Dawn (Al-Fajr)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
By 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 this not a sufficient oath for intelligent people? 5 Bethinkest thou not in what wise thy Lord did with the 'A'ad: 6 The people of many-columned lram. 7 The like of which was not built in the cities, 8 And [with] Thamud, who carved out the rocks in the valley? 9 And (with) Fir'aun (Pharaoh), who had pegs (who used to torture men by binding them to pegs)? 10 [All of] whom oppressed within the lands 11 and caused much corruption in them: 12 Wherefore thy Lord poured on them the scourge of His torment. 13 Your Lord is certainly in wait. 14 As for man, when his Lord tests him, through honour and blessings, he says, "My Lord has honoured me," 15 But when He tries him (differently), then straitens to him his means of subsistence, he says: My Lord has disgraced me. 16 Nay, nay! but ye honour not the orphans! 17 And urge not on the feeding of the poor. 18 and you devour the inheritance greedily, 19 and you ardently love wealth. 20 Nay! When the earth is pounded to powder, 21 and thy Lord comes, and the angels rank on rank, 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: would that I had sent before for this life of mine! 24 So on that Day, none will punish [as severely] as His punishment, 25 Nor shall any bind with His bond. 26 [To the righteous it will be said], "O reassured soul, 27 Return to your Lord, well-pleased (with him), well-pleasing (Him), 28 Then enter the ranks of My chosen bondmen! 29 Enter thou My Paradise!' 30