["Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion, and He is Most Capable of all things.","Who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deeds, and He is the All-Mighty, the Most Forgiving.","Who created seven heavens one above another; you will not see any imperfection[1] in the creation of the Most Compassionate. Look again; can you see any flaw?###[1] All parts of the universe are well connected and in perfect harmony and coordination. There is no indiscipline, disorder and discordance in the universe, and nothing is disjointed and out of proportion in the creation of Allah. As for birth defects, genetic mutations and other things that we see in the world are part of this great creation, for perfection cannot be noticed except if the opposite is seen, also as a test for humans.","Then look again and again; your sight will turn back to you humbled and weary.","We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps and have made them as missiles to stone the devils[2], and We have prepared for them the punishment of the Blazing Fire.###[2] Preventing them thereby from eavesdropping in the heavens. See 72:8-10.","For those who disbelieve in their Lord there will be the punishment of Hell. What a terrible destination!","When they are thrown in it, they will hear its roaring as it boils up,","almost bursting in fury. Every time a group is thrown in it, its keepers will ask them, “Did there not come to you a warner?”","They will say, “Yes, a warner did come to us, but we denied and said, ‘Allah has not sent down anything; you are greatly misguided.’”","And they will say, “If only we had listened or understood, we would not be among the dwellers of the Blazing Fire.”","Thus they will confess their sins. So away[3] with the dwellers of the Blazing Fire!###[3] Away from all good and from the mercy of Allah.","Indeed, those who fear their Lord unseen will have forgiveness and a great reward.","Whether you speak secretly or openly, He is All-Knowing of that which is in the hearts.","Does He not know His Own creation[4], when He is the Most Subtle, the All-Aware?###[4] Or does He not know those whom He created?","It is He Who made the earth smooth[5] for you, so travel through its regions and eat from His provisions. And to Him is the resurrection.###[5] i.e., subservient and stable.","Do you feel secure that He Who is above heaven will not cause the earth to sink with you, and then suddenly convulse[6]?###[6] In a circular motion.","Do you feel secure that He Who is in heaven will not send against you a storm of stones? Only then would you know how [serious] My warning was!","Those who came before them rejected [the messengers]; then how severe was My response!","Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out and folding in their wings? None holds them up except the Most Compassionate. He is indeed All-Seeing of everything.","Which is your army that can come to your aid against the Most Compassionate? The disbelievers are in utter delusion.","Who is there to give you provision if He withholds His provision? Yet they persist in arrogance and aversion.","Who is better guided: the one who walks stumbling and falling on his face or the one who walks upright on a straight path?","Say, “It is He Who brought you into being and gave you hearing, sight, and hearts; little do you give thanks.”","Say, “It is He Who has dispersed you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered.”","They say: “When will this promise come to pass, if you are truthful?”","Say, “That knowledge is with Allah alone, and I am only a clear warner.”","Then when they see it[7] approaching closer, the faces of the disbelievers will be distressed, and it will be said, “This is what you were asking for[8].”###[7] The punishment on the Day of Judgment of which they were warned.\t [8] As they were challenging their prophets, saying, \"Bring upon us the punishment, if you are truthful.\"","Say, “What do you think[9], if Allah causes me and those who are with me to die or shows us mercy, who will save the disbelievers from a painful punishment?”###[9] i.e., Inform me.","Say, “He is the Most Compassionate; we believe in Him and put our trust in Him. You will come to know who is clearly misguided.”","Say, “What do you think, if your water were to sink deep into the earth, who can bring you flowing water?”","Nūn[1]. By the pen and what they [i.e., the angels] write [in the Records of deeds],###[1] See footnote 2:1.","By the grace of your Lord [O Prophet], you are not a madman.","You will surely have a never-ending reward.","Indeed, you are of a great moral character.","Soon you will see and they will see,","which of you is afflicted with madness.","Indeed, your Lord alone knows best who has strayed from His way and those who are rightly guided.","So do not obey the deniers.","They wish that you would compromise so they would too compromise.","And do not obey every disgraceful swearer,","backbiter, gossip-monger,","withholder of good, transgressor, sinful,","coarse, and furthermore, an illegitimate child[2].###[2] i.e., falsely claiming a particular lineage. It refers to Al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah (See also 74:11-25) or possibly Al-Akhnas ibn Shurayq.","Simply because he has wealth and children,","When Our verses are recited to him, he says, “Ancient fables!”","We will soon brand him on the snout[3].###[3] Lit., \"trunk,\" meaning the nose of an elephant or pig. These verses refer to Al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah, a leader of the pagans of Makkah and a staunch enemy of Islam. He called the Prophet (ﷺ) a madman, so the Qur’an responded by mentioning ten of Al-Walīd’s qualities. (See 53:33-35 and 74:11-26). Two of those qualities were not known to him: the fact that he was an illegitimate child and that his nose would be chopped off years later at the Battle of Badr. Khālid ibn al-Walīd and two of his brothers embraced Islam.","Indeed, We have tested them [i.e., the Makkans] as We tested the people of the garden when they swore to harvest its fruits in the early morning,","and made no exception [by saying: if Allah wills][4].###[4] Or without leaving some for the poor.","Then it was struck by an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep,","and it turned to ashes [as black as night].","Then in the early morning they called out to one another:","“Go early to your garden if you really wish to harvest.”","So they set out, whispering to one another,","“Not a single poor person should enter your garden today.”","And they left early, fully determined to stick to their plan[5].###[5] To implement their plan, fully confident of their ability.","But when they saw the garden, they said, “We must have lost our way!","Rather, we have been deprived.”","The best among them said, “Did I not say to you to glorify Allah[6]?”###[6] i.e., remember Him by saying, \"...if Allah wills.\" Or \"praise\" and \"thank\" Allah for His bounty.","They said, “Glory be to our Lord! We were truly wrongdoers.”","Then they turned to one another, throwing blame.","They said, “Woe to us! We were surely transgressors.","Our Lord may give us something better than this. We certainly turn to our Lord in hope[7].”###[7] Of His forgiveness and bounty.","Such is the punishment [in this world]; but the punishment of the Hereafter is far worse, if only they knew.","Indeed, the righteous will have gardens of bliss with their Lord.","Should We then treat Muslims like the wicked?","What is the matter with you that you make such a judgment?","Or do you have a scripture in which you read","that you will be given whatever you choose?","Or do you have a solemn promise binding upon Us until the Day of Resurrection, that you will have whatever you decide for yourselves?","Ask them which of them can guarantee that.","Or do they have associate-gods? Then let them bring forth their associate-gods[8], if they are truthful.###[8] whom they took as partners with Allah.","On the Day when the Shin [of Allah] will be uncovered[9], and they are invited to prostrate, but they will not be able to do so.###[9] i.e., It is a Day that everyone will find before him great difficulty. According to a long and authentic Hadīth of Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudrī, \"the Shin\" refers to that of Allah Almighty, before which every believer will prostrate on the Day of Judgment when the disbelievers and hypocrites will not be able to prostrate. The text of the Hadith is as follows: \"... Then the Lord will uncover His Shank, so they will prostrate to Him...\".","Their eyes will be downcast, overwhelmed with humiliation, for they were invited to prostrate when they were capable[10] [but they refused].###[10] During the life of this world.","So leave to Me those who reject this message [O Prophet]. We will gradually lead them to their ruin in ways that they do not perceive[11].###[11] Allah will increase favors upon them in this life as a trial, so they will increase sin, which will lead to their destruction.","I will give them respite, but My plan is firm.","Or are you asking them for a reward, so they find it too burdensome?","Or do they have knowledge of the unseen, so they write it down?","So be patient with the decree of your Lord, and do not be like the man of the Whale [i.e., Jonah], when he cried out in anguish[12].###[12] While inside the belly of the whale. See 21:87 and 37:139-148.","Had it not been for the grace that he received from his Lord, he would have surely been thrown onto the barren shore, blameworthy[13].###[13] Instead, Allah accepted his repentance and provided for him means of recovery. See 37:139-148.","But his Lord chose him and made him one of the righteous.","The disbelievers would almost strike you down with their malicious gazes when they hear the Reminder, and they say, “He is certainly mad.”","But it is nothing other than a reminder to the whole world.","The Inevitable Hour!","What is the Inevitable Hour?","How do you know what the Inevitable Hour is?","Thamūd and ‘Ād denied the Striking Calamity of the Hour[1].###[1] The Striking Calamity is one of the names of the Day of Judgment.","As for Thamūd, they were destroyed by a dreadful blast.","And as for ‘Ād, they were destroyed by a furious windstorm[2]###[2] Or by a cold windstorm.","which He unleashed against them for seven successive nights and eight days, so you would see the people lying dead as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees.","Do you see any trace of them now?","Also, Pharaoh and those who came before him, and the overturned cities [of Lot] committed the grave sin,","each disobeying the messenger of their Lord, so He seized them with a severe punishment.","Indeed, when the floodwater overflowed, We carried you [O humans] in the sailing Ark[3],###[3] Which was made by Noah with Allah's command.","so that We might make it a reminder for you, and that attentive ears may take heed.","Then when the Trumpet is blown with a single blast,","and the earth and mountains are lifted up and crushed with a single blow,","on that Day the Inevitable Event will occur.","And the sky will split asunder and will be frail[4] on that day,###[4] i.e., weak and unstable.","with the angels on all its sides, and on that Day, eight [mighty angels] will bear the Throne of your Lord above them.","On that day, you will be brought forth [before Allah], and none of your secrets will remain hidden.","As for the one who is given his Record in his right hand, he will say, “Here is my Record, read it!","I was sure that I would meet my reckoning.”","So he will be in a pleasant life,","in a lofty garden,","with clustered fruit within his reach.","[They will be told,] “Eat and drink joyfully for what you did[5] in the days gone by.”###[5] Lit., \"advanced\" anticipating the reward in the Hereafter.","As for the one who is given his Record in his left hand, he will say, “Would that I had not been given my Record,","nor had I known anything of my reckoning!","Would that it [i.e., death] had been the end of me[6]!###[6] Rather than a gateway to eternal life.","My wealth has been of no avail to me.","My authority has vanished[7].”###[7] i.e., I have no valid argument or authority today.","[It will be said,] “Seize him and shackle him,","then make him burn in the Blazing Fire,","then tie him up with a chain of seventy cubits long.","For he did not believe in Allah, the Most Great,","nor did he encourage feeding the needy.","So Today he will have no close friend here,","nor any food except the discharge of wounds,","none will eat it except the sinners.”","I swear by what you can see.","and what you cannot see!","Indeed, this is the word of a noble Messenger[8],###[8] i.e., recited by Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).","and it is not the word of a poet; little do you believe!","Nor is it the word of a soothsayer; little do you take heed!","It is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.","If he had falsely attributed something to Us,","We would have surely seized him by the right hand[9],###[9] Or \"by [Our] Right Hand,\" i.e., Allah would have surely exacted revenge with might and power.","then severed his aorta[10],###[10] i.e., his life artery of the heart; causing immediate death.","and none of you could have rescued him.","This [Qur’an] is indeed a reminder for those who are righteous.","And We surely know that some of you will be deniers,","and it[11] will certainly be a source of regret for the disbelievers.###[11] i.e., denying this Qur’an.","And this[12] is indeed the absolute truth.###[12] i.e., this Qur’an.","So glorify the name of your Lord, the Most Great.","A challenger asked for a punishment bound to come[1]###[1] In the Hereafter. The pagans of Makkah had challenged the Prophet (ﷺ) in ridicule by asking Allah to bring upon them His punishment. See 8:32.","upon the disbelievers, which none can avert,","from Allah, Lord of the pathways of ascent,","by which the angels and the Spirit[2] will ascend to Him on a Day[3] the length of which is fifty thousand years.###[2] i.e., the angel Gabriel.\t [3] The Day of Judgment will be an extremely long day.","So be patient [O Prophet] with beautiful patience.","Indeed, they see this [punishment] far off,","but We see it to be close at hand.","On the Day when the sky will be like molten brass[4]###[4] Or \"murky oil.\"","and the mountains will be like dyed wool[5],###[5] While disintegrating.","and no close friend will ask about another,","even though they will see one another. The wicked will wish he could ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by offering his children,","and his wife and his brother,","and his kindred who stood by him,","and everyone on earth, just to save himself.","By no means![6] It is a raging Flame,###[6] An emphatic denial, meaning \"It will never be.\"","that will strip off the scalps[7].###[7] Referring to the skin of the head or of the body extremities, which will be burned away by severe heat and flames.","It will call everyone who turned their backs and disobeyed,","and amassed and hoarded wealth.","Indeed, man was created impatient:","when evil befalls him, he bewails,","but when good fortune comes his way, he becomes tight-fisted –","except those who pray,","who are steadfast in their prayers;","and who give a due share[8] of their wealth###[8] i.e., obligatory charity; zakah.","to the beggar and the dispossessed;","and who firmly believe in the Day of Judgment;","and those who fear the punishment of their Lord –","for none can feel secure from their Lord’s punishment –","and those who guard their private parts[9],###[9] i.e., their chastity and honor from immoralities.","except from their wives or bondwomen[10] whom they own, for then they are not to be blamed.###[10] i.e., female slaves or slave-girls.","But whoever seeks beyond that, it is they who are the transgressors.","and those who fulfill their trusts and pledges;","and who are upright in their testimonies;","and who take due care of their prayers;","they will be honored in gardens[11].###[11] Of Paradise.","What is the matter with the disbelievers that they are rushing towards you [O Prophet][12],###[12] i.e., rushing to deny you.","from the right and from the left, in crowds[13]?###[13] Some pagans of Makkah gathered around the Prophet (ﷺ) mocking and opposing him, claiming that if there is in fact a Hereafter, they would enter Paradise before the believers.","Does everyone of them aspire to enter a garden of bliss?","By no means! We have created them from what they know[14].###[14] i.e., from a disdained fluid.","I swear by the Lord of the sunrises and sunsets[15] that We are surely Capable###[15] i.e., Allah is the One Who determines the daily points of sunrise and sunset according to each season by the rotation of the earth around its axis.","to replace them with others better than them, and none can escape Our decree.","So leave them to engage in their falsehood and amuse themselves until they meet their Day which they are promised;","the Day when they will rush out of their graves as if they are racing towards an idol[16],###[16] i.e., just as they used to race towards a newly appointed idol, to be among the first of its worshipers.","with their eyes downcast and overwhelmed with disgrace. That is the Day that they were promised.","Indeed, We sent Noah to his people, “Warn your people before there comes to them a painful punishment.”","He said: “O my people, indeed I am a clear warner to you,","that you worship Allah and fear Him, and obey me;","He will forgive you some of your sins and grant you respite until an appointed term[1]. Indeed, when Allah’s appointed term comes, it cannot be delayed, if you only knew!”###[1] i.e., until the time your life comes to an end.","He said, “My Lord, I have surely called my people night and day,","but my call only drove them further away.","Every time I call them so that You may forgive them, they thrust their fingers into their ears and cover their faces with their garments[2], and persist in obstinacy and grow extremely arrogant.###[2] Refusing to see me or listen to my call.","Then I called them openly,","then I addressed them in public and in private,","I said, ‘Seek forgiveness from your Lord. Indeed, He is Most Forgiving.","He will shower you with abundant rain from the sky,","and He will give you wealth and children, and bestow upon you gardens and rivers.","What is the matter with you that you do not fear the Majesty of Allah[3],###[3] While disobeying Him carelessly.","when He has created you in stages[4]?###[4] See 22:5 and 23:12-14 for the stages of the embryo.","Do you not see how Allah has created seven heavens, one above another,","and has placed the moon therein as a light and the sun as a burning lamp?","Allah has produced you from the earth like a plant[5],###[5] i.e., your father Adam, whom Allah created from clay.","then He will return you into it and then will bring you out again.","Allah has made the earth widespread for you","so that you may tread its spacious paths[6].’”###[6] In the pursuit of a lawful livelihood.","Noah said, “My Lord, they have disobeyed me and followed those whose wealth and children did not increase them except in loss[7].###[7] i.e., the lowly people among them followed their wealthy chiefs.","They have contrived a mighty plot,","They said, ‘Do not abandon your gods; and do not abandon Wadd, Suwā‘, Yaghūth, Ya‘ūq, and Nasr[8].’###[8] These were the names of idols named after pious men of past generations before the time of Noah, to commemorate them. In later generations, people started worshiping these idols.","They have led many astray. So [O Lord], do not increase the wrongdoers except in error.”","Because of their sins, they were drowned and then were cast into the Fire, and they did not find any helpers against Allah.","Noah said, “My Lord, do not leave on earth a single disbeliever.","For if You leave them, they will surely lead Your slaves astray and beget none but wicked disbelievers.","My Lord, forgive me and my parents, and whoever enters my house as a believer, and all the believing men and women, and do not increase the wrongdoers except in ruin.”","Say, “It has been revealed to me that a group of jinn listened [to the Qur’an,] and they said, ‘Indeed, we have heard a wondrous recitation","that guides to the right way, so we have believed in it, and we will never associate anyone with our Lord.","And that He – our exalted and glorified Lord[1] – has neither taken a wife nor a child;###[1] “Jadd” of Our Lord means His Glory, Grandeur, and Command.","and that the fool among us [i.e., Satan] used to say outrageous things about Allah[2],###[2] i.e., Satan tempted humans to believe that Allah has a wife and children, and that the angels are Allah's daughters.","although we thought that humans and jinn would never tell lies about Allah.","And there were some men who used to seek refuge with some jinn, but they only increased them in burden.","They thought, just like you [jinn] thought that Allah would never send any messenger.","We have sought to reach heaven but found it filled with stern guards and flaming fire.","We used to take up positions there for eavesdropping, but now anyone who eavesdrops will find a flaming fire waiting for him[3].###[3] After the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was sent as a messenger, the jinn who used to eavesdrop on heaven and then pass it on to fortune-tellers came to an end.","We do not know whether evil is intended for those on earth, or their Lord intends good for them.","Among us are some who are righteous and some who are otherwise, for we follow divergent ways[4].###[4] In beliefs and religious duties.","We have realized that we can never escape Allah on earth, nor can we ever escape Him by fleeing.","When we heard the guidance [of the Qur’an], we believed in it. Whoever believes in his Lord will have no fear of curtailment [from his reward] or injustice[5].###[5] i.e., nor will the sins of another be placed upon him.","Among us are some who are Muslims and some who are deviant[6]. Those who accepted Islam have sought the true guidance,###[6] i.e., deviant from the right way.","but those who are deviant, they will be fuel for Hell.’”","“If they had remained steadfast on the right way, We would have given them abundant rain,","as a test for them[7]. But whoever turns away from the remembrance of his Lord[8], He will make him suffer an arduous punishment.###[7] As to whether they will be grateful for Allah's provisions or not.\t [8] i.e., the Qur’an and obedience to Him.","The mosques[9] are for Allah alone, so do not supplicate anyone along with Allah.###[9] \"Masjid\" here means every place of worship on earth.","Yet when the slave of Allah stood up supplicating Him, they swarmed around him[10].”###[10] Crowding in the manner of locusts on top of one another in order to hear him (ﷺ). It refers to the jinn or to the Arabs pagans.","Say [O Prophet], “I only supplicate my Lord and I do not associate anyone with Him.”","Say, “I have no power to harm or benefit you[11].”###[11] i.e., grant you goodness and guidance.","Say, “None can ever protect me from Allah [if I should disobey Him], nor can I ever find refuge except in Him.","I only convey what I receive from Allah and His messages.” And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger will certainly be in the Fire of Hell, abiding therein forever.","Until when they see what they were promised, they will realize who is weaker in helpers and fewer in number.","Say, “I do not know if what you are promised is near or my Lord has appointed a distant time for it.","[He is] the Knower of the unseen, He does not reveal His unseen to anyone,","except the messenger whom He chooses, then He appoints angel-guards before him and behind him[12]###[12] Protecting him so that others do not know what he was informed of the unseen.","to ensure[13] that the messengers fully conveyed the messages of their Lord. He encompasses in His knowledge all about them, and keeps count of all things.”###[13] Or \"So He may make evident.\"","O you the enwrapped one[1],###[1] Allah is addressing the Messenger (ﷺ), who was wrapped in his garments.","Stand up in prayer at night except a little,","half of it, or a little less,","or a little more, and recite the Qur’an at a measured pace.","We will send down upon you a heavy Word[2].###[2] i.e., the revelation, which the Prophet (ﷺ) would feel its great weight when descending upon him. Also, it is heavy for its ordinances, rulings, punishments, ethics, etc.","Indeed, worship at night is more effective[3] and more conducive to proper recitation[4].###[3] Or \"getting up at night is more difficult...,\" meaning that it can only be done by sincere believers.\t [4] i.e., for reciting, hearing, and understanding of the Qur’an.","In the daytime, you have plenty of time for your worldly matters.","And remember the Name of your Lord, and devote yourself completely to Him.","[He is] Lord of the east and the west; none has the right to be worshiped except Him, so take Him as the Disposer of your affairs[5].###[5] i.e., trust in Allah and rely upon Him in all your matters.","Bear patiently what they say, and avoid them in a gracious manner.","Leave to Me the deniers who are having a life of luxury, and bear with them for a little while.","Indeed, We have heavy shackles and a Blazing Fire,","and food that chokes, and a painful punishment,","on the Day when the earth and the mountains will convulse, and the mountains will be like dunes of loose sand.","Indeed, We have sent to you a Messenger to be a witness over you, just as We sent to Pharaoh a messenger.","But Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger, so We seized him with a severe punishment.","If you disbelieve, then how will you protect yourselves against a Day that will turn children’s hair gray?","It will cause the sky to break asunder[6]. His promise will certainly be fulfilled.###[6] Out of the terror of that Day.","Indeed, this is a reminder; so whoever wills may take a way to his Lord.","Indeed, your Lord knows that you [O Prophet] stand up in prayer for nearly two-thirds of the night, or half of it, or one-third of it, as do others among your companions. Allah determines the night and the day; He knows that you [Muslims] cannot keep an accurate count of it, so He pardoned you[7]. Recite then as much of the Qur’an as is easy for you [in the night prayers]. He knows that there are some among you who will be ill, and others traveling in the land, seeking the grace of Allah, and others fighting in Allah’s way. So recite as much of it as is easy for you; establish prayer and give zakah; and lend to Allah a goodly loan[8]. Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will find it with Allah, much better in condition and much greater in reward[9]. And seek forgiveness of Allah, for indeed Allah is All-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.###[7] The ruling mentioned at the beginning of this surah is lightened here. So from now on, the believers do not have to stick to any of the portions specified there; rather, they can pray whatever they can at night. It is out of the mercy of Allah upon His servants that He does not want hardship for them.\t [8] i.e., giving in charity and for His causes.\t [9] It will be rewarded tenfold, or 700-fold, and Allah gives even more to whoever He wills. See 2:261.","O you covered [in your cloak][1],###[1] It refers to the Prophet (ﷺ).","arise and warn,","and proclaim the greatness of your Lord,","and purify your garments,","and shun idol worshiping[2],###[2] And other sins and bad conducts and morals.","and do not do a favor for a greater return[3],###[3] Or: do not consider your good deeds as a favor to Allah, thinking of your little deeds as abundant.","and be patient for the sake of your Lord.","When the Trumpet is sounded[4],###[4] For the second time, causing all to rise from the dead for resurrection. See 39:68.","that Day will be a difficult day,","not easy for the disbelievers.","Leave me to deal with the one whom I created lonely[5],###[5] i.e., having no wealth or children. It refers to al-Walīd bin al-Mughīrah, who was impressed by the Qur’an, yet he publicly denied it to win the approval of the pagans of Makkah.","and gave him abundant wealth,","and sons by his side,","and gave him a life of comfort and power,","yet he aspires that I should give him more.","By no means! For he has been stubborn against Our verses.","I will subject him to an unbearable punishment.","For he reflected and plotted [against the Qur’an][6].###[6] In order to discredit it.","May he perish, how he plotted!","Again, may he perish, how he plotted!","Then he looked around,","then he frowned and scowled,","then turned away with arrogance,","then said, “This is nothing but magic from the past.","This is nothing but the words of a man.”","Soon I will make him burn in the Scorching Fire[7].###[7] \"Saqar\" is one of the names of Hell.","How do you know what Scorching Fire is?","It leaves nothing and spares no one,","scorching the skin.","It is overseen by nineteen [angels].","We have only appointed angels as keepers of the Fire, and We have only made their number as a test for the disbelievers[8], so that those who were given the Scripture may have certainty and the believers may increase in faith; and neither those who were given the Scripture nor the believers may have any doubts; and so that those [hypocrites] in whose hearts is sickness and the disbelievers may say, “What does Allah mean by this number?” Thus Allah causes to stray whom He wills and guides whom He wills, and none knows the soldiers of your Lord but He. This is but a reminder to mankind.###[8] To say what they want to say, so their punishment will be multiplied for them. Abu Jahl, one of the chief pagans in Makkah, made fun of the Prophet (ﷺ) when they came to know that the keepers of Hell are nineteen angels, so he ridiculed this number and said that it is an easy number to overcome.","No indeed! By the moon,","and by the night when it departs,","and by the dawn when it brightens,","Hellfire is indeed one of the greatest matters,","a warning to mankind,","to whoever among you chooses to advance or regress.","Every soul is held in pledge[9] for its deeds,###[9] i.e., held responsible.","except the People of the Right[10],###[10] i.e., the believers who receive their records of deeds in their right hands.","who will be in gardens, asking one another","about the wicked:","“What brought you to Hell?”","They will say, “We were not among those who prayed,","nor did we feed the poor,","and we indulged in falsehood along with those who indulged in it,","and we denied the Day of Judgment,","until the certainty [of death] came to us.”","So the intercession of intercessors will not benefit them.","Then what is the matter with them that they turn away from the Reminder,","as if they were terrified wild asses,","fleeing from a lion?","In fact, each one of them desires that open [divine] letters be sent to each of them[11].###[11] Instead of Muhammad (ﷺ), not due to the lack of proofs or signs presented to them but out of obstinacy and arrogance.","By no means! They rather do not fear the Hereafter.","No indeed! This [Qur’an] is a reminder.","So whoever wills may take heed.","But they will not take heed unless Allah so wills. He is most worthy to be feared and most worthy to forgive.","I swear by the Day of Resurrection,","and I swear by the self-reproaching soul[1]!###[1] Of the believer, which blames oneself whenever falls into sin or error.","Does man think that We cannot reassemble his bones?","In fact, We are able to restore even his very fingertips.","But man desires to persist in sin[2],###[2] While denying the coming of the Day of Judgment.","and asks [mockingly], “When is the Day of Resurrection?”","But when the sight is dazzled,","and the moon is darkened,","and the sun and the moon are brought together[3],###[3] They both have never been together since they were created. On this Day they will be brought together, darkened, and both will be thrown into the Hell; so that all should know that they were subservient created beings, especially those who worshiped them.","on that Day man will say, “Where is the escape?”","No indeed! There will be no refuge.","On that Day all will end up before your Lord.","On that Day man will be informed of what he has sent forth[4] and left behind[5].###[4] i.e., of his deeds for the Hereafter.\t [5] i.e., that which he failed to do.","In fact, man will be a witness against himself[6],###[6] His organs will testify against him, as mentioned in 36:65 and 41:20-23.","despite the excuses he may put forward.","Do not move your tongue [O Prophet] in haste trying to memorize it.","It is upon Us to make you memorize and recite it.","Then when We recite it [through Gabriel], follow its recitation attentively;","then it is upon Us to explain its meanings.","No indeed! You [people] love this fleeting world,","and neglect the Hereafter.","On that Day some faces will be bright,","looking at their Lord[7].###[7] The dwellers of Paradise will be granted the honor of actually seeing their Lord in the Hereafter.","And on that Day, some faces will be gloomy,","knowing that a crushing calamity will befall them.","Indeed, when the soul reaches the throat[8],###[8] Upon death.","and it is said, “Is there any healer?”","And he realizes that it is time to depart,","when legs are brought together [in a shroud][9];###[9] The difficulties the person faces while leaving this world and moving on to the Hereafter; or the people arrange for the departure of his body, while angels arrange for the departure of his soul.","on that Day, he will be driven to your Lord.","He neither believed nor prayed;","rather he denied and turned away,","then he went to his people, elated with pride,","Woe to you, and woe!","Again, woe to you, and woe!","Does man think that he will be left neglected[10]?###[10] i.e., without purpose and responsibility, or without returning to Allah for account.","Was he not once a drop of semen emitted,","then he became a clinging clot[11], then He created him and perfected his form,###[11] \"‘Alaqah\": an embryo that resembles a leech.","and made from him both genders, male and female?","Is not He able to bring the dead back to life?","Was there not a period of time when man was not a thing [even] mentioned[1]?###[1] Before coming into being.","Indeed, We created man from a drop of mixed fluids[2], in order to test him. So We gave him hearing and sight.###[2] A combination of male and female gametes (sperm and egg) which form the zygote after fertilization in the womb.","Indeed, We showed him the way, whether he is grateful or ungrateful.","We have surely prepared for the disbelievers chains, shackles, and a Blazing Fire.","Indeed, the righteous will drink from a cup [of wine] flavored with camphor[3],###[3] \"Kāfoor\": a sweet-scent spring in Paradise.","a spring from which Allah’s slaves will drink, which will flow as they wish.","They fulfill their vows and fear a Day whose evil will spread far and wide,","and they give food, despite their love for it[4], to the needy, the orphans, and the captives,###[4] Or \"out of love for Him (Allah)\".","[saying to themselves] “We feed you only for the sake of Allah; we seek from you neither reward nor gratitude.","We fear from our Lord a grim and distressful Day.”","So Allah will protect them from the evil of that Day, and will grant them radiance and delight,","and will reward them for their perseverance with Paradise and garments of silk.","They will recline therein on adorned couches; neither feeling scorching heat[5] nor freezing cold.###[5] i.e., the sun.","with shady branches spread above them, and clusters of fruit will be made within their reach.","They will be served frequently with silver vessels and crystal cups,","crystalline goblets of silver, filled precisely as desired.","They will be given a glass [of wine] flavored with ginger","from a spring therein called Salsabīl.","They will be served by eternal young boys; if you see them, you would think that they are scattered pearls.","If you were to look around, you would see bliss and a vast dominion.","They will be dressed in garments of fine green silk and rich brocade, and will be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord will give them a pure drink.","[And they will be told,] “Indeed, this is your reward, and your efforts have been appreciated.”","Indeed, it is We Who have sent down the Qur’an to you in stages.","So be patient with your Lord’s decree, and do not obey any sinner or disbeliever from among them.","And remember the Name of your Lord morning and evening[6],###[6] This and the next verse refer to the five daily prayers: here it refers to the dawn prayer, then the noon and afternoon prayers.","and prostrate to Him at night, and glorify Him at length by night[7].###[7] It refers to the sunset and night prayers.","Indeed, these [pagans] love this fleeting life and pay no heed to a heavy Day ahead of them.","It is We Who created them and strengthened their build. If We will, We can replace them with others like them.","Indeed, this is a reminder; so let anyone who wills may take a way to his Lord.","But you cannot will unless Allah wills. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.","He admits whom He wills into His mercy, but for the wrongdoers He has prepared a painful punishment.","By those [winds] sent forth in succession,","those that blow violently,","and scatter [rainclouds] far and wide,","And by those [angels] who bring criterion[1];###[1] To Allah's messengers to distinguish between truth and falsehood.","and those who deliver revelation,","leaving no excuse or giving warning –","what you are promised will surely come to pass.","So when the stars are effaced,","and when the sky is split apart,","and when the mountains are blown away,","and when the messengers are summoned[2],###[2] To testify concerning their nations.","until which Day has all this been postponed?","Until the Day of Judgment.","How do you know what the Day of Judgment is?","Woe on that Day to the deniers[3]!###[3] i.e., Death and destruction be upon them.","Did We not destroy the earlier nations?","Then We will do likewise to the later ones.","This is how We deal with the wicked.","Woe on that Day to the deniers!","Did We not create you from a worthless fluid,","then We placed it in a secure repository","for a determined period[4]?###[4] See 23:12-14","For We determined it; How excellently We determine!","Woe on that Day to the deniers!","Have We not made the earth a receptacle[5]###[5] i.e., a lodging, a container that contains all people.","for the living and the dead,","and placed therein firm towering mountains, and given you fresh water to drink?","Woe on that Day to the deniers!","[They will be told,] “Proceed to that [Fire] which you used to deny!","Proceed to the shadow [of smoke] ascending in three columns,","that provides neither shade nor protection from the flames.","Indeed, it [i.e., Hell] throws up sparks as big as castles,","as if they were tawny camels[6].###[6] i.e., huge and black camels.","Woe on that Day to the deniers!","On that Day they won’t speak,","nor will they be allowed to make excuses.","Woe on that Day to the deniers!","[They will be told,] “This is the Day of Judgment: We have gathered you along with the earlier generations.","So if you have any scheme, then plot it against Me.”","Woe on that Day to the deniers!","Indeed, the righteous will be amid shades and springs","and will have whatever fruit they desire.","[They will be told,] “Eat and drink joyfully, as a reward for what you used to do.”","This is how We reward those who do good.","Woe on that Day to the deniers!","“Eat and enjoy yourselves for a while; you are truly wicked.”","Woe on that Day to the deniers!","When it is said to them, “Bow [in prayer],” they do not bow.","Woe on that Day to the deniers!","In which message after this [Qur’an] will they believe?"]