The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/54. The Moon

54. The Moon (Al-Qamar)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

The hour drew nigh and the moon was rent asunder. 

And if they see a sign, they turn away and say: Strong enchantment! 

And they deny and follow their low desires; and every affair is settled. 

And certainly narratives have come to them, which should deter -- 

Consummate wisdom but warnings avail not; 

So turn away from them. On the day when the Inviter invites them to a hard task -- 

Their eyes cast down, they will go forth from their graves as if they were scattered locusts, 

Hastening to the Inviter. The disbelievers will say: This is a hard day! 

<section begin="54:9"/>Before them the people of Noah rejected -- they rejected Our servant and called (him) mad, and he was driven away. <section end="54:9"/>

<section begin="54:10"/>So he called upon his Lord: I am overcome, so do Thou help. <section end="54:10"/>

<section begin="54:11"/>Then We opened the gates of heaven with water pouring down, <section end="54:11"/>

<section begin="54:12"/>And made water to flow forth in the land in springs, so the water gathered together according to a measure already ordained. <section end="54:12"/>

<section begin="54:13"/>And We bore him on that which was made of planks and nails, <section end="54:13"/>

<section begin="54:14"/>Floating on, before Our eyes -- a reward for him who was denied. <section end="54:14"/>

<section begin="54:15"/>And certainly We left it as a sign, but is there any that will mind? <section end="54:15"/>

<section begin="54:16"/>How terrible was then My chastisement and My warning! <section end="54:16"/>

<section begin="54:17"/>And certainly We have made the Qur'an easy to remember, but is there any one who will mind? <section end="54:17"/>

<section begin="54:18"/>'Ad denied, so how terrible was My chastisement and My warning! <section end="54:18"/>

<section begin="54:19"/>Surely We sent on them a furious wind in a day of bitter ill-luck, <section end="54:19"/>

<section begin="54:20"/>Tearing men away as if they were the trunks of palm-trees torn up. <section end="54:20"/>

<section begin="54:21"/>How terrible was then My chastisement and My warning! <section end="54:21"/>

<section begin="54:22"/>And certainly We have made the Qur'an easy to remember, but is there any one who will mind? <section end="54:22"/>

<section begin="54:23"/>Thamud rejected the warning. <section end="54:23"/>

<section begin="54:24"/>So they said: What! A single mortal from among us! Shall we follow him? We shall then be in sure error and distress. <section end="54:24"/>

<section begin="54:25"/>Has the reminder been sent to him from among us? Nay, he is an insolent liar! <section end="54:25"/>

<section begin="54:26"/>To-morrow they will know who is the liar, the insolent one. <section end="54:26"/>

<section begin="54:27"/>Surely We are going to send the she-camel as a trial for them; so watch them and have patience. <section end="54:27"/>

<section begin="54:28"/>And inform them that the water is shared between them; every share of the water shall be attended. <section end="54:28"/>

<section begin="54:29"/>But they called their companion, so he took (a sword) and hamstrung (her). <section end="54:29"/>

<section begin="54:30"/>How (terrible) was then My chastisement and My warning! <section end="54:30"/>

<section begin="54:31"/>Surely We sent upon them a single cry, so they were like the dry fragments of trees, which the maker of an enclosure collects. <section end="54:31"/>

<section begin="54:32"/>And certainly We have made the Qur'an easy to remember, but is there any one who will mind? <section end="54:32"/>

<section begin="54:33"/>The people of Lot treated the warning as a lie. <section end="54:33"/>

<section begin="54:34"/>Surely We sent upon them a stone-storm, except Lot's followers; We saved them a little before daybreak -- <section end="54:34"/>

<section begin="54:35"/>A favour from Us. Thus do We reward him who gives thanks. <section end="54:35"/>

<section begin="54:36"/>And certainly he warned them of Our violent seizure, but they disputed the warning. <section end="54:36"/>

<section begin="54:37"/>And certainly they endeavoured to turn him from his guests, but We blinded their eyes so taste My chastisement and My warning. <section end="54:37"/>

<section begin="54:38"/>And certainly a lasting chastisement overtook them in the morning. <section end="54:38"/>

<section begin="54:39"/>So taste My chastisement and My warning. <section end="54:39"/>

<section begin="54:40"/>And certainly We have made the Qur'an easy to remember, but is there any one who will mind? <section end="54:40"/>

<section begin="54:41"/>And certainly the warning came to Pharaoh's people. <section end="54:41"/>

<section begin="54:42"/>They rejected all Our signs, so We overtook them with the seizing of the Mighty, the Powerful. <section end="54:42"/>

<section begin="54:43"/>Are your disbelievers better than these, or have you an immunity in the scriptures? <section end="54:43"/>

<section begin="54:44"/>Or say they We are a host allied together to help each other? <section end="54:44"/>

<section begin="54:45"/>Soon shall the hosts be routed, and they will show (their) backs. <section end="54:45"/>

<section begin="54:46"/>Nay, the Hour is their promised time, and the Hour is most grievous and bitter, <section end="54:46"/>

<section begin="54:47"/>Surely the guilty are in error and distress, <section end="54:47"/>

<section begin="54:48"/>On the day when they are dragged into the Fire upon their faces: Taste the touch of hell. <section end="54:48"/>

<section begin="54:49"/>Surely We have created everything according to a measure. <section end="54:49"/>

<section begin="54:50"/>And Our command is but once, as the twinkling of an eye. <section end="54:50"/>

<section begin="54:51"/>And certainly We destroyed your fellows, but is there any one who will mind? <section end="54:51"/>

<section begin="54:52"/>And everything they do is in the writings. <section end="54:52"/>

<section begin="54:53"/>And everything small and great is written down. <section end="54:53"/>

<section begin="54:54"/>Surely the dutiful will be among Gardens and rivers, <section end="54:54"/>

<section begin="54:55"/>In the seat of truth, with a most Powerful King. <section end="54:55"/>