In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

1. By those who range themselves in ranks,

2. And so are strong in repelling (evil),

3. And thus proclaim the Message (of Allah.!

4. Verily, verily, your Allah is one!-

5. Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all between them, and Lord of every point at the rising of the sun!

6. We have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty (in) the stars,-

7. (For beauty) and for guard against all obstinate rebellious evil spirits,

8. (So) they should not strain their ears in the direction of the Exalted Assembly but be cast away from every side,

9. Repulsed, for they are under a perpetual penalty,

10. Except such as snatch away something by stealth, and they are pursued by a flaming fire, of piercing brightness.

11. Just ask their opinion: are they the more difficult to create, or the (other) beings We have created? Them have We created out of a sticky clay!

12. Truly dost thou marvel, while they ridicule,

13. And, when they are admonished, pay no heed,-

14. And, when they see a Sign, turn it to mockery,

15. And say, "This is nothing but evident sorcery!

16. "What! when we die, and become dust and bones, shall we (then) be raised up (again)

17. "And also our fathers of old?"

18. Say thou: "Yea, and ye shall then be humiliated (on account of your evil)."

19. Then it will be a single (compelling) cry; and behold, they will begin to see!

20. They will say, "Ah! Woe to us! This is the Day of Judgment!"

21. (A voice will say,) "This is the Day of Sorting Out, whose truth ye (once) denied!"

22. "Bring ye up", it shall be said, "The wrong-doers and their wives, and the things they worshipped-

23. "Besides Allah, and lead them to the Way to the (Fierce) Fire!

24. "But stop them, for they must be asked:

25. "'What is the matter with you that ye help not each other?'"

26. Nay, but that day they shall submit (to Judgment);

27. And they will turn to one another, and question one another.

28. They will say: "It was ye who used to come to us from the right hand (of power and authority)!"

29. They will reply: "Nay, ye yourselves had no Faith!

30. "Nor had we any authority over you. Nay, it was ye who were a people in obstinate rebellion!

31. "So now has been proved true, against us, the word of our Lord that we shall indeed (have to) taste (the punishment of our sins).

32. "We led you astray: for truly we were ourselves astray."

33. Truly, that Day, they will (all) share in the Penalty.

34. Verily that is how We shall deal with Sinners.

35. For they, when they were told that there is no god except Allah, would puff themselves up with Pride,

36. And say: "What! shall we give up our gods for the sake of a Poet possessed?"

37. Nay! he has come with the (very) Truth, and he confirms (the Message of) the apostles (before him).

38. Ye shall indeed taste of the Grievous Penalty;-

39. But it will be no more than the retribution of (the Evil) that ye have wrought;-

40. But the sincere (and devoted) Servants of Allah,-

Translation by Abdullah Yusufali