A Meccan sura, dealing with the Day of Resurrection and man’s denial of that Day. God’s power is convincingly described in several vignettes (verses 3–4, 26–30, 34–40). The third paragraph instructs the Prophet on appropriate reception of the revelation (verses 16–19), and thereby serves to emphasize that the Qur’an is indeed God’s word.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Bya the Day of Resurrection 2and by the self-reproaching soul! 3Does man think We shall not put his bones back together? 4In fact, We can reshape his very fingertips. 5Yet man wants to deny what is ahead of him: 6he says, ‘So, when will this Day of Resurrection be?’
7When eyes are dazzled 8and the moon eclipsed, 9when the sun and the moon are brought together, 10on that Day man will say, ‘Where can I escape?’ 11Truly, there is no refuge: 12they will all return to your Lord on that Day. 13On that Day, man will be told what he put first and what he put last. 14Truly, man is a clear witness against himself, 15despite all the excuses he may put forward.
16[Prophet], do not rush your tongue in an attempt to hasten [your memorization of] the Revelation: 17We shall make sure of its safe collection and recitation. 18When We have recited it, repeat the recitation 19and We shall make it clear.
20Truly you [people] love this fleeting world 21and neglect the life to come. 22On that Day there will be radiant faces, 23looking towards their Lord, 24and on that Day there will be the sad and despairing faces 25of those who realize that a great calamity is about to befall them.
26Truly, when the soul reaches the collarbone; 27when it is said, ‘Could any charm-healer save him now?’; 28when he knows it is the final parting; 29when his legs are brought together:b 30on that day he will be driven towards your Lord. 31He neither believed nor prayed, 32but denied the truth and turned away, 33walking back to his people with a conceited swagger.
34Closer and closer it comes to you. 35Closer and closer still. 36Does man think he will be left alone?a 37Was he not just a drop of spilt-out sperm, 38which became a clinging form, which God shaped in due proportion, 39fashioning from it the two sexes, male and female? 40Does He who can do this not have the power to bring the dead back to life?