الطارق

وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلطَّارِقِ 1

By the sky and the knocker

وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلطَّارِقُ 2

And what can make you know what is the knocker?

ٱلنَّجۡمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ 3

It is the piercing star[1901].

Translation notes

[1901] Whose light pierces through the darkness.

إِن كُلُّ نَفۡسٖ لَّمَّا عَلَيۡهَا حَافِظٞ 4

There is no soul but that it has over it a protector.

فَلۡيَنظُرِ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ 5

So let man observe from what he was created.

خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٖ دَافِقٖ 6

He was created from a fluid, ejected,

يَخۡرُجُ مِنۢ بَيۡنِ ٱلصُّلۡبِ وَٱلتَّرَآئِبِ 7

Emerging from between the backbone and the ribs.

إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَجۡعِهِۦ لَقَادِرٞ 8

Indeed, He [i.e., Allāh], to return him [to life], is Able.

يَوۡمَ تُبۡلَى ٱلسَّرَآئِرُ 9

The Day when secrets will be put on trial,[1902]

Translation notes

[1902] i.e., exposed, examined and judged.

فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن قُوَّةٖ وَلَا نَاصِرٖ 10

Then he [i.e., man] will have no power or any helper.

وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلرَّجۡعِ 11

By the sky which sends back[1903]

Translation notes

[1903] Rain, heat, sound waves, etc.

وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ ذَاتِ ٱلصَّدۡعِ 12

And [by] the earth which splits,[1904]

Translation notes

[1904] With plant growth or from geological rifts.

إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوۡلٞ فَصۡلٞ 13

Indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is a decisive statement,

وَمَا هُوَ بِٱلۡهَزۡلِ 14

And it is not amusement.

إِنَّهُمۡ يَكِيدُونَ كَيۡدٗا 15

Indeed, they are planning a plan,

وَأَكِيدُ كَيۡدٗا 16

But I am planning a plan.

فَمَهِّلِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ أَمۡهِلۡهُمۡ رُوَيۡدَۢا 17

So allow time for the disbelievers. Leave them awhile.[1905]

Translation notes

[1905] i.e., Do not be in haste for revenge, for you will see what will become of them.