Dawn (Al-Fajr)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
I CALL TO witness the dawn 1 by the Ten (secret) Nights, 2 And 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 Is there in that an oath for a mindful man? 5 Dost thou not consider how thy Lord dealt with (the tribe of) A'ad, 6 Of Eram with lofty pillars (erected as signposts in the desert), 7 The likes of whom had never been created in the land? 8 (Also consider how He dealt with) the Thamud, who carved their houses out of the rocks in the valley. 9 And Pharaoh, of the pegs (impaling his victims)? 10 (All) these transgressed beyond bounds in the lands, 11 And multiplied corruption. 12 Therefore thy Lord poured on them the disaster of His punishment. 13 Your Lord is certainly in wait. 14 So man, whenever his Lord tests him by giving him honour and favours – thereupon he says, “My Lord has honoured me.” 15 But when He tries him by restraining his means, he says: "My Lord despises me." 16 By no means! But ye honour not the orphan, 17 And you do not encourage one another to feed the poor. 18 and you devour the inheritance [of others] with devouring greed, 19 and you ardently love wealth. 20 When the earth is crushed into small pieces 21 And when the command of your Lord comes – and the angels row by row, 22 And on that Day hell will be brought [within sight]; on that Day man will remember [all that he did and failed to do]: but what will that remembrance avail him? 23 He will say, "Oh, would that I had provided beforehand for my life!" 24 So on that Day, none will punish [as severely] as His punishment, 25 none shall bind as He binds. 26 O thou peaceful soul! 27 return to your Lord well pleased with him and He will be pleased with you. 28 Enter thou among My bondmen! 29 And enter into My garden. 30