Surah 91. Ash-Shams

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Verses [Section]: 1-15[1]

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Quran Text of Verse 1-1591. Ash-Shams Page 59591. Ash-Shamsبِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِوَ الشَّمْسِBy the sunوَ ضُحٰىهَا۪ۙand its brightness وَ الْقَمَرِAnd the moonاِذَاwhenتَلٰىهَا۪ۙit follows it وَ النَّهَارِAnd the dayاِذَاwhenجَلّٰىهَا۪ۙit displays it وَ الَّیْلِAnd the nightاِذَاwhenیَغْشٰىهَا۪ۙit covers it وَ السَّمَآءِAnd the heavenوَ مَاand He Whoبَنٰىهَا۪ۙconstructed it وَ الْاَرْضِAnd the earthوَ مَاand He Whoطَحٰىهَا۪ۙspread it وَ نَفْسٍAnd (the) soulوَّ مَاand He Whoسَوّٰىهَا۪ۙproportioned it فَاَلْهَمَهَاAnd He inspired itفُجُوْرَهَا(to understand) what is wrong for itوَ تَقْوٰىهَا۪ۙand what is right for it قَدْIndeedاَفْلَحَhe succeedsمَنْwhoزَكّٰىهَا۪ۙpurifies it وَ قَدْAnd indeedخَابَhe failsمَنْwhoدَسّٰىهَاؕcorrupts it كَذَّبَتْDeniedثَمُوْدُThamudبِطَغْوٰىهَاۤby their transgression اِذِWhenانْۢبَعَثَ(was) sent forthاَشْقٰىهَا۪ۙ(the) most wicked of them فَقَالَBut saidلَهُمْto themرَسُوْلُ(the) Messengerاللّٰهِ(of) Allahنَاقَةَ(It is the) she-camelاللّٰهِ(of) Allahوَ سُقْیٰهَاؕand her drink فَكَذَّبُوْهُBut they denied himفَعَقَرُوْهَا ۪ۙ۬and they hamstrung herفَدَمْدَمَSo destroyedعَلَیْهِمْthemرَبُّهُمْtheir Lordبِذَنْۢبِهِمْfor their sinفَسَوّٰىهَا۪ۙand leveled them وَ لَاAnd notیَخَافُHe fearsعُقْبٰهَا۠its consequences

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Surah Introduction

This Meccan sûrah states that people have free choice to purify or corrupt their souls. Those who choose purity will be successful, and those who choose corruption will be destroyed like the people of Thamûd. Free choice is the highlight of the next sûrah as well.

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Translation of Verse 1-151. In the Name of Allah-the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

1. By the sun and its brightness,

2. and the moon as it follows it, ¹³¹²

3. and the day as it unveils it,

4. and the night as it conceals it!

5. And by heaven and ˹the One˺ Who built it,

6. and the earth and ˹the One˺ Who spread it!

7. And by the soul and ˹the One˺ Who fashioned it,

8. then with ˹the knowledge of˺ right and wrong inspired it!

9. Successful indeed is the one who purifies their soul,

10. and doomed is the one who corrupts it!

11. Thamûd rejected ˹the truth˺ out of arrogance,

12. when the most wicked of them was roused ˹to kill the she-camel˺.

13. But the messenger of Allah warned them, "˹Do not disturb˺ Allah's camel and her ˹turn to˺ drink!"

14. Still they defied him and slaughtered her. So their Lord crushed them for their crime, levelling all to the ground. ¹³¹³

15. He has no fear of consequences.

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Commentary

1312. Or "... when it reflects the sun's light."

1313. It is true that while Qudâr ibn Sâlif was the individual who killed the camel, the rest of the people were supportive of what he did, so they were all punished collectively.