54

1The Hour draws near; the moon is split in two

2Whenever the disbelievers see a sign, they turn away and say, ‘Same old sorcery!’

3They reject the truth and follow their own desires––everything is recorded––

4although warning tales that should have restrained them have come down to them––

5farreaching wisdom––but these warnings do not help

6so [Prophet] turn away from them. On the Day the Summoner will summon them to a horrific event

7eyes downcast, they will come out of their graves like swarming locusts

8rushing towards the Summoner. The disbelievers will cry, ‘This is a stern day!’

9The people of Noah rejected the truth before them: they rejected Our servant, saying, ‘He is mad!’ Noah was rebuked

10and so he called upon his Lord, ‘I am defeated: help me!’

11So We opened the gates of the sky with torrential water

12burst the earth with gushing springs: the waters met for a preordained purpose

13We carried him along on a vessel of planks and nails

14that floated under Our watchful eye, a reward for the one who had been rejected

15We have left this as a sign: will anyone take heed

16How [terrible] was My punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings

17We have made it easy to learn lessons from the Quran: will anyone take heed

18The people of 'Ad also rejected the truth. How [terrible] was My punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings

19We released a howling wind against them on a day of terrible disaster

20it swept people away like uprooted palm trunks

21How [terrible] was My punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings

22We have made it easy to learn lessons from the Quran: will anyone take heed

23The people of Thamud also rejected the warnings

24they said, ‘What? A man? Why should we follow a lone man from amongst ourselves? That would be misguided; quite insane

25Would a mes-sage be given to him alone out of all of us? No, he is an insolent liar!’

26‘Tomorrow they will know who is the insolent liar

27for We shall send them a she-camel to test them: so watch them [Salih] and be patient

28Tell them the water is to be shared between them: each one should drink in turn.’

29But they called their companion, who took a sword and hamstrung the camel

30How [terrible] was My punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings

31We released a single mighty blast against them and they ended up like a fencemaker’s dry sticks

32We have made it easy to learn lessons from the Quran: will anyone take heed

33The people of Lot rejected the warnings

34We released a stonebearing wind against them, all except the family of Lot. We saved them before dawn

35as a favour from Us: this is how We reward the thankful

36He warned them of Our onslaught, but they dismissed the warning

37they even demanded his guests from him- so We sealed their eyes- ‘ Taste My [terrible] punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings!’

38and early in the morning a punishment seized them that still remains

39‘Taste My [terrible] punishment and [the fulfilment of] My warnings!’

40We have made it easy to learn lessons from the Quran: will anyone take heed

41The people of Pharaoh also received warnings

42They rejected all Our signs so We seized them with all Our might and power

43‘Are your disbelievers any better than these? Were you given an exemption in the Scripture?’

44Do they perhaps say, ‘We are a great army and we shall be victorious’

45Their forces will be routed and they will turn tail and flee

46But the Hour is their appointed time- the Hour is more severe and bitter

47truly the wicked are misguided and quite insane––

48on the Day when they are dragged on their faces in Hell. ‘Feel the touch of Hell.’

49We have created all things in due measure

50when We ordain something it happens at once, in the blink of an eye

51We have destroyed the likes of you in the past. Will anyone take heed

52Everything they do is noted in their records

53every action, great or small, is recorded

54The righteous will live securely among Gardens and rivers

55secure in the presence of an all-powerful Sovereign