The Sun (Al-Shams)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
I CALL TO witness the sun and his early morning splendour, 1 and by the moon when she follows him, 2 And the day when it shows it, 3 And the night when it enshroudeth him, 4 and by the sky and by Him Who made it; 5 The earth and its spreading out, 6 And a soul and Him Who perfected it 7 and imbued it with (the consciousness of) its evil and its piety: 8 Indeed he succeeds who purifies his ownself (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allah ordered, by following the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds). 9 and failed has he who seduces it. 10 Thamud (people) denied (their Prophet) through their transgression (by rejecting the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism, and by following polytheism, and by committing every kind of sin). 11 Behold, the most wicked man among them was deputed (for impiety). 12 although God's apostle had told them, "It is a she-camel belonging to God, so let her drink [and do her no harm]!" 13 But they rejected his statement as a lie and hamstrung the she-camel. For that crime their Lord rumbled down upon them, utterly razing them to the ground. 14 for none [of them] had any fear of what might befall them. 15