وَكَم قَصَمنا مِن قَريَةٍ كانَت ظالِمَةً وَأَنشَأنا بَعدَها قَومًا آخَرينَ
How many sinful communities We shatter, and after them, raised other people?
فَلَمّا أَحَسّوا بَأسَنا إِذا هُم مِنها يَركُضونَ
When they sensed Our power approaching, they tried to flee from it.
لا تَركُضوا وَارجِعوا إِلىٰ ما أُترِفتُم فيهِ وَمَساكِنِكُم لَعَلَّكُم تُسأَلونَ
“Don’t run. Return to your luxuries and your homes, so you may be questioned.”
قالوا يا وَيلَنا إِنّا كُنّا ظالِمينَ
They cried out, “Alas to us! We were indeed wrongdoers.”
فَما زالَت تِلكَ دَعواهُم حَتّىٰ جَعَلناهُم حَصيدًا خامِدينَ
This cry of theirs continued until We made them like harvested crops, extinguished.
وَما خَلَقنَا السَّماءَ وَالأَرضَ وَما بَينَهُما لاعِبينَ
We didn’t create the heavens, the earth, and everything in between for a pastime.
لَو أَرَدنا أَن نَتَّخِذَ لَهوًا لَاتَّخَذناهُ مِن لَدُنّا إِن كُنّا فاعِلينَ
If we had wanted to take a pastime, We could have taken it from with Us—if We were to do so.
بَل نَقذِفُ بِالحَقِّ عَلَى الباطِلِ فَيَدمَغُهُ فَإِذا هُوَ زاهِقٌ ۚ وَلَكُمُ الوَيلُ مِمّا تَصِفونَ
Instead, We hurl the truth against falsehood, and it crushes it, leaving it utterly vanquished. Woe unto you, for what you described!
وَلَهُ مَن فِي السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ ۚ وَمَن عِندَهُ لا يَستَكبِرونَ عَن عِبادَتِهِ وَلا يَستَحسِرونَ
Everything in the heavens and on earth is His. Those in His presence aren’t too proud to worship Him, nor do they tire.
يُسَبِّحونَ اللَّيلَ وَالنَّهارَ لا يَفتُرونَ
They glorify night and day, without ceasing.
أَمِ اتَّخَذوا آلِهَةً مِنَ الأَرضِ هُم يُنشِرونَ
Did they choose gods from the earth who can resurrect?