Sura al-Takwir

81:1. When the sun is rolled up (and darkened),

إذا الشمس كورت

81:2. when the stars scatter (and fall from their galaxies),

وإذا النجوم انكدرت

81:3. when the mountains are blown away (after turning to dust),

وإذا الجبال سيرت

81:4. when the pregnant camels are left unattended,

وإذا العشار عطلت

81:5. when the wild beasts are assembled together,

وإذا الوحوش حشرت

81:6. when the seas are set on fire,

وإذا البحار سجرت

81:7. when the souls are paired (again with their bodies),

وإذا النفوس زوجت

81:8. when the female infant, buried alive, is asked,

وإذا الموؤودة سئلت

81:9. for what sin was she slain?

بأي ذنب قتلت

81:10. When the records (of deeds) are unfolded,

وإذا الصحف نشرت

81:11. when the heavens are stripped away,

وإذا السماء كشطت

81:12. when the Hellfire is set ablaze,

وإذا الجحيم سعرت

81:13. and when Paradise is brought closer,

وإذا الجنة أزلفت

81:14. then each soul will know what (deeds) it has brought along (with it).

علمت نفس ما أحضرت

81:15. So I swear by those (stars and planets) which recede (after appearing),

فلا أقسم بالخنس

81:16. those which move freely (in their orbit) and (then) hide,

الجوار الكنس

81:17. and (I swear) by the night, as it withdraws (gradually),

والليل إذا عسعس

81:18. and by the dawn, as it breathes,

والصبح إذا تنفس

81:19. this (Qur’an) is indeed the word of (God, delivered by Gabriel,) a noble messenger,

إنه لقول رسول كريم

81:20. full of strength, (and) held in honour by the Lord of the Throne.

ذي قوة عند ذي العرش مكين

81:21. (He is) well obeyed (in the heavens), and trustworthy as well.

مطاع ثم أمين

81:22. And, (O people,) your guide (Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) is not insane.

وما صاحبكم بمجنون

81:23. He surely saw him upon the clear horizon.

* This translation is based on the statements of the venerable ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Abbas, Anas b. Malik, ‘Ikrima, Abu Salama, al-Dahhak, Abu al-‘Aliya, Hasan, Ka‘b al-Ahbar, Sharik b. ‘Abd Allah and al-Sha‘bi and others, which are related by al-Bukhari, Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Jarir, al-Baghawi and many other eminent hadith-scholars. Most exegetes have also accepted it.

ولقد رآه بالأفق المبين

81:24. And he (i.e. the Esteemed Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) is not ungenerous in disclosing (the knowledge of) the Unseen.

وما هو على الغيب بضنين

81:25. And this (Qur’an) is not the word of a cursed Satan.

وما هو بقول شيطان رجيم

81:26. So where are you going?

فأين تذهبون

81:27. Indeed, this (Qur’an) is just a Reminder for all nations,

إن هو إلا ذكر للعالمين

81:28. (especially) for the one among you who wishes to be steadfast (on the right path).

لمن شاء منكم أن يستقيم

81:29. But you cannot wish (to do so) unless Allah, the Lord of all worlds, pleases.

وما تشاؤون إلا أن يشاء الله رب العالمين