Ash-Shams

English Translation

CONSIDER the sun and its radiant brightness,

English Translation

and the moon as it reflects the sun!

English Translation

Consider the day as it reveals the world,

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and the night as it veils it darkly!

English Translation

Consider the sky and its wondrous make,

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and the earth and all its expanse!

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Consider the human self, and how it is formed in accordance with what it is meant to be,

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and how it is imbued with moral failings as well as with consciousness of God!

English Translation

To a happy state shall indeed attain he who causes this [self] to grow in purity,

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and truly lost is he who buries it [in darkness].

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TO [THIS] TRUTH gave the lie, in their overweening arrogance, [the tribe of] Thamud,

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when that most hapless wretch from among them rushed forward [to commit his evil deed],

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although God's apostle had told them, "It is a she-camel belonging to God, so let her drink [and do her no harm]!"

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But they gave him the lie, and cruelly slaughtered her - whereupon their Sustainer visited them with utter destruction for this their sin, destroying them all alike:

English Translation

for none [of them] had any fear of what might befall them.