The Sun (Al-Shams)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
I CALL TO witness the sun and his early morning splendour, 1 and by the moon as it follows it; 2 The day when it reveals his radiance, 3 And by oath of the night when it hides it 4 And the heaven and Him Who built it, 5 and by the earth and That which extended it! 6 And a soul and Him Who perfected it 7 And inspired in it the knowledge of its sins and its piety. 8 He has succeeded who purifies it, 9 and truly lost is he who buries it [in darkness]. 10 TO [THIS] TRUTH gave the lie, in their overweening arrogance, [the tribe of] Thamud, 11 when the most wicked man among them rose up. 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 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 He does not fear the consequence. 15