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By the break of Day
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By the Nights twice five;
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By the even and odd (contrasted);
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And by the Night when it passeth away;-
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Is there (not) in these an adjuration(or evidence) for those who understand?
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Seest thou not how thy Lord dealt withthe ‘Ad (people),-
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Of the (city of) Iram, with loftypillars,
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The like of which were not produced in(all) the land?
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And with the Thamud (people), who cutout (huge) rocks in the valley?-
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And with Pharaoh, lord of stakes?
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(All) these transgressed beyond boundsin the lands,
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And heaped therein mischief (onmischief).
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Therefore did thy Lord pour on them ascourge of diverse chastisements:
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For thy Lord is (as a Guardian) on awatch-tower.
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Now, as for man, when his Lord triethhim, giving him honour and gifts, then saith he, (puffed up), “My Lord hathhonoured me.”
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But when He trieth him, restricting hissubsistence for him, then saith he (in despair), “My Lord hath humiliatedme!”
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Nay, nay! but ye honour not the orphans!
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Nor do ye encourage one another to feedthe poor!-
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And ye devour inheritance – all withgreed,
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And ye love wealth with inordinate love!
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Nay! When the earth is pounded topowder,
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And thy Lord cometh, and His angels,rank upon rank,
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And Hell, that Day, is brought (face toface),- on that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance profithim?
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He will say: “Ah! Would that I had sentforth (good deeds) for (this) my (Future) Life!”
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For, that Day, His Chastisement will besuch as none (else) can inflict,
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And His bonds will be such as none(other) can bind.
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(To the righteous soul will be said:) “O(thou) soul, in (complete) rest and satisfaction!
