إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انْفَطَرَتْ

WHEN THE SKY is cleft asunder, (1)

وَإِذَا الْكَوَاكِبُ انْتَثَرَتْ

and when the stars are scattered, (2)

وَإِذَا الْبِحَارُ فُجِّرَتْ

and when the seas burst beyond their bounds, (3)

وَإِذَا الْقُبُورُ بُعْثِرَتْ

and when the graves are overturned – (4)

عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَا قَدَّمَتْ وَأَخَّرَتْ

every human being will [at last] comprehend what he has sent ahead and what he has held back [in this world]. (5)

يَا أَيُّهَا الْإِنْسَانُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ الْكَرِيمِ

O MAN! What is it that lures thee away from thy bountiful Sustainer, (6)

الَّذِي خَلَقَكَ فَسَوَّاكَ فَعَدَلَكَ

who has created thee, and formed thee in accordance with what thou art meant to be, and shaped thy nature in just proportions, (7)

فِي أَيِّ صُورَةٍ مَا شَاءَ رَكَّبَكَ

having put thee together in whatever form He willed [thee to have]? (8)

كَلَّا بَلْ تُكَذِّبُونَ بِالدِّينِ

Nay, [O men,] but you [are lured away from God whenever you are tempted to] give the lie to [God's] Judgment! (9)

وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحَافِظِينَ

And yet, verily, there are ever-watchful forces over you, (10)

كِرَامًا كَاتِبِينَ

noble, recording, (11)

يَعْلَمُونَ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ

aware of whatever you do! (12)

إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ لَفِي نَعِيمٍ

Behold, [in the life to come] the truly virtuous will indeed be in bliss, (13)

وَإِنَّ الْفُجَّارَ لَفِي جَحِيمٍ

whereas, behold, the wicked will indeed be in a blazing fire – (14)

يَصْلَوْنَهَا يَوْمَ الدِّينِ

[a fire] which they shall enter on Judgment Day, (15)

وَمَا هُمْ عَنْهَا بِغَائِبِينَ

and which they shall not [be able to] evade. (16)

وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا يَوْمُ الدِّينِ

And what could make thee conceive what that Judgment Day will be? (17)

ثُمَّ مَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا يَوْمُ الدِّينِ

And once again: What could make thee conceive what that Judgment Day will be? (18)