Dawn (Al-Fajr)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
By the dawn, 1 by the Ten Nights, 2 by the even and the odd, 3 and by the passing night, 4 There is indeed in them (the above oaths) sufficient proofs for men of understanding (and that, they should avoid all kinds of sins and disbeliefs, etc.)! 5 ART THOU NOT aware of how thy Sustainer has dealt with [the tribe of] 'Ad, 6 With many-columned Iram, 7 the like of which was never created in the countries? 8 And how did He deal with Thamud who hewed out rocks in the valley? 9 And (with) Fir'aun (Pharaoh), who had pegs (who used to torture men by binding them to pegs)? 10 Who terrorised the region, 11 and caused much corruption in them: 12 So your Lord poured a scourge of punishment over them. 13 Indeed, your Lord is in observation. 14 BUT AS FOR man, whenever his Sustainer tries him by His generosity and by letting him enjoy a life of ease, he says, "My Sustainer has been [justly] generous towards me"; 15 But when He tries him (differently), then straitens to him his means of subsistence, he says: My Lord has disgraced me. 16 But nay, nay, [O men, consider all that you do and fail to do:] you are not generous towards the orphan, 17 and you urge not the feeding of the needy, 18 And ye devour heritages with devouring greed. 19 and you ardently love wealth. 20 By no means! when the earth shall be ground with grinding, grinding, 21 And when the command of your Lord comes – and the angels row by row, 22 And the Hell on that Day shall be brought nigh. On that Day man shall remember, but how will remembrance avail him? 23 He will say: "Oh, would that I had provided beforehand for my life [to come]!" 24 But on that day shall no one chastise with (anything like) His chastisement, 25 And His bonds will be such as none (other) can bind. 26 O you tranquil soul, 27 return to your Lord well pleased with him and He will be pleased with you. 28 "Enter then among My votaries, 29 yea, enter thou My paradise!" 30