وَالنَّازِعَاتِ غَرْقًا

CONSIDER those [stars] that rise only to set, (1)

وَالنَّاشِطَاتِ نَشْطًا

and move [in their orbits] with steady motion, (2)

وَالسَّابِحَاتِ سَبْحًا

and float [through space] with floating serene, (3)

فَالسَّابِقَاتِ سَبْقًا

and yet overtake [one another] with swift overtaking: (4)

فَالْمُدَبِّرَاتِ أَمْرًا

and thus they fulfil the [Creator's] behest! (5)

يَوْمَ تَرْجُفُ الرَّاجِفَةُ

[HENCE, think of] the Day when a violent convulsion will convulse [the world], (6)

تَتْبَعُهَا الرَّادِفَةُ

to be followed by further [convulsions]! (7)

قُلُوبٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَاجِفَةٌ

On that Day will [men's] hearts be throbbing, (8)

أَبْصَارُهَا خَاشِعَةٌ

[and] their eyes downcast.... (9)

يَقُولُونَ أَإِنَّا لَمَرْدُودُونَ فِي الْحَافِرَةِ

[And yet,] some say, "What! Are we indeed to be restored to our former state – (10)

أَإِذَا كُنَّا عِظَامًا نَخِرَةً

even though we may have become [a heap of] crumbling bones?" (11)

قَالُوا تِلْكَ إِذًا كَرَّةٌ خَاسِرَةٌ

[And] they add, "That, then, would be a return with loss!" (12)

فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ زَجْرَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ

[But,] then, that [Last Hour] will be [upon them of a sudden, as if it were] but a single accusing cry – (13)

فَإِذَا هُمْ بِالسَّاهِرَةِ

and then, lo, they will be fully awakened [to the truth]! (14)

هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰ

HAS THE STORY of Moses ever come within thy ken? (15)

إِذْ نَادَاهُ رَبُّهُ بِالْوَادِ الْمُقَدَّسِ طُوًى

Lo! His Sustainer called out to him in the twice-hallowed valley: (16)

اذْهَبْ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَىٰ

"Go unto Pharaoh – for, verily, he has transgressed all bounds of what is right – (17)

فَقُلْ هَلْ لَكَ إِلَىٰ أَنْ تَزَكَّىٰ

and say [unto him], `Art thou desirous of attaining to purity? (18)

وَأَهْدِيَكَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَتَخْشَىٰ

[If so,] then I shall guide thee towards [a cognition of] thy Sustainer, so that [henceforth] thou wilt stand in awe [of Him].'" (19)

فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَىٰ

But [Pharaoh] gave him the lie and rebelliously rejected [all guidance], (21)

ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ يَسْعَىٰ

and brusquely turned his back [on Moses]; (22)

فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَىٰ

and then he gathered [his great ones], and called [unto his people], (23)

فَقَالَ أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ

and said, "I am your Lord All-Highest!" (24)

فَأَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ نَكَالَ الْآخِرَةِ وَالْأُولَىٰ

And thereupon God took him to task, [and made him] a warning example in the life to come as well as in this world. (25)

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِمَنْ يَخْشَىٰ

In this, behold, there is a lesson indeed for all who stand in awe [of God]. (26)