The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

77. [WINDS] SENT FORTH a
A Meccan sura that describes the Day of Decision: its inevitability, arguments
for its coming, and the events that will presage the Judgement, as well as
the fates of believers and disbelievers.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1 By the [winds] sent forth in swift succession, 2 violently storming,
3 scattering far and wide, 4 separating forcefully, 5 delivering a
reminder, 6 as a proof or a warning: 7 what you are promised will
come to pass. 8 When the stars are dimmed 9 and the sky is torn apart,
10 when the mountains are turned to dust 11 and the messengers given
their appointed time b –– 12 for what Day has all this been set?
13 The Day of Decision. 14 What will explain to you what the Day of
Decision is? 15 Woe, on that Day, to those who denied the truth!
16 Did We not destroy the first [of them]? 17 We shall make the last
follow them: 18 this is how We deal with the guilty. 19 Woe, on that
Day, to those who denied the truth!
20 Did We not make you from an underrated fluid 21 which We
housed in a safe lodging 22 for a determined period? 23 We determine
[it]: how excellently We determine! 24 Woe, on that Day, to those who
denied the truth! 25 Did We not make the earth a home 26 for the
living and the dead? 27 Did We not place firm, lofty mountains on it
and provide you with sweet water? 28 Woe, on that Day, to those who
denied the truth!
29 They will be told, ‘Go to that which you used to deny! 30 Go to a
shadow of smoke!’ It rises in three columns; 31 no shade does it give,
nor relief from the flame; 32 it shoots out sparks as large as treetrunks
c 33 and as bright as copper. d 34 Woe, on that Day, to those who
denied the truth! 35 On that Day they will be speechless, 36 and they
a See 30: 48–51 and many other instances.
b To give testimony for their communities (Razi).
c An alternative meaning of qasr is ‘palaces, castles’, but this meaning of ‘tree-trunks’
seems to fit better (Razi).
d Commonly translated as ‘camels’, but ‘copper’ (reported by Razi) is a more
convincing alternative.