The Snatchers (Al-Naze'aat)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
CONSIDER those [stars] that rise only to set, 1 By those (angels) who gently take out (the souls of the believers); 2 And by those who float in space, 3 By the angels hastening, 4 and then manage the affairs of the Universe (according to their Lord's commands). 5 [HENCE, think of] the Day when a violent convulsion will convulse [the world,] 6 And there will follow it the next blast. 7 Hearts will pound loudly on that day, 8 Their eyes cast down. 9 (Now) they are saying: Shall we really be restored to our first state 10 after we have become bones and dust?" 11 They say, "That, then, would be a losing return." 12 However, it will only take a single blast 13 to bring them out of their graves and back to life on the earth's surface. 14 Have you received the story of Moses? 15 His Lord called to him in the Sacred Valley of Towa, 16 "Go thou to Pharaoh for he has indeed transgressed all bounds: 17 Then say thou: wouldst thou to be purified? 18 And I will guide you to your Lord so that you should fear. 19 Moses showed him the great sign, 20 Yet he belied and disobeyed. 21 Then he quickly turned his back. 22 And he summoned all his people, 23 And proclaimed: "I (Pharaoh) am your Lord the Highest." 24 but God seized him and meted out to him the chastisement of both the next world and the present: 25 Indeed in that is a warning for whoever would fear [Allah]. 26