The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

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86. THE NIGHT-COMER
A Meccan sura that focuses on a series of examples of things coming out: the
piercing night-star, spurting semen, the baby that bursts out of the womb,
and plants that sprout out of the ground. All of these are used to illustrate
resurrection from the grave.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1 By the sky and the night-comer––2 What will explain to you what
the night-comer is? 3 The piercing star––4 there is a watcher over
every soul.
5 Man should reflect on what he was created from. 6 He is created
from spurting fluid, 7 then he a emerges from between the backbone
and breastbone: b 8 God is certainly able to bring him back to life. 9 On
the Day when secrets are laid bare 10 he will have no power and no
one to help him.
11 By the sky and its recurring rain, 12 by the earth that cracks
open! c 13 This is truly a decisive statement; 14 it is not something to be
taken lightly. 15 They plot and scheme, 16 but so do I: 17 [Prophet], let
the disbelievers be, let them be for a while.
a The pronoun here is taken to refer to the person rather than the fluid.
b Of the mother, where she carries the baby. He emerges from the womb as he will
emerge from the grave.
c For plants to come out, and humans on the Day of Resurrection.