The Galaxies (Al-Burooj)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
CONSIDER the sky full of great constellations, 1 by the Promised Day, 2 and by the witness (Muhammad) and that which is witnessed (the Day of Judgment), 3 THEY DESTROY [but] themselves, they who would ready a pit 4 the fire abounding in fuel, 5 when they were seated over it 6 And to that which they did to the believers were witnesses. 7 They had naught against them save that they believed in Allah, the Mighty, the Owner of Praise, 8 to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Allah witnesses everything. 9 Verily, as for those who persecute believing men and believing women, and thereafter do not repent, hell's suffering awaits them: yea, suffering through fire awaits them! 10 Verily, those who believe and do righteous good deeds, for them will be Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise). That is the great success. 11 VERILY, thy Sustainer's grip is exceedingly strong! 12 Lo! He it is Who produceth, then reproduceth, 13 And He is the Oft-Forgiving, Full of Loving-Kindness, 14 – the Lord of the Glorious Throne, 15 He does what He intends (or wills). 16 Did the story of the armies reach you? 17 Of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) and Thamud? 18 And yet, they who are bent on denying the truth persist in giving it the lie: 19 but all the while God encompasses them [with His knowledge and might] without their being aware of it. 20 Nay, but this [divine writ which they reject] is a discourse sublime, 21 that exists in a well-guarded tablet. 22