Dawn (Al-Fajr)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
I CALL TO witness the dawn 1 by the Ten (secret) Nights, 2 and the even and the odd, 3 And by the night when it departs. 4 Why is there an oath in this, for the intelligent? 5 Have you not seen what your Lord did to the 'Ad 6 [the people of] Iram the many-pillared, 7 The like of whom were never created in the realm; 8 And with Thamud who carved rocks in the valley; 9 And (with) Firon, the lord of hosts, 10 Who (all) were rebellious (to Allah) in these lands, 11 and worked much corruption therein? 12 So your Lord poured upon them a scourge of punishment. 13 your Lord keeps an eye on (all evil-doing people). 14 As for man - when his Lord proveth him and so honoureth him and is bounteous unto him, then he saith: 'my Lord hath honoured me, 15 But when He tries him, by straitening his means of life, he says: "My Lord has humiliated me!" 16 Nay! but you do not honor the orphan, 17 And urge not on the feeding of AlMiskin (the poor)! 18 Why do you take away the inheritance of others indiscriminately 19 and you ardently love wealth. 20 Nay, but when the earth is ground to atoms, grinding, grinding, 21 and (when you find yourself) in the presence of your Lord and the rows and rows of angels, your greed for riches will certainly be of no avail to you. 22 and Gehenna is brought out, upon that day man will remember; and how shall the Reminder be for him? 23 He shall say, 'O would that I had forwarded for my life!' 24 Upon that day none shall chastise as He chastises, 25 And no one shall bind with (anything like) His binding. 26 [But to the righteous, God will say], "O soul at peace, 27 "Come back thou to thy Lord,- well pleased (thyself), and well-pleasing unto Him! 28 Then enter the ranks of My chosen bondmen! 29 Enter thou My Garden! 30