Email
The Koran Interpreted Translation by A.J. Arberry
86 THE NIGHT STAR (1 – 17)
The Qurʾan Translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
86. The Night-Comer (1 – 17)
Previous Chapter
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
By heaven and the night-star! And what shall teach thee what is the night-star? The piercing star! Over every soul there is a watcher.
5So let man consider of what he was created; he was created of gushing water issuing between the loins and the breast-bones. Surely He is able to bring him back upon the day when the secrets are tried, 10and he shall have no strength, no helper.
By heaven of the returning rain, by earth splitting with verdure, surely it is a decisive word; it is no merriment.
15They are devising guile, and I am devising guile. So respite the unbelievers; delay with them awhile.
A Meccan sura that focuses on a series of examples of things coming out: the piercing night-star, spurting semen, the baby that bursts out of the womb, and plants that sprout out of the ground. All of these are used to illustrate resurrection from the grave.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1By the sky and the night-comer—2What will explain to you what the night-comer is? 3The piercing star—4there is a watcher over every soul.
5Man should reflect on what he was created from. 6He is created from spurting fluid, 7then hea The pronoun here is taken to refer to the person rather than the fluid. emerges from between the backbone and breastbone:b Of the mother, where she carries the baby. He emerges from the womb as he will emerge from the grave. 8God is certainly able to bring him back to life. 9On the Day when secrets are laid bare 10he will have no power and no one to help him.
11By the sky and its recurring rain, 12by the earth that cracks open!c For plants to come out, and humans on the Day of Resurrection. 13This is truly a decisive statement; 14it is not something to be taken lightly. 15They plot and scheme, 16but so do I: 17[Prophet], let the disbelievers be, let them be for a while.
