A Meccan sura dealing mainly with the punishment dealt out to previous generations of disbelievers. These are presented as a warning to the disbelievers of Mecca, with the refrain ‘Will anyone take heed?’ running throughout the sura. Finally the treatment of the disbelievers on the Day of Judgement is contrasted to the everlasting bliss the believers will enjoy. The title is taken from verse 1 and is a reference to the Day of Resurrection.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1The Hour draws near; the moon is split in two.a
2Whenever the disbelievers see a sign, they turn away and say, ‘Same old sorcery!’ 3They reject the truth and follow their own desires—everything is recordedb— 4although warning tales that should have restrained them have come down to them— 5far-reaching wisdom—but these warnings do not help: 6so [Prophet] turn away from them. On the Day the Summoner will summon them to a horrific event, 7eyes downcast, they will come out of their graves like swarming locusts 8rushing towards the Summoner. The disbelievers will cry, ‘This is a stern day!’
9The people of Noah rejected the truth before them: they rejected Our servant, saying, ‘He is mad!’ Noah was rebuked, 10and so he called upon his Lord, ‘I am defeated: help me!’ 11So We opened the gates of the sky with torrential water, 12burst the earth with gushing springs: the waters met for a preordained purpose. 13We carried him along on a vessel of planks and nails 14that floated under Our watchful eye, a reward for the one who had been rejected. 15We have left thisc as a sign: will anyone take heed? 16How [terrible] was My punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings! 17We have made it easy to learn lessons from the Qur’an: will anyone take heed?
18The people of ‘Ad also rejected the truth. How [terrible] was My punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings! 19We released a howling wind against them on a day of terrible disaster; 20it swept people away like uprooted palm trunks. 21How [terrible] was My punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings! 22We have made it easy to learn lessons from the Qur’an: will anyone take heed?
23The people of Thamud also rejected the warnings: 24they said, ‘What? A man? Why should we follow a lone man from amongst ourselves? That would be misguided; quite insane! 25Would a message be given to him alone out of all of us? No, he is an insolent liar!’ 26‘Tomorrow they will know who is the insolent liar, 27for We shall send them a she-camel to test them: so watch them [Salih] and be patient. 28Tell them the water is to be shared between them:a each one should drink in turn.’ 29But they called their companion, who took a sword and hamstrung the camel. 30How [terrible] was My punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings! 31We released a single mighty blast against them and they ended up like a fence-maker’s dry sticks. 32We have made it easy to learn lessons from the Qur’an: will anyone take heed?
33The people of Lot rejected the warnings. 34We released a stonebearing wind against them, all except the family of Lot. We saved them before dawn 35as a favour from Us: this is how We reward the thankful. 36He warned them of Our onslaught, but they dismissed the warning— 37they even demanded his guests from him—so We sealed their eyes—‘Taste My [terrible] punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings!’— 38and early in the morning a punishment seized them that still remains— 39‘Taste My [terrible] punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings!’ 40We have made it easy to learn lessons from the Qur’an: will anyone take heed?
41The people of Pharaoh also received warnings. 42They rejected all Our signs so We seized them with all Our might and power.
43‘Are your disbelieversb any better than these? Were you given an exemption in the Scripture?’ 44Do they perhaps say, ‘We are a great army and we shall be victorious’? 45Their forces will be routed and they will turn tail and flee.c 46But the Hour is their appointed time— the Hour is more severe and bitter: 47truly the wicked are misguided and quite insanea— 48on the Day when they are dragged on their faces in Hell. ‘Feel the touch of Hell.’ 49We have created all things in due measure; 50when We ordain something it happens at once, in the blink of an eye; 51We have destroyed the likes of you in the past. Will anyone take heed?
52Everything they do is noted in their records: 53every action, great or small, is recorded. 54The righteous will live securely among Gardens and rivers, 55secure in the presence of an all-powerful Sovereign.