The moon was split in two
1The hour drew nigh and the moon was rent in twain.
2And if they behold a portent they turn away and say: Prolonged illusion.
3 They denied (the Truth) and followed their own lusts. Yet everything will come to a decision
4 And surely there hath come unto them news whereof the purport should deter,
The time had come and the moon was split into two pieces. [1]
But they turned away and said,
This is just a prolonged illusion.
5 Effective wisdom; but warnings avail not.
6So withdraw from them (O Muhammad) on the day when the Summoner summoneth unto a painful thing.
7With downcast eyes, they come forth from the graves as they were locusts spread abroad,
8Hastening toward the summoner; the disbelievers say: This is a hard day.
So withdraw from them (Muhammad)
on the day when the summoner summons a painful thing.
They'll be like locusts, with downcast eyes,
as they come out of their graves,
and approach the summoner,
the disbelievers will say, "This is a hard day."
Noah's ark: A thing of planks and nails
9The folk of Noah denied before them, yea, they denied Our slave and said: A madman; and he was repulsed.
Noah's folk denied our [Allah's] slave and said,
He's a madman.
10So he cried unto his Lord, saying: I am vanquished, so give help.
So Noah cried out to this Lord, saying, "Help!"
11Then opened We the gates of heaven with pouring water
12 And caused the earth to gush forth springs, so that the waters met for a predestined purpose.
Then we opened the gates of heave with pouring water.
13 And We carried him upon a thing of planks and nails,
14 That ran (upon the waters) in Our sight, as a reward for him who was rejected.
And we carried him on a thing of planks and nails. [2]
15 And verily We left it as a token; but is there any that remembereth?
We left it as a token, [3] but does anyone remember it?
16 Then see how (dreadful) was My punishment after My warnings!
See how dreadful was my punishment! [4]
17 And in truth We have made the Qur'an easy to remember; but is there any that remembereth?
We've made the Quran easy to remember,
but does anyone remember it?
The tribe A'ad: Killed by a raging wind
18(The tribe of) A'ad rejected warnings. Then how (dreadful) was My punishment after My warnings.
19Lo! We let loose on them a raging wind on a day of constant calamity,
20Sweeping men away as though they were uprooted trunks of palm-trees.
The tribe of A'ad rejected my warnings.
See how dreadful was my punishment!
We blew them all away
like they were uprooted palm tree trunks.
21 Then see how (dreadful) was My punishment after My warnings!
See how dreadful was my punishment!
22 And in truth We have made the Qur'an easy to remember; but is there any that remembereth?
We've made the Quran easy to remember,
but does anyone remember it?
The tribe of Thamud and Allah's she-camel
23(The tribe of) Thamud rejected warnings
24For they said; Is it a mortal man, alone among us, that we are to follow? Then indeed we should fall into error and madness.
25Hath the remembrance been given unto him alone among us? Nay, but he is a rash liar.
The tribe of Thamud rejected warnings. They said,
He's just a man.
Should we follow him into madness?
Is he the only one that can remember?
No, he's a rash liar.
26 (Unto their warner it was said): To-morrow they will know who is the rash liar.
27Lo! We are sending the she-camel as a test for them; so watch them and have patience;
28 And inform them that the water is to be shared between (her and) them. Every drinking will be witnessed.
Then someone said to the warner:
Tomorrow they'll know who is the rash liar.
We're sending the she-camel as a test for them.
Tell them they must share their water with her.
29But they call their comrade and he took and hamstrung (her).
30 Then see how (dreadful) was My punishment after My warnings!
See how dreadful was my punishment after my warnings!
31Lo! We sent upon them one Shout, and they became as the dry twigs (rejected by) the builder of a cattle-fold.
We sent one shout, and they became like dry twigs.
32 And in truth We have made the Qur'an easy to remember; but is there any that remembereth?
We've made the Quran easy to remember,
but does anyone remember it?
Lot's folk: Allah sent a storm of stones on them
33 The folk of Lot rejected warnings.
34 Lo! We sent a storm of stones upon them (all) save the family of Lot, whom We rescued in the last watch of the night,
35 As grace from Us. Thus We reward him who giveth thanks.
36 And he indeed had warned them of Our blow, but they did doubt the warnings.
Lot's folk rejected warnings.
So we sent a storm of stones upon them - except for Lot's family.
37They even asked of him his guests for an ill purpose. Then We blinded their eyes (and said): Taste now My punishment after My warnings!
38 And in truth the punishment decreed befell them early in the morning.
39Now taste My punishment after My warnings!
They even asked his guest for an ill purpose. [5]
So we blinded their eyes and said,
Taste my punishment after my warnings!
40 And in truth We have made the Qur'an easy to remember; but is there any that remembereth?
We've made the Quran easy to remember,
but does anyone remember it?
The Pharaoh: Grasped with a mighty grasp
41 And warnings came in truth unto the house of Pharaoh
42 Who denied Our revelations, every one. Therefore We grasped them with the grasp of the Mighty, the Powerful.
Warning came to the Pharaoh's house.
But they denied our revelations.
So we grasped them with a mighty and powerful grasp.
43Are your disbelievers better than those, or have ye some immunity in the scriptures?
44 Or say they: We are a host victorious?
45 The hosts will all be routed and will turn and flee.
Are your disbelievers better than those?
46 Nay, but the Hour (of doom) is their appointed tryst, and the Hour will be more wretched and more bitter (than their earthly failure).
47Lo! the guilty are in error and madness.
48On the day when they are dragged into the Fire upon their faces (it is said unto them): Feel the touch of hell.
49 Lo! We have created every thing by measure.
50 And Our commandment is but one (commandment), as the twinkling of an eye.
Their hour of doom will be even more wretched and bitter than their failed earthly lives.
The guilty are in error and madness.
On the day they are dragged into the fire on their faces,
someone will say to them,
Feel the touch of hell.
51 And verily We have destroyed your fellows; but is there any that remembereth?
52 And every thing they did is in the scriptures,
53 And every small and great thing is recorded.
54 Lo! the righteous will dwell among gardens and rivers,
55 Firmly established in the favour of a Mighty King.
We have destroyed your friends.
But does anyone remember?