Dawn (Al-Fajr)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
By the dawn, 1 By the Nights twice five; 2 by the even and the odd, 3 and by the night when it moves on towards daybreak (reward and retribution in the next life is an absolute reality). 4 There surely is an oath for thinking man. 5 Dost thou not consider how thy Lord dealt with (the tribe of) A'ad, 6 The people of many-columned lram. 7 The likes of whom had never been created in the land? 8 and with the Thamud, who cut out [huge] rocks in the valley, 9 And with Pharaoh, firm of might, 10 (All) these transgressed beyond bounds in the lands, 11 and spread much corruption in the land. 12 Thus, your Lord afflicted them with torment; 13 for, verily, thy Sustainer is ever on the watch! 14 And as for man, when his Lord tries him and [thus] is generous to him and favors him, he says, "My Lord has honored me." 15 But when He tests him by restricting his provision, he says: 'My Lord has humiliated me' 16 (Since wealth does not necessarily guarantee everlasting happiness) then why do you not show kindness to the orphans, 17 And you do not encourage one another to feed the poor. 18 And devour the inheritance devouring greedily, 19 and you ardently love wealth. 20 Nay! When the earth is ground to powder, 21 and thy Lord comes, and the angels rank on rank, 22 and when Hell is brought near that Day. On that Day will man understand, but of what avail will that understanding be? 23 He will say, "Oh, I wish I had sent ahead [some good] for my life." 24 On that Day no one will punish as He punishes, 25 and none can bind with bonds like His. 26 [But to the righteous, God will say], "O soul at peace, 27 return to your Lord wellpleased, wellpleasing. 28 Enter thou among My bondmen! 29 Enter My Paradise." 30