Dawn (Al-Fajr)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
I CALL TO witness the dawn 1 and ten nights (of pilgrimage or the last ten days of Ramadan), 2 by the even and the odd, 3 And the night when it departs. 4 There is indeed in them (the above oaths) sufficient proofs for men of understanding (and that, they should avoid all kinds of sins and disbeliefs, etc.)! 5 ART THOU NOT aware of how thy Sustainer has dealt with [the tribe of] 'Ad, 6 of Iram, known for their lofty columns, 7 The like of whom were never created in the realm; 8 And with the Thamud (people), who cut out (huge) rocks in the valley?- 9 (Also consider the people of) the Pharaoh who victimized people by placing them on the stake, 10 led rebellious lives, 11 and caused much corruption in them: 12 So your Lord poured upon them a scourge of punishment. 13 Truly your Lord is ever watchful. 14 And as for man, when his Lord tries him, then treats him with honor and makes him lead an easy life, he says: My Lord honors me. 15 But when He trieth him, restricting his subsistence for him, then saith he (in despair), "My Lord hath humiliated me!" 16 Nay, but ye (for your part) honour not the orphan 17 and do not urge one another to feed the poor, 18 and you devour the inheritance greedily, 19 and you love wealth with an ardent love 20 By no means! when the earth shall be ground with grinding, grinding, 21 when your Lord comes down with the angels, rank upon rank, 22 And hell is made to appear on that day. On that day shall man be mindful, and what shall being mindful (then) avail him? 23 He shall say, 'O would that I had forwarded for my life!' 24 But on that Day none will punish as He (Allah) will punish, 25 And none will bind [as severely] as His binding [of the evildoers]. 26 (To the righteous soul will be said:) "O (thou) soul, in (complete) rest and satisfaction! 27 Return towards your Lord – you being pleased with Him, and He pleased with you! 28 "Enter thou, then, among My devotees! 29 into My Paradise. 30