وَالْمُرْسَلَاتِ عُرْفًا

CONSIDER these [messages,] sent forth in waves (1)

فَالْعَاصِفَاتِ عَصْفًا

and then storming on with a tempest's force! (2)

وَالنَّاشِرَاتِ نَشْرًا

Consider these [messages] that spread [the truth] far and wide, (3)

فَالْفَارِقَاتِ فَرْقًا

thus separating [right and wrong] with all clarity, (4)

فَالْمُلْقِيَاتِ ذِكْرًا

and then giving forth a reminder, (5)

عُذْرًا أَوْ نُذْرًا

[promising] freedom from blame or [offering] a warning! (6)

إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَوَاقِعٌ

BEHOLD, all that you are told to expect will surely come to pass. (7)

فَإِذَا النُّجُومُ طُمِسَتْ

Thus, [it will come to pass] when the stars are effaced, (8)

وَإِذَا السَّمَاءُ فُرِجَتْ

and when the sky is rent asunder, (9)

وَإِذَا الْجِبَالُ نُسِفَتْ

and when the mountains are scattered like dust, (10)

وَإِذَا الرُّسُلُ أُقِّتَتْ

and when all the apostles are called together at a time appointed.... (11)

لِأَيِّ يَوْمٍ أُجِّلَتْ

For what day has the term [of all this] been set? (12)

لِيَوْمِ الْفَصْلِ

For the Day of Distinction [between the true and the false]! (13)

وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا يَوْمُ الْفَصْلِ

And what could make thee conceive what that Day of Distinction will be? (14)

وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Woe on that Day unto those who give the lie to the truth! (15)

أَلَمْ نُهْلِكِ الْأَوَّلِينَ

Did We not destroy [so many of] those [sinners] of olden days? (16)

ثُمَّ نُتْبِعُهُمُ الْآخِرِينَ

And We shall let them be followed by those of later times: (17)

كَذَٰلِكَ نَفْعَلُ بِالْمُجْرِمِينَ

[for] thus do We deal with such as are lost in sin. (18)

وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Woe on that Day unto those who give the lie to the truth! (19)

أَلَمْ نَخْلُقْكُمْ مِنْ مَاءٍ مَهِينٍ

Did We not create you out of a humble fluid, (20)

فَجَعَلْنَاهُ فِي قَرَارٍ مَكِينٍ

which We then let remain in [the womb's] firm keeping (21)

فَقَدَرْنَا فَنِعْمَ الْقَادِرُونَ

Thus have We determined [the nature of man's creation]: and excellent indeed is Our power to determine [what is to be]! (23)

وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Woe on that Day unto those who give the lie to the truth! (24)

أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ الْأَرْضَ كِفَاتًا

Have We not caused the earth to hold within itself (25)

أَحْيَاءً وَأَمْوَاتًا

the living and the dead? (26)

وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ شَامِخَاتٍ وَأَسْقَيْنَاكُمْ مَاءً فُرَاتًا

and have We not set on it proud, firm mountains, and given you sweet water to drink? (27)

وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Woe on that Day unto those who give the lie to the truth! (28)

انْطَلِقُوا إِلَىٰ مَا كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ

GO ON towards that [resurrection] which you were wont to call a lie! (29)

انْطَلِقُوا إِلَىٰ ظِلٍّ ذِي ثَلَاثِ شُعَبٍ

Go on towards the threefold shadow (30)

لَا ظَلِيلٍ وَلَا يُغْنِي مِنَ اللَّهَبِ

that will offer no [cooling] shade and will be of no avail against the flame (31)

إِنَّهَا تَرْمِي بِشَرَرٍ كَالْقَصْرِ

which – behold! – will throw up sparks like [burning] logs, (32)

كَأَنَّهُ جِمَالَتٌ صُفْرٌ

like giant fiery ropes! (33)

وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Woe on that Day unto those who give the lie to the truth (34)

هَٰذَا يَوْمُ لَا يَنْطِقُونَ

that Day on which they will not [be able to] utter a word, (35)

وَلَا يُؤْذَنُ لَهُمْ فَيَعْتَذِرُونَ

nor be allowed to proffer excuses! (36)

وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Woe on that Day unto those who give the lie to the truth (37)

هَٰذَا يَوْمُ الْفَصْلِ جَمَعْنَاكُمْ وَالْأَوَّلِينَ

that Day of Distinction [between the true and the false, when they will be told]: "We have brought you together with those [sinners] of olden times; (38)

فَإِنْ كَانَ لَكُمْ كَيْدٌ فَكِيدُونِ

and if you [think that you] have a subterfuge left, try to outwit Me!" (39)

وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Woe on that Day unto those who give the lie to the truth! (40)