1. I swear by the Day of Resurrection!

لا أقسم بيوم القيامة

2. And I swear by the self-blaming soul!

ولا أقسم بالنفس اللوامة

3. Does human being think We shall not reassemble his bones?

أيحسب الإنسان ألن نجمع عظامه

4. Yes, indeed! We are capable of proportioning (even) his fingertips.

بلى قادرين على أن نسوي بنانه

5. Still, human being wants to deny what lies before him.

بل يريد الإنسان ليفجر أمامه

6. He asks: ‘When is the Day of Resurrection?’

يسئل أيان يوم القيامة

7. So when the eyes are dazzled,

فإذا برق البصر

8. and the moon will be eclipsed,

وخسف القمر

9. and the sun and the moon are brought together,

وجمع الشمس والقمر

10. on that Day, humans will say: ‘Where is the escape?’

يقول الإنسان يومئذ أين المفر

11. No, indeed! There shall be no refuge.

كلا لا وزر

12. On that Day, the (final) abode will be towards your Lord.

إلى ربك يومئذ المستقر

13. On that Day, human being will be informed about (the deeds) that he has sent forth and left behind.

ينبؤا الإنسان يومئذ بما قدم وأخر

14. Rather, human being shall be a clear witness against himself,

بل الإنسان على نفسه بصيرة

15. though he should offer his excuses.

ولو ألقى معاذيره

16. Do not rush your tongue with (the recitation of) this (Qur’an) to hasten (in memorising) it.

لا تحرك به لسانك لتعجل به

17. Indeed, it is upon Us to collect it (in your breast) and to recite it (by your tongue).

إن علينا جمعه وقرآنه

18. So once We have recited it (entirely through Gabriel), follow its recitation.

فإذا قرأناه فاتبع قرآنه

19. Then its clear explanation is (also) upon Us.

ثم إن علينا بيانه

20. (O disbelievers!) No, indeed! Instead, you love this transitory life,

كلا بل تحبون العاجلة

21. and forsake the Hereafter.

وتذرون الآخرة

22. Some faces shall be fresh and radiant on that Day,

وجوه يومئذ ناضرة

23. looking at their Lord (unveiled).

إلى ربها ناظرة

24. And some faces will be scowling (in desperation) on that Day,

ووجوه يومئذ باسرة

25. anticipating that they will be treated with a spine-crushing calamity.

تظن أن يفعل بها فاقرة

26. No, indeed! When the soul reaches the throat (before it leaves),

كلا إذا بلغت التراقي

27. and it is said: ‘Who is the healer (to save his life)?’

وقيل من راق

28. And he (i.e. the dying person) knows this is the (time of) departure.

وظن أنه الفراق

29. And each leg clings to the other leg.

والتفت الساق بالساق

30. On that day is the driving towards your Lord.

إلى ربك يومئذ المساق

31. He neither confirmed (the truth) nor prayed,

فلا صدق ولا صلى

32. but persisted in denial and turned away,

ولكن كذب وتولى

33. then, he went to his family boastfully.

ثم ذهب إلى أهله يتمطى

34. So, woe to you (at the time of death)! Then, woe to you (in the grave)!

أولى لك فأولى

35. Again, woe to you (on the Last Day)! Then, woe to you (in Hell)!

ثم أولى لك فأولى

36. Does human being think he will be left aimless (without reckoning)?

أيحسب الإنسان أن يترك سدى

37. Was he not a fertilised egg (i.e. a zygote*) from a drop of seminal fluid?

* In Arabic, the word ‘al-nutfa’ is mentioned, and it refers to a zygote, which is a mixture of male and female gametes. It is the new single cell formed after the union of a sperm and ovum.

ألم يك نطفة من مني يمنى

38. Then he became a clinging mass (in the mother’s womb). Then He created (him in a bodily form with limbs) and proportioned (him) perfectly,

ثم كان علقة فخلق فسوى

39. producing two genders from this (zygote): the male and the female.

فجعل منه الزوجين الذكر والأنثى

40. Is such (a Creator) not capable of reviving the dead?

أليس ذلك بقادر على أن يحيي الموتى