Quran — Page 595

CONSIDER the sun and its radiant brightness,

and the moon as it reflects the sun!

Consider the day as it reveals the world,

and the night as it veils it darkly!

Consider the sky and its wondrous make,

and the earth and all its expanse!

Consider the human self, and how it is formed in accordance with what it is meant to be,

and how it is imbued with moral failings as well as with consciousness of God!

To a happy state shall indeed attain he who causes this [self] to grow in purity,

and truly lost is he who buries it [in darkness].

TO [THIS] TRUTH gave the lie, in their overweening arrogance, [the tribe of] Thamud,

when that most hapless wretch from among them rushed forward [to commit his evil deed],

although God's apostle had told them, "It is a she-camel belonging to God, so let her drink [and do her no harm]!"

But they gave him the lie, and cruelly slaughtered her - whereupon their Sustainer visited them with utter destruction for this their sin, destroying them all alike:

for none [of them] had any fear of what might befall them.

CONSIDER the night as it veils [the earth] in darkness,

and the day as it rises bright!

Consider the creation of the male and the female!

Verily, [O men,] you aim at most divergent ends!

Thus, as for him who gives [to others] and is conscious of God,

and believes in the truth of the ultimate good

for him shall We make easy the path towards [ultimate] ease.

But as for him who is niggardly, and thinks that he is self-sufficient,

and calls the ultimate good a lie –

for him shall We make easy the path towards hardship:

and what will his wealth avail him when he goes down [to his grave]?

BEHOLD, it is indeed for Us to grace [you] with guidance;

and, behold, Ours is [the dominion over] the life to come as well as [over] this earlier part [of your life]:

and so I warn you of the raging fire -