The Sun (Al-Shams)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
I CALL TO witness the sun and his early morning splendour, 1 And by oath of the moon when it follows the sun 2 and by the day as it reveals its glory 3 By the Night as it conceals it; 4 By the heaven and That which built it 5 by the earth and that (Power) which spread it out 6 And by oath of the soul and by oath of Him Who made it proper. 7 And inspired in it the knowledge of its sins and its piety. 8 To a happy state shall indeed attain he who causes this [self] to grow in purity, 9 And he has failed who instills it [with corruption]. 10 Thamood cried lies in their insolence 11 when their arch-criminal rose up in rage. 12 Then the apostle of Allah said unto them: beware of the she-camel of Allah and her drink. 13 In response they belied him, and hamstrung the she camel – so Allah put ruin over them because of their sins and flattened their dwellings. 14 And He (Allah) feared not the consequences thereof. 15