been [revealed to them as such] in the [ancient] books of [divine] wisdom;

وَكُلُّ صَغِیرࣲ وَكَبِیرࣲ مُّسۡتَطَرٌ (۵۳)

and everything [that man does], be it small or great, is recorded [with God].

إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِینَ فِی جَنَّـٰتࣲ وَنَهَرࣲ (۵۴)

[Hence, too,] behold, the God-conscious will find themselves in [a paradise of] gardens and running waters,

فِی مَقۡعَدِ صِدۡقٍ عِندَ مَلِیكࣲ مُّقۡتَدِرِۭ (۵۵)

in a seat of truth, in the presence of a Sovereign who determines all things.