Ash-Shams

wal-shamsi waḍuḥāhā

By the sun in its morning brightness

wal-qamari idhā talāhā

and by the moon as it follows it,

wal-nahāri idhā jallāhā

by the day as it displays the sun’s glory

wa-al-layli idhā yaghshāhā

and by the night as it conceals it,

wal-samāi wamā banāhā

by the sky and how He built it

wal-arḍi wamā ṭaḥāhā

and by the earth and how He spread it,

wanafsin wamā sawwāhā

by the soul and how He formed it

fa-alhamahā fujūrahā wataqwāhā

and inspired it [to know] its own rebellion and piety!

qad aflaḥa man zakkāhā

The one who purifies his soul succeeds

waqad khāba man dassāhā

and the one who corrupts it fails.

kadhabat thamūdu biṭaghwāhā

In their arrogant cruelty, the people of Thamud called [their messenger] a liar,

idhi inbaʿatha ashqāhā

when the most wicked man among them rose [against him].

faqāla lahum rasūlu l-lahi nāqata l-lahi wasuq'yāhā

The messenger of God said to them, ‘[Leave] God’s camel to drink,’

fakadhabūhu faʿaqarūhā fadamdama ʿalayhim rabbuhum bidhanbihim fasawwāhā

but they called him a liar and hamstrung her. Their Lord destroyed them for their crime and levelled them.

walā yakhāfu ʿuq'bāhā

He did not hesitate to punish them.