وَٱلتِّينِ وَٱلزَّيۡتُونِ
By the fig and the olive[1]
1- Referring to the places known for their production, i.e., Damascus and Jerusalem, respectively. It could also refer to the fig and olive trees or to the fruits themselves.
وَطُورِ سِينِينَ
And [by] Mount Sinai
وَهَٰذَا ٱلۡبَلَدِ ٱلۡأَمِينِ
And [by] this secure city [i.e., Makkah],
لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ فِيٓ أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمٖ
We have certainly created man in the best of stature;[1]
1- i.e., upright, symmetrical, and balanced in form and nature.
ثُمَّ رَدَدۡنَٰهُ أَسۡفَلَ سَٰفِلِينَ
Then We return him to the lowest of the low,[1]
1- This can refer to the depths of Hell, to decrepit old age or to immorality.
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ فَلَهُمۡ أَجۡرٌ غَيۡرُ مَمۡنُونٖ
Except for those who believe and do righteous deeds, for they will have a reward uninterrupted.
فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ بَعۡدُ بِٱلدِّينِ
So what yet causes you to deny the Recompense?[1]
1- More literally, "What makes you lie concerning it?"
أَلَيۡسَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَحۡكَمِ ٱلۡحَٰكِمِينَ
Is not AllŒh the most just of judges?
ٱقۡرَأۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ
Recite in the name of your Lord who created
خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍ
Created man from a clinging substance.
ٱقۡرَأۡ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡأَكۡرَمُ
Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous –
ٱلَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِٱلۡقَلَمِ
Who taught by the pen
عَلَّمَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ
Taught man that which he knew not.
كَلَّآ إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ لَيَطۡغَىٰٓ
No! [But] indeed, man transgresses
أَن رَّءَاهُ ٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰٓ
Because he sees himself self-sufficient.
إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجۡعَىٰٓ
Indeed, to your Lord is the return.
أَرَءَيۡتَ ٱلَّذِي يَنۡهَىٰ
Have you seen the one who forbids
عَبۡدًا إِذَا صَلَّىٰٓ
A servant when he prays?
أَرَءَيۡتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى ٱلۡهُدَىٰٓ
Have you seen if he is upon guidance
أَوۡ أَمَرَ بِٱلتَّقۡوَىٰٓ
Or enjoins righteousness?
أَرَءَيۡتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
Have you seen if he denies and turns away -
أَلَمۡ يَعۡلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ
Does he not know that AllŒh sees?
كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمۡ يَنتَهِ لَنَسۡفَعَۢا بِٱلنَّاصِيَةِ
No! If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock[1]
1- It may also mean "slap him" or "blacken his face at the forelock."
نَاصِيَةٖ كَٰذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٖ
A lying, sinning forelock.
فَلۡيَدۡعُ نَادِيَهُۥ
Then let him call his associates;
سَنَدۡعُ ٱلزَّبَانِيَةَ
We will call the angels of Hell.[1]
1- Those who push the wicked into the Fire.
كَلَّا لَا تُطِعۡهُ وَٱسۡجُدۡۤ وَٱقۡتَرِب۩
No! Do not obey him. But prostrate and draw near [to AllŒh].
إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ فِي لَيۡلَةِ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ
Indeed, We sent it [i.e., the QurÕŒn] down during the Night of Decree.
وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ
And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?
لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ خَيۡرٞ مِّنۡ أَلۡفِ شَهۡرٖ
The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.
Fehlermeldung