Sūrat al-Qamar
سورۃ القمر
The page header transitions to "القمر ۵۴" — Sūrat al-Qamar begins.
أَفَمِنْ هَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ تَعْجَبُونَ
a-fa-min hādhā l-ḥadīthi taʿjabūn.
"Are you then amazed at this discourse?" (al-Najm 53:59)
A-fa-min hādhā l-ḥadīth — are you amazed — taʿjabūn — you are astonished at this discourse.
Translation: — Are you astonished at this discourse?
وَتَضْحَكُونَ وَلَا تَبْكُونَ
wa-taḍḥakūna wa-lā tabkūn.
"And you laugh and do not weep." (al-Najm 53:60)
Wa-taḍḥakūna — and you laugh! — wa-lā tabkūna — and weeping does not come to you.
Translation: — And you laugh and do not weep?
وَأَنتُمْ سَامِدُونَ
wa-antum sāmidūn.
"While you play carelessly." (al-Najm 53:61)
Wa-antum sāmidūn — and you — lost in heedlessness — completely absorbed in play.
Translation: — And you are lost in play and heedlessness.
فَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ وَاعْبُدُوا
fa-sjudū li-llāhi wa-ʿbudū.
"So prostrate to Allah and worship Him." (al-Najm 53:62)
Fa-sjudū — leave off heedlessness — li-llāhi — now prostrate — wa-ʿbudū — and worship — become servants of Him, worship.
Translation: — Therefore prostrate before Allah and worship Him. (This verse requires a prostration of recitation.)
Sūrat al-Qamar was revealed in Makka and it has fifty-five (55) verses and three (3) rukūʿs.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ
iqtarabati l-sāʿatu wa-nshaqqa l-qamar.
"The Hour has drawn near and the moon has split." (al-Qamar 54:1)
Iqtarabat — it has drawn near — al-sāʿaẗu — the appointed Hour — meaning, the Hour of Resurrection has drawn near — wa-nshaqqa l-qamar — and the moon split — the moon was cleft — it became two pieces — the moon splitting is a miracle of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ — at his gesture the moon split into two pieces.
Translation: — The Hour of Resurrection has drawn near and the moon split.
Friends! Some people say that magic cannot be worked on the sky, but there is no basis for this argument. Ḥazrat ﷺ made a gesture and the moon split — the splitting of the moon is a miracle of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Is the splitting of the moon a miracle or a sign of Resurrection? It is without doubt both — the two are inseparable. The sign of the Resurrection is also the sign of the Prophet ﷺ — for Resurrection is at hand. The finger is near — O ignorant ones! You have seen the laws of nature through power of Allah, and your date with the Hour of Resurrection has arrived.
And the answer to this is that today's new investigations tell us that some things fall out of the sun — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, Sirius — the earth was formed from one part that broke off from the sun. Various planets have formed together with the sun. To this day no new thing falls out of the sun. The splitting of the moon is definitely a miracle — either a miracle or a sign of Resurrection — it is absolutely one of those two things. The sign of the Prophethood of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ — and itself a sign of the Hour of Resurrection — the finger pointing to Resurrection is near. O ignorant ones! You have seen the laws of nature, power of Allah — when you approach our age the date of your Resurrection has also arrived. In history, in historical books, there are many events recorded and many calamities that have befallen and countries that have swept away — this is a bad false complacency of the ignorant. It is preventing the progress of the people and obstructing the manifestations of Allah — there is much we have not yet learned of this matter, which we should strive to know. Even now scientists have made many mistakes in this matter — they have occasionally looked at it. If we think of it in an ignorant way and keep our own hands and feet slow, we will keep to the dust — these ignorant ones are an example of a frog in a well — a frog sitting in a well trembling with excessive force and all around is water — but where else is water? It says the world is in great darkness — people think falsely that the sun also becomes dark at times — in Arab they call it "solar eclipse" — they call it "solar eclipse" in English — thinking it the eclipse of the sun. English people who are intelligent consider themselves entitled to the eclipse — this is your shame — do not laugh at it. Man limits divine power and rejects his own learned scholars — wa-qul rabbi zidnī ʿilman.
وَإِن يَرَوْا آيَةً يُعْرِضُوا وَيَقُولُوا سِحْرٌ مُّسْتَمِرٌّ
wa-in yaraw āyatan yuʿriḍū wa-yaqūlū siḥrun mustamirr.
"And if they see a sign, they turn away and say: 'This is continued magic.'" (al-Qamar 54:2)
Wa-in yaraw — and if they see — āyaẗan — a sign — a miraculous indication of divine power — yuʿriḍū — they turn away, do not accept, ignore — wa-yaqūlū — and say — siḥrun — magic, sorcery — a false accusation — mustamirrun — this will always be magic, that which is still going on — a continuing trick.
Translation: — And if they see any miracle of divine power they turn away, and say this is a type of continuous magic.
وَكَذَّبُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا أَهْوَاءَهُمْ وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍ مُّسْتَقِرٌّ
wa-kadhdhabū wa-ttabaʿū ahwāʾahum wa-kullu amrin mustaqirr.
"And they denied and followed their whims — but every matter has an appointed time." (al-Qamar 54:3)
Wa-kadhdhabū — and they rejected — denied — wa-ttabaʿū ahwāʾahum — and followed their whims — their personal desires — wa-kullu amrin mustaqirrun — and every matter has an appointed fixed time — every thing has a fixed appointed time — and when it comes, punishment will also come.
Translation: — And those people rejected and followed their own whims — every matter has a fixed time.
وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُم مِّنَ الْأَنبَاءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزْدَجَرٌ
wa-laqad jāʾahum mina l-anbāʾi mā fīhi muzddajar.
"And there has already come to them of the reports what contains a deterrent." (al-Qamar 54:4)
Wa-laqad jāʾahum — and there has certainly already come to them — mina l-anbāʾi — from the tidings — the news — mā fīhi muzddajun — which contains a deterrent, a rebuke — a lesson, an admonition.
Translation: — And such reports have already reached them which contain ample admonition and rebuke.
حِكْمَةٌ بَالِغَةٌ فَمَا تُغْنِ النُّذُرُ
ḥikmaẗun bālighaẗun fa-mā tughnī l-nudhur.
"Complete wisdom — but warnings do not avail." (al-Qamar 54:5)
Ḥikmaẗun bālighaẗun — complete, consummate wisdom — it is of the highest degree of intelligence — but this is of no avail to them — fa-mā tughnī l-nudhur — so warnings give them no benefit — they are of no use to them — they are not receptive to the Prophet's teaching.
Translation: — These are words of utter wisdom — yet warnings are of no avail to them.
فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ ۘ يَوْمَ يَدْعُ الدَّاعِ إِلَىٰ شَيْءٍ نُّكُرٍ
fa-tawalla ʿanhum yawma yadʿu l-dāʿī ilā shayʾin nukur.
"So turn away from them — the Day the Caller will call to a terrible thing." (al-Qamar 54:6)
Fa-tawalla ʿanhum — O merciful Prophet! Turn away from them — do not pay attention to their opposition — pay no regard to them — the end of their days will be known soon — yawma yadʿu l-dāʿī — the day the Caller will call — ilā shayʾin nukur — to something terrible — something unacceptable — something that will be intolerable.
Translation: — (Prophet!) Turn away from them (what they know of now will become clear) — on the Day the Caller will call them to something (which will be intolerable to them).
That day — what will be the state of those people?
خُشَّعًا أَبْصَارُهُمْ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ الْأَجْدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمْ جَرَادٌ مُّنتَشِرٌ
khushshshaʿan abṣāruhum yakhrujiūna mina l-ajdāthi ka-annahum jarādun muntashir.
"Their eyes humbled, they will come out of the graves as if they were scattered locusts." (al-Qamar 54:7)
Khushhsaʿan abṣāruhum — from shame their eyes will be lowered — they cannot raise their eyes — yakhrujiūna mina l-ajdāthi — they will come out from the graves — ka-annahum jarādun — as if they are locusts — insects — scattered around — muntashirun — scattered, spread out, wandering — going here and there.
Translation: — Their eyes will be downcast — they will come out from the graves — scattered and spreading as if they are scattered locusts.
مُهْطِعِينَ إِلَى الدَّاعِ يَقُولُ الْكَافِرُونَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَسِيرٌ
muhṭiʿīna ilā l-dāʿī yaqūlu l-kāfirūna hādhā yawmun ʿasīr.
"Running toward the Caller — the disbelievers will say: 'This is a difficult day.'" (al-Qamar 54:8)
Muhṭiʿīna — running, rushing ahead — ilā l-dāʿī — toward the Caller — yaqūlu l-kāfirūna — the disbelievers and deniers will say — hādhā yawmun ʿasīr — this is a very hard day — a day of difficulty, hardship, severity.
Translation: — They will be rushing toward the Caller — the deniers will also say — this is a very hard day.
كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ فَكَذَّبُوا عَبْدَنَا وَقَالُوا مَجْنُونٌ وَازْدُجِرَ
kadhdhabat qablahum qawmu nūḥin fa-kadhdhabū ʿabdanā wa-qālū majnūnun wa-zdujir.
"Before them the people of Nūḥ denied — they denied Our servant and said: 'A madman!' — and he was driven away." (al-Qamar 54:9)
Kadhdhabat qablahum — those before them also denied — the people of Nūḥ — they always had the habit of denial — not accepting the Prophet — fa-kadhdhabū ʿabdanā — so they denied Our servant Nūḥ — wa-qālū majnūnun — and called him mad — saying bad things about him — striking him with blows — wa-zdujira — and he was threatened and terrified — admonition and threat was given to him.
Translation: — Before them the people of Nūḥ also denied — and they denied Our servant and said he was a madman — and threatened him.
فَدَعَا رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَغْلُوبٌ فَانتَصِرْ
fa-daʿā rabbahu annī maghluibun fa-ntaṣir.
"So he called upon his Lord: 'Indeed I am overcome, so help me.'" (al-Qamar 54:10)
Fa-daʿā rabbahu — so Nūḥ, wearied of giving advice, called out to his Lord — annī maghluibun — I am helpless — fa-ntaṣir — help me, avenge me — take my retribution.
Translation: — Then he called upon his Lord crying out: truly I am overcome (am helpless) — take my retribution.
فَفَتَحْنَا أَبْوَابَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَاءٍ مُّنْهَمِرٍ
fa-fataḥnā abwāba l-samāʾi bi-māʾin munhamir.
"So We opened the gates of the sky with pouring water." (al-Qamar 54:11)
(We sent him Nūḥ's nation) — fa-fataḥnā — then We opened — abwāba l-samāʾi — the gates of the sky — bi-māʾin munhamir — with pouring water — torrential water.
Translation: — Then We opened the gates of the sky with rushing torrential water.
وَفَجَّرْنَا الْأَرْضَ عُيُونًا فَالْتَقَى الْمَاءُ عَلَىٰ أَمْرٍ قَدْ قُدِرَ
wa-fajjarnā l-arḍa ʿuyūnan fa-ltaqā l-māʾu ʿalā amrin qad qudira.
"And We caused the earth to burst with springs, so the waters met for a matter already decreed." (al-Qamar 54:12)
Wa-fajjarnā — and We burst apart — We caused to flow, We sent forward — al-arḍa — the earth — ʿuyūnan — with springs — the earth lit up — fa-ltaqā l-māʾu — then the water of the sky and the water of the earth came together — ʿalā amrin qad qudira — on an amount precisely decreed — at a level that Allah had appointed.
Translation: — And We caused springs to burst from the earth and the two waters met at the measure Allah had decreed.
وَحَمَلْنَاهُ عَلَىٰ ذَاتِ أَلْوَاحٍ وَدُسُرٍ
wa-ḥamalnāhu ʿalā dhāti alwāḥin wa-dusurin.
"And We carried him upon a thing of planks and nails." (al-Qamar 54:13)
Wa-ḥamalnāhu — and We carried Nūḥ — ʿalā dhāti alwāḥin — upon the one with planks — wa-dusurin — and nails — planks — the ship — planks and nails — the ship of planks and nails.
Translation: — We carried Nūḥ on the planks-and-nails ship.
تَجْرِي بِأَعْيُنِنَا جَزَاءً لِّمَن كَانَ كُفِرَ
tajrī bi-aʿyuninā jazāʾan li-man kāna kufir.
"Running before Our eyes — a recompense for one who had been rejected." (al-Qamar 54:14)
Tajrī bi-aʿyuninā — the ship was moving and running before Our very eyes — jazāʾan — a recompense — li-man kāna kufira — for the one whose prophethood was rejected — the reward of the denial of Nūḥ's prophethood was this.
Translation: — The ship was running before Our eyes — it was a recompense for the one whose prophethood was denied.
وَلَقَدْ تَرَكْنَاهَا آيَةً فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ
wa-laqad taraknāhā āyatan fa-hal min muddakir.
"And We have left it as a sign — so is there any who will take heed?" (al-Qamar 54:15)
Wa-laqad taraknāhā āyatan — and We left this ship as an example, a lesson to be drawn — fa-hal min muddakir — so is there anyone who will take a lesson — is there any reminder-taker?
Translation: — We made this event an example — is there anyone who will take a lesson?
Mudhdhakir — from the verb ittadhakkara — the root is dhikr — to bring to mind — ittadhakkara — "itadhakkara" means to bring something to mind in a deliberate act — idhdhakkara — a person who does this act — one who takes reminder — one who remembers.
Translation: — We have made this event into an example — so is there anyone to take reminder and reflect?
فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ
fa-kayfa kāna ʿadhābī wa-nudhur.
"Then how was My punishment and My warning?" (al-Qamar 54:16)
Fa-kayfa kāna — then consider — ʿadhābī wa-nudhur — My punishment and My warnings — My punishment and My threat.
Translation: — Then consider the outcome — My punishment and warning.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ
wa-laqad yassarnā l-qurʾāna li-l-dhikri fa-hal min muddakir.
"And We have certainly made the Qurʾān easy for remembrance — so is there any who will take heed?" (al-Qamar 54:17)
Wa-laqad yassarnā l-qurʾāna — and We have made the Qurʾān simple, easy for admonition and remembrance — We have made it a means of remembrance and reflection — fa-hal min muddakir — is there anyone who will take a lesson?
Translation: — We made the Qurʾān easy to remember and learn from — is there anyone to take heed?
كَذَّبَتْ عَادٌ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ
kadhdhabat ʿādun fa-kayfa kāna ʿadhābī wa-nudhur.
"ʿĀd denied — and how was My punishment and warning?" (al-Qamar 54:18)
Kadhdhabat ʿādun — the nation of ʿĀd denied — their Prophet — fa-kayfa kāna ʿadhābī wa-nudhur — consider what became of My punishment and warning — consider the outcome — My punishment and threat.
Translation: — ʿĀd denied, so consider what My punishment and warning came to.
إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًا صَرْصَرًا فِي يَوْمِ نَحْسٍ مُّسْتَمِرٍّ
innā arsalnā ʿalayhim rīḥan ṣarṣaran fī yawmi naḥsin mustamirr.
"Indeed We sent upon them a howling wind on a day of unrelenting misfortune." (al-Qamar 54:19)
Then Allah Himself announces the end of ʿĀd — innā arsalnā ʿalayhim — We sent upon them — rīḥan ṣarṣaran — a howling wind — a screaming thundering storm — fī yawmi naḥsin mustamirrin — on a day of perpetual misfortune — a day of continual calamity — one that stays forever.
Translation: — We sent upon them such a howling wind that its misfortune remained continuously.
تَنزِعُ النَّاسَ كَأَنَّهُمْ أَعْجَازُ نَخْلٍ مُّنقَعِرٍ
تَنزِعُ النَّاسَ كَأَنَّهُمْ أَعْجَازُ نَخْلٍ مُّنقَعِرٍ
tanziʿu l-nāsa ka-annahum aʿjāzu nakhlin munqaʿir.
"Snatching people away as if they were the trunks of uprooted palm-trees." (al-Qamar 54:20)
Tanziʿu l-nāsa — uprooting the people — throwing them away — ka-annahum aʿjāzu nakhlin munqaʿirin — as if they were the trunks of uprooted palm-trees — standing stumps of fallen date-palms.
Translation: — (That wind) was lifting people up as if they were uprooted, fallen stumps of date-palms.
فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ
fa-kayfa kāna ʿadhābī wa-nudhur.
"Then how was My punishment and warning?" (al-Qamar 54:21)
Translation: — Then consider what came of My punishment and warning.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ
wa-laqad yassarnā l-qurʾāna li-l-dhikri fa-hal min muddakir.
"And We have certainly made the Qurʾān easy for remembrance — so is there any who will take heed?" (al-Qamar 54:22)
Translation: — We made the Qurʾān easy for admonition — is there anyone to take a lesson?
كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِالنُّذُرِ
kadhdhabat thamūdu bi-l-nudhur.
"Thamūd denied the warners." (al-Qamar 54:23)
Kadhdhabat thamūdu — Thamūd denied — bi-l-nudhur — the warners — denied the Prophets — here both Ṣāliḥ (upon him be peace) are meant.
Translation: — Thamūd denied the Prophets.
فَقَالُوا أَبَشَرًا مِّنَّا وَاحِدًا نَّتَّبِعُهُ ۖ إِنَّا إِذًا لَّفِي ضَلَالٍ وَسُعُرٍ
fa-qālū a-basharan minnā wāḥidan nattabiʿuhu innā idhān la-fī ḍalālin wa-suʿur.
"And they said: 'Are we to follow a single human being from among us? Then we would indeed be in error and madness.'" (al-Qamar 54:24)
Fa-qālū — Thamūd said — a-basharan minnā wāḥidan — should we follow a single human being — a person whose footstep we should walk behind — innā idhā — then we are — the claim of the statement — innā idhān la-fī ḍalālin — then we will surely be in error — going wrong — wa-suʿurun — and madness — a brain gone bad — lunacy.
Translation: — They said: should we follow a single person who is one of us — then we will be in error and madness.
أَأُلْقِيَ الذِّكْرُ عَلَيْهِ مِن بَيْنِنَا بَلْ هُوَ كَذَّابٌ أَشِرٌ
أَأُلْقِيَ الذِّكْرُ عَلَيْهِ مِن بَيْنِنَا بَلْ هُوَ كَذَّابٌ أَشِرٌ
a-ulqiya l-dhikru ʿalayhi min bayninā bal huwa kadhdhabun ashir.
"Was the reminder cast upon him from among us? Rather he is a boastful liar!" (al-Qamar 54:25)
What a magnificent selection Allah made for prophethood from among them — bal huwa kadhdhabun — no, he is not one — rather he is a liar — not a liar but a strutting boaster — he goes around lying and strutting.
Translation: — Was the reminder sent to us through him? No, rather he is an insolent liar — not only a liar but an arrogant strutter.
سَيَعْلَمُونَ غَدًا مَّنِ الْكَذَّابُ الْأَشِرُ
sa-yaʿlamūna ghadan mani l-kadhdhabu l-ashir.
"They will know tomorrow who is the boastful liar." (al-Qamar 54:26)
Sa-yaʿlamūna — they will soon find out — ghadan — tomorrow — they will be made to know — mani l-kadhdhabu l-ashiru — who the boastful liar is — the swagger and strutting one.
Translation: — They will soon know who the boastful liar was.
إِنَّا مُرْسِلُو النَّاقَةِ فِتْنَةً لَّهُمْ فَارْتَقِبْهُمْ وَاصْطَبِرْ
innā mursilu l-nāqati fitnatan lahum fa-rtaqibhum wa-ṣṭabir.
"Indeed We are sending the she-camel as a trial for them — so watch them and be patient." (al-Qamar 54:27)
Innā — certainly — mursilu l-nāqati — We are the senders of the she-camel — fitnatan — as a trial, a test — to investigate — lahum — for them — fa-rtaqibhum — then watch them and wait — to see what they do with it — wa-ṣṭabir — and be patient.
Translation: — We are sending a she-camel as a trial for them — watch them patiently from the side.
وَنَبِّئْهُمْ أَنَّ الْمَاءَ قِسْمَةٌ بَيْنَهُمْ كُلُّ شِرْبٍ مُّحْتَضَرٌ
wa-nabbiʾhum anna l-māʾa qismaẗun baynahum kullu shirbin muḥtaḍar.
"And inform them that the water is to be shared between them — each drink is to be attended at its appointed time." (al-Qamar 54:28)
Wa-nabbiʾhum — and give them news, inform them — anna l-māʾa qismaẗun baynahum — that the water is to be distributed between them — the water is to be shared — kullu shirbin muḥtaḍarun — each turn to drink — each drink — every turn appointed — each one will attend at the water at its own turn.
Translation: — And inform them that the water has been allocated between them — every turn for each is to be attended.
فَنَادَوْا صَاحِبَهُمْ فَتَعَاطَىٰ فَعَقَرَ
fa-nādaw ṣāḥibahum fa-taʿāṭā fa-ʿaqar.
"So they called their companion and he dared and hamstrung her." (al-Qamar 54:29)
Fa-nādaw — then they called out — ṣāḥibahum — their companion — their comrade — fa-taʿāṭā — then he dared to do it — fa-ʿaqara — then he hamstrung her — he cut the legs of the she-camel.
Translation: — Then (the nation of Thamūd) called their companion — then he seized her (the she-camel) — then he cut her legs.
فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ
فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ
fa-kayfa kāna ʿadhābī wa-nudhur.
"Then how was My punishment and warning?" (al-Qamar 54:30)
Translation: — Then how was My punishment and warning?
إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَكَانُوا كَهَشِيمِ الْمُحْتَظِرِ
innā arsalnā ʿalayhim ṣayḥatan wāḥidatan fa-kānū ka-hashīmi l-muḥtaẓir.
"Indeed We sent against them a single Cry, and they became like dry sticks of a pen-maker." (al-Qamar 54:31)
Innā arsalnā ʿalayhim — We sent upon them — ṣayḥatan wāḥidatan — a single shriek — a single thunderous cry — a thunderclap — fa-kānū — then they became — ka-hashīmi l-muḥtaẓiri — like the dried, trampled leaves and branches of a thorn-fence — a hedge of thorns and sticks.
Translation: — We sent upon them a single thundering cry — and they became like the dried trampled leaves and branches of a thorn-fence.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ
wa-laqad yassarnā l-qurʾāna li-l-dhikri fa-hal min muddakir.
"And We have certainly made the Qurʾān easy for remembrance — so is there any who will take heed?" (al-Qamar 54:32)
Translation: — We made the Qurʾān easy for admonition — is there anyone to take a lesson?
كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ لُوطٍ بِالنُّذُرِ
kadhdhabat qawmu lūṭin bi-l-nudhur.
"The people of Lūṭ denied the warners." (al-Qamar 54:33)
Translation: — The people of Lūṭ denied the Prophets and their warnings.
إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حَاصِبًا إِلَّا آلَ لُوطٍ نَّجَّيْنَاهُم بِسَحَرٍ
innā arsalnā ʿalayhim ḥāṣiban illā āla lūṭin najjaynāhum bi-saḥar.
"Indeed We sent upon them a shower of stones — except the family of Lūṭ, whom We rescued before dawn." (al-Qamar 54:34)
Innā arsalnā ʿalayhim ḥāṣiban — We sent upon them a stone shower — illā āla lūṭin — except the family of Lūṭ — except the household of Lūṭ — these are the Muslim believers — najjaynāhum bi-saḥar — We rescued them at the pre-dawn time — in the very last portion of night — before dawn arrived.
Translation: — We sent a stone shower upon them — except the family of Lūṭ, whom We saved at the pre-dawn hour.
نِعْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي مَن شَكَرَ
niʿmatan min ʿindinā kadhālika najzī man shakar.
"A favour from Us — thus do We recompense the one who gives thanks." (al-Qamar 54:35)
Niʿmatan min ʿindinā — a favour from Our side — from Our grace and bounty — kadhālika najzī — We recompense in just the same way — man shakara — the one who gives thanks — the one who accepts gratitude.
Translation: — From Our grace and favour — We recompense in just the same way those who give thanks.
وَلَقَدْ أَنذَرَهُم بَطْشَتَنَا فَتَمَارَوْا بِالنُّذُرِ
wa-laqad andhara-hum baṭshatanā fa-tamāraw bi-l-nudhur.
"And he had warned them of Our onslaught, but they disputed the warnings." (al-Qamar 54:36)
Wa-laqad andhara-hum — and Lūṭ had warned them — baṭshatanā — of Our seizure — Our grip, Our punishment, Our hold — fa-tamāraw — but they still argued over — kept on disputing — bi-l-nudhur — the warnings — not accepting them.
Translation: — And Lūṭ gave them warning of Our grip and punishment but those people kept disputing the prophets' warnings — kept refusing to understand.
وَلَقَدْ رَاوَدُوهُ عَن ضَيْفِهِ فَطَمَسْنَا أَعْيُنَهُمْ فَذُوقُوا عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ
wa-laqad rāwadūhu ʿan ḍayfihi fa-ṭamasnā aʿyunahum fa-dhūqū ʿadhābī wa-nudhur.
"And they tried to seduce him from his guests — so We blinded their eyes: taste then My punishment and My warning!" (al-Qamar 54:37)
Wa-laqad rāwadūhu ʿan ḍayfihi — and those people tried to take Lūṭ's guests from him — wanted to usurp and violate his guests — fa-ṭamasnā aʿyunahum — then We blinded their eyes — struck out their eyes — fa-dhūqū ʿadhābī wa-nudhur — now taste My punishment and My warnings.
Translation: — Those people tried to seize Lūṭ's guests — then We blinded their eyes — now taste My punishment and warning.
وَلَقَدْ صَبَّحَهُم بُكْرَةً عَذَابٌ مُّسْتَقِرٌّ
wa-laqad ṣabbaḥahum bukratan ʿadhābun mustaqirr.
"And the settled punishment came upon them in the morning." (al-Qamar 54:38)
Wa-laqad ṣabbaḥahum bukratan — and that morning came upon them — ʿadhābun mustaqirrun — a settled punishment — a thorough punishment — one that takes firm hold.
Translation: — And the settled punishment came upon them in the morning.
فَذُوقُوا عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ
فَذُوقُوا عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ
fa-dhūqū ʿadhābī wa-nudhur.
"So taste My punishment and My warning." (al-Qamar 54:39)
Fa-dhūqū — now taste — ʿadhābī wa-nudhur — My punishment and My warning.
Translation: — Now taste My punishment and warning.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ
wa-laqad yassarnā l-qurʾāna li-l-dhikri fa-hal min muddakir.
"And We have certainly made the Qurʾān easy for remembrance — so is there any who will take heed?" (al-Qamar 54:40)
Wa-laqad yassarnā l-qurʾāna — and We made the Qurʾān easy for admonition and reflection — fa-hal min muddakirin — so is there anyone to take heed — any seeker of lesson?
Translation: — We made the Qurʾān easy for reflection — is there anyone to take a lesson?
وَلَقَدْ جَاءَ آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ النُّذُرُ
wa-laqad jāʾa āla firʿawna l-nudhur.
"And the warners came to the family of Pharaoh." (al-Qamar 54:41)
Wa-laqad jāʾa āla firʿawna l-nudhur — and the warners came to the followers of Pharaoh — Mūsā and other Prophets — many warnings came.
Translation: — And to the family of Pharaoh came many warners and Prophets.
كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا كُلِّهَا فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ أَخْذَ عَزِيزٍ مُّقْتَدِرٍ
kadhdhabū bi-āyātinā kullihā fa-akhadhnāhum akhdha ʿazīzin muqtadir.
"They denied all Our signs — so We seized them with the seizure of One Almighty, All-Powerful." (al-Qamar 54:42)
Kadhdhabū — they rejected all — bi-āyātinā kullihā — all Our signs — all the miracles — fa-akhadhnāhum — then We seized them — akhdha ʿazīzin muqtadirin — a seizure of the Almighty and Most Powerful — the One who seizes with power and might.
Translation: — They denied all Our signs, all the miracles — so We seized them with the seizure of the Almighty and Most Powerful.
أَكُفَّارُكُمْ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أُولَٰئِكُمْ أَمْ لَكُم بَرَاءَةٌ فِي الزُّبُرِ
a-kuffārukum khayrun min ulāʾikum am lakum barāʾatun fī l-zubur.
"Are your disbelievers better than those — or do you have an absolution in the scriptures?" (al-Qamar 54:43)
A-kuffārukum — the deniers among you — not the deniers — khayrun min ulāʾikum — are better than those people from whose account has already come — am lakum barāʾatun — or do you have an absolution — fī l-zuburi — in the scriptures — the collection of scriptures — is there a written guarantee of being free of punishment for you?
Translation: — Are the deniers among you better than those people — or do you have any written certificate of absolution?
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ نَحْنُ جَمِيعٌ مُّنتَصِرٌ
am yaqūlūna naḥnu jamīʿun muntaṣir.
"Or do they say: 'We are a united group able to prevail'?" (al-Qamar 54:44)
Am yaqūlūna — or these people say — naḥnu jamīʿun muntaṣirun — we are all of us victorious ones — we will achieve conquest and victory — our group is large — our community can take revenge against enemies and defeat them.
Translation: — Or are they saying they are all victorious and will gain conquest and victory?
سَيُهْزَمُ الْجَمْعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ الدُّبُرَ
sa-yuhzamu l-jamʿu wa-yuwallūna l-dubar.
"Soon this group will be defeated and will turn their backs and flee." (al-Qamar 54:45)
Sa-yuhzamu l-jamʿu — wait patiently — in a day or two you will see — this group will be defeated — wa-yuwallūna l-dubura — and they will turn their backs and flee.
Translation: — Soon this group will be crushed in defeat and will turn their backs and flee.
بَلِ السَّاعَةُ مَوْعِدُهُمْ وَالسَّاعَةُ أَدْهَىٰ وَأَمَرُّ
bali l-sāʿatu mawʿiduhum wa-l-sāʿatu adhā wa-amarr.
"But the Hour is their appointed time — and the Hour is more calamitous and bitter." (al-Qamar 54:46)
This is the worldly end — what will happen in the Hereafter will be most magnificent. Bali l-sāʿatu — but the Hour of Resurrection — mawʿiduhum — is their original appointment — the real time of their appointment — wa-l-sāʿatu adhā wa-amarru — and the Hour is more calamitous — bitter — very bitter — disagreeable — harsh.
Translation: — Rather the Hour of Resurrection is their real appointment — and the Hour is a sudden disaster and bitter thing.
إِنَّ الْمُجْرِمِينَ فِي ضَلَالٍ وَسُعُرٍ
inna l-mujrimīna fī ḍalālin wa-suʿur.
"Indeed the criminals are in error and blazing fire." (al-Qamar 54:47)
What will happen at the Hour of Resurrection?
Inna l-mujrimīna — the criminals, the evildoers — fī ḍalālin wa-suʿurin — in error — they were in error in this world — they were on show — in Hell they will be burning — in the fire of Hell.
Translation: — Without doubt the criminal people will be in error and in the fire of Hell.
يَوْمَ يُسْحَبُونَ فِي النَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ ذُوقُوا مَسَّ سَقَرَ
يَوْمَ يُسْحَبُونَ فِي النَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ ذُوقُوا مَسَّ سَقَرَ
yawma yusḥabūna fī l-nāri ʿalā wujūhihim dhūqū massa saqar.
"On the Day they will be dragged in the Fire on their faces: 'Taste the touch of Saqar!'" (al-Qamar 54:48)
Yawma yusḥabūna — on that day they will be dragged — fī l-nāri — in the Fire, in Hell — ʿalā wujūhihim — on their faces — face downward — mass saqar — the touching of Hell — the touch of the Fire.
Translation: — The day they will be dragged face-down in Hell and told: taste the touch of Hell-fire.
إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ
innā kulla shayʾin khalaqnāhu bi-qadar.
"Indeed We have created everything with a measure." (al-Qamar 54:49)
Innā — certainly We — kulla shayʾin — every thing — khalaqnāhu — We created, brought into existence — bi-qadarin — with a measure — with a quantity — with a number and arrangement — every thing that is created is according to its need and is appropriate.
Translation: — We have created everything with a precise measure.
وَمَا أَمْرُنَا إِلَّا وَاحِدَةٌ كَلَمْحٍ بِالْبَصَرِ
wa-mā amrunā illā wāḥidatun ka-lamḥin bi-l-baṣar.
"And Our command is but one, like the twinkling of an eye." (al-Qamar 54:50)
Every thing has its time — and the Resurrection also has its time. Wa-mā amrunā illā wāḥidatun — and Our command is only one — one word, one action — ka-lamḥin bi-l-baṣari — like the blinking of an eye — in a single instant — the twinkling of an eye.
Translation: — Our command is but a single utterance — like the blinking of an eye.
وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا أَشْيَاعَكُمْ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ
wa-laqad ahlaknā ashyāʿakum fa-hal min muddakir.
"And We have indeed destroyed the likes of you — so is there any who will take heed?" (al-Qamar 54:51)
Wa-laqad ahlaknā — and We destroyed — wiped out — ruined — ashyāʿakum — your followers, your sympathizers — those of your ilk — those like you — fa-hal min muddakir — and is there any to take a lesson?
Translation: — We destroyed those like you — is there anyone to reflect and take a lesson?
وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ فَعَلُوهُ فِي الزُّبُرِ
wa-kullu shayʾin faʿalūhu fī l-zubur.
"And everything they did is in the scriptures." (al-Qamar 54:52)
Wa-kullu shayʾin faʿalūhu — and everything they did — fī l-zuburi — is in their written record — it is recorded in their daily registers.
Translation: — Everything they did is recorded in their registers.
وَكُلُّ صَغِيرٍ وَكَبِيرٍ مُّسْتَطَرٌ