The surah that opens with the oath of the Divine One swearing by The Sun as it shines out with morning’s radiance. It is named after “the sun” (al-shams), mentioned in verse 1. The central theme of the surah touch upon purifying or corrupting the soul, with the tribe of Thamūd given as an example of corruption.The surah is also known as: Sol.
1
وَالشَّمسِ وَضُحاها
wa-sh-shamsi wa-ḍuḥāhā
By the sun and her forenoon splendour,
2
وَالقَمَرِ إِذا تَلاها
wa-l-qamari ʾidhā talāhā
by the moon when he follows her,
3
وَالنَّهارِ إِذا جَلّاها
wa-n-nahāri ʾidhā jallāhā
by the day when it reveals her,
4
وَاللَّيلِ إِذا يَغشاها
wa-l-layli ʾidhā yaghshāhā
by the night when it covers her,
5
وَالسَّماءِ وَما بَناها
wa-s-samāʾi wa-mā banāhā
by the sky and Him who built it,
6
وَالأَرضِ وَما طَحاها
wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-mā ṭaḥāhā
by the earth and Him who spread it,
7
وَنَفسٍ وَما سَوّاها
wa-nafsin wa-mā sawwāhā
by the soul and Him who fashioned it,
8
فَأَلهَمَها فُجورَها وَتَقواها
fa-ʾalhamahā fujūrahā wa-taqwāhā
and inspired it with[discernment between] its virtues and vices:
9
قَد أَفلَحَ مَن زَكّاها
qad ʾaflaḥa man zakkāhā
one who purifies it is felicitous,
10
وَقَد خابَ مَن دَسّاها
wa-qad khāba man dassāhā
and one who betrays it fails.
11
كَذَّبَت ثَمودُ بِطَغواها
kadhdhabat thamūdu bi-ṭaghwāhā
The [people of] Thamūd denied [Allah’s signs]out of their rebellion,
12
إِذِ انبَعَثَ أَشقاها
ʾidhi nbaʿatha ʾashqāhā
when the most wretched of them rose up.
13
فَقالَ لَهُم رَسولُ اللَّهِ ناقَةَ اللَّهِ وَسُقياها
fa-qāla lahum rasūlu llāhi nāqata llāhi wa-suqyāhā
But then the apostle of Allah said to them,‘Let Allah’s she-camel drink!’
14
فَكَذَّبوهُ فَعَقَروها فَدَمدَمَ عَلَيهِم رَبُّهُم بِذَنبِهِم فَسَوّاها
fa-kadhdhabūhu fa-ʿaqarūhā fa-damdama ʿalayhim rabbuhum bi-dhanbihim fa-sawwāhā
But they impugned him and then hamstrung her,so their Lord took them unawares by night1because of their sin,and levelled it.2Or ‘destroyed them,’ or ‘crushed them,’ or ‘brought down His punishment (or wrath) upon them.’That is, razed their city to the ground.
15
وَلا يَخافُ عُقباها
wa-lā yakhāfu ʿuqbāhā
And He does not fear its outcome.