وَالصَّافَّاتِ صَفًّا

CONSIDER these [messages] ranged in serried ranks, (1)

فَالزَّاجِرَاتِ زَجْرًا

and restraining [from evil] by a call to restraint, (2)

فَالتَّالِيَاتِ ذِكْرًا

and conveying [to all the world] a reminder: (3)

رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَرَبُّ الْمَشَارِقِ

the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and of all that is between them, and the Sustainer of all the points of sunrise! (5)

إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِزِينَةٍ الْكَوَاكِبِ

Behold, We have adorned the skies nearest to the earth with the beauty of stars, (6)

وَحِفْظًا مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ مَارِدٍ

and have made them secure against every rebellious, satanic force, (7)

لَا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى الْمَلَإِ الْأَعْلَىٰ وَيُقْذَفُونَ مِنْ كُلِّ جَانِبٍ

[so that] they [who seek to learn the unknowable] should not be able to overhear the host on high, but shall be repelled from all sides, (8)

دُحُورًا وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ وَاصِبٌ

cast out [from all grace], with lasting suffering in store for them [in the life to come]; (9)

إِلَّا مَنْ خَطِفَ الْخَطْفَةَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ شِهَابٌ ثَاقِبٌ

but if anyone does succeed in snatching a glimpse [of such knowledge], he is [henceforth] pursued by a piercing flame. (10)

فَاسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَهُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَمْ مَنْ خَلَقْنَا إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاهُمْ مِنْ طِينٍ لَازِبٍ

AND NOW ask those [who deny the truth] to enlighten thee: Were they more difficult to create than all those [untold marvels] that We have created? – for, behold, them have We created out of [mere] clay commingled with water! (11)

بَلْ عَجِبْتَ وَيَسْخَرُونَ

Nay, but whereas thou dost marvel, they [only] scoff; (12)

وَإِذَا ذُكِّرُوا لَا يَذْكُرُونَ

and when they are reminded [of the truth], they refuse to take it to heart; (13)

وَإِذَا رَأَوْا آيَةً يَسْتَسْخِرُونَ

and when they become aware of a [divine] message, they turn it to ridicule (14)

وَقَالُوا إِنْ هَٰذَا إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ

and say: "This is clearly nothing but [a mortal's] spellbinding eloquence! (15)

أَإِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَامًا أَإِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ

Why – after we have died and become mere dust and bones, shall we, forsooth, be raised from the dead? – (16)

أَوَآبَاؤُنَا الْأَوَّلُونَ

and perhaps also our forebears of old?" (17)

قُلْ نَعَمْ وَأَنْتُمْ دَاخِرُونَ

Say: "Yea, indeed – and most abject will you then be!" – (18)

فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ زَجْرَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ فَإِذَا هُمْ يَنْظُرُونَ

for that [resurrection which they deride] will be [upon them of a sudden, as if it were] but a single accusing cry – and then, lo! they will begin to see [the truth] (19)

وَقَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا هَٰذَا يَوْمُ الدِّينِ

and will say: "Oh, woe unto us! This is the Day of Judgment!" (20)

هَٰذَا يَوْمُ الْفَصْلِ الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ

[And they will be told:] "This is the Day of Distinction [between the true and the false – the Day] which you were wont to call a lie!" (21)