The Sun (Al-Shams)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
I CALL TO witness the sun and his early morning splendour, 1 and the moon as it reflects the sun! 2 By the Day as it shows up (the Sun's) glory; 3 and by the night when it draws a veil over it, 4 By the Firmament and its (wonderful) structure; 5 And the earth and Him Who spread it, 6 Consider the human self, and how it is formed in accordance with what it is meant to be, 7 And inspired in it the knowledge of its sins and its piety. 8 He who purifies it will prosper, 9 And he is indeed a failure who stunteth it. 10 In their presumptuous insolence the Thamud called the Truth a lie 11 when that most hapless wretch from among them rushed forward [to commit his evil deed,] 12 And the messenger of Allah [Salih] said to them, "[Do not harm] the she-camel of Allah or [prevent her from] 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 God is not afraid of the result of what He had decreed. 15