At-Tariq — The Nightcommer

وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلطَّارِقِ

By the sky and the knocker

وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلطَّارِقُ

And what can make you know what is the knocker?

ٱلنَّجْمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ

It is the piercing star.

إِن كُلُّ نَفْسٍ لَّمَّا عَلَيْهَا حَافِظٌ

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

فَلْيَنظُرِ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ

So let man observe from what he was created.

خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٍ دَافِقٍ

He was created from a fluid, ejected,

يَخْرُجُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ ٱلصُّلْبِ وَٱلتَّرَآئِبِ

Emerging from between the backbone and the ribs.

إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَجْعِهِۦ لَقَادِرٌ

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

يَوْمَ تُبْلَى ٱلسَّرَآئِرُ

The Day when secrets will be put on trial,

فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن قُوَّةٍ وَلَا نَاصِرٍ

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

وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلرَّجْعِ

By the sky which sends back

وَٱلْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ ٱلصَّدْعِ

And [by] the earth which splits,

إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ

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

وَمَا هُوَ بِٱلْهَزْلِ

And it is not amusement.

إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًا

Indeed, they are planning a plan,

فَمَهِّلِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًۢا

So allow time for the disbelievers. Leave them awhile.