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 by the moon when it follows the sun, 2 and by the day as it displays the sun's glory, 3 and by the night when it enshrouds him! 4 By the heaven and Who built it, 5 And by the earth and Him Who spread it, 6 and by the soul and that (Power) which designed it 7 then inspired it to understand what was right and wrong for it. 8 Surely blissful is he who hath cleansed it, 9 and failed is he who buried it! 10 Thamud belied in their exorbitance. 11 when that most hapless wretch from among them rushed forward [to commit his evil deed,] 12 Then Allah's Messenger warned them: “Hands off the she-camel and her drink!” 13 Then they denied him and they killed it. So their Lord destroyed them because of their sin, and made them equal in destruction (i.e. all grades of people, rich and poor, strong and weak, etc.)! 14 God is not afraid of the result of what He had decreed. 15