The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)
The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics) The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)
(422) 90. THE CITY Revealed in Mecca. The point of this sura is that man is created to work and be judged. He should therefore seek to do good deeds rather than indulge in arrogance and wastefulness. In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy 1 I swear by this city a –– 2 and you [Prophet] are an inhabitant b of this city––3 [I swear] by parent and offspring, 4 that We have created man for toil and trial. 5 Does he think that no one will have power over him? 6 ‘I have squandered great wealth,’ he says. 7 Does he think no one observes him? 8 Did We not give him eyes, 9 a tongue, lips, 10 and point out to him the two clear ways [of good and evil]? 11 Yet he has not attempted the steep path. 12 What will explain to you what the steep path is? 13 It is to free a slave, 14 to feed at a time of hunger 15 an orphaned relative 16 or a poor person in distress, 17 and to be one of those who believe and urge one another to steadfastness and compassion. 18 Those who do this will be on the right-hand side, 19 but those who disbelieve in Our revelations will be on the left-hand side, 20 and the Fire will close in on them. a Mecca. b Hillun bi can mean ‘fair game’ for the disbelievers, even in this inviolable city, ‘resident’, ‘free to live’; some see that it means the Prophet is a temporary resident, others that it prophesies his return after emigration to Medina.
(423) 91. THE SUN A Meccan sura, the central theme of which is purifying or corrupting the soul, with the tribe of Thamud given as an example of corruption. In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy 1 By the sun in its morning brightness 2 and by the moon as it follows it, 3 by the day as it displays the sun’s glory 4 and by the night as it conceals it, 5 by the sky and how He built it 6 and by the earth and how He spread it, 7 by the soul and how He formed it 8 and inspired it [to know] its own rebellion and piety! 9 The one who purifies his soul succeeds 10 and the one who corrupts it fails. 11 In their arrogant cruelty, the people of Thamud a called [their messenger] a liar, 12 when the most wicked man among them rose [against him]. b 13 The messenger of God said to them, ‘[Leave] God’s camel to drink,’ 14 but they called him a liar and hamstrung her. Their Lord destroyed them for their crime and levelled them. 15 He did not hesitate c to punish d them. a See e.g. 7: 73–9 (on the tribe of Thamud). b Cf. 54: 29. c Literally ‘he does not fear’. d One of the lexical meanings of uqba is jaza, here ‘to punish’; or ‘does not fear the consequences’.
- Page 398 and 399: 62. THE DAY OF CONGREGATION A Medin
- Page 400 and 401: 63. THE HYPOCRITES A Medinan sura w
- Page 402 and 403: 64. MUTUAL NEGLECT A Medinan sura t
- Page 404 and 405: 65. DIVORCE A Medinan sura that out
- Page 406 and 407: 66. PROHIBITION A Medinan sura that
- Page 408 and 409: 67. CONTROL a A Meccan sura that ch
- Page 410 and 411: 68. THE PEN An early Meccan sura th
- Page 412 and 413: 386 The Quran 68: 51 made him one o
- Page 414 and 415: 388 The Quran 69: 26 given any Reco
- Page 416 and 417: 390 The Quran 70: 36 36 What is wro
- Page 418 and 419: 392 The Quran 71: 25 many astray. L
- Page 420 and 421: 394 The Quran 72: 17 abundant water
- Page 422 and 423: 396 The Quran 73: 20 measure of it
- Page 424 and 425: 398 The Quran 74: 32 Hellfire - and
- Page 426 and 427: 400 The Quran 75: 32 32 but denied
- Page 428 and 429: 402 The Quran 76: 22 22 [It will be
- Page 430 and 431: 404 The Quran 77: 37 will be given
- Page 432 and 433: 406 The Quran 78: 39 when the Spiri
- Page 434 and 435: 408 The Quran 79: 35 great overwhel
- Page 436 and 437: 410 The Quran 80: 37 37 each of the
- Page 438 and 439: (412) 82. TORN APART A Meccan sura
- Page 440 and 441: 414 The Quran passed by them, 31 jo
- Page 442 and 443: (416) 85. THE TOWERING CONSTELLATIO
- Page 444 and 445: (418) 87. THE MOST HIGH A Meccan su
- Page 446 and 447: (420) 89. DAYBREAK A Meccan sura in
- Page 450 and 451: (424) 92. THE NIGHT A Meccan sura s
- Page 452 and 453: (426) 94. RELIEF This Meccan sura,
- Page 454 and 455: (428) 96. THE CLINGING FORM a A Mec
- Page 456 and 457: (430) 98. CLEAR EVIDENCE A Medinan
- Page 458 and 459: (432) 100. THE CHARGING STEEDS An e
- Page 460 and 461: (434) 102. STRIVING FOR MORE A Mecc
- Page 462 and 463: (436) 104. THE BACKBITER A Meccan s
- Page 464 and 465: (438) 106. QURAYSH This Meccan sura
- Page 466 and 467: (440) 108. ABUNDANCE When the Proph
- Page 468 and 469: (442) 110. HELP A Medinan sura said
- Page 470 and 471: (444) 112. PURITY [OF FAITH] This s
- Page 472 and 473: (446) 114. PEOPLE Another Meccan su
- Page 474 and 475: 448 almsgiving (cont.): 24; as mark
- Page 476 and 477: 450 creation (cont.): basis in God
- Page 478 and 479: 452 doubters, see disbelievers draw
- Page 480 and 481: 454 Hud (prophet) (cont.): encourag
- Page 482 and 483: 456 man: birth and resurrection (co
- Page 484 and 485: 458 Muhammad (cont.): their reward
- Page 486 and 487: 460 polytheism (cont.): 249, 250, 2
- Page 488 and 489: 462 sand dunes, place of destructio
- Page 490: 464 war and warfare: (cont.): kinsh
(423)<br />
91. THE SUN<br />
A Meccan sura, the central theme of which is purifying or corrupting the soul,<br />
with the tribe of Thamud given as an example of corruption.<br />
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy<br />
1 By the sun in its morning brightness 2 and by the moon as it follows<br />
it, 3 by the day as it displays the sun’s glory 4 and by the night as it<br />
conceals it, 5 by the sky and how He built it 6 and by the earth and<br />
how He spread it, 7 by the soul and how He formed it 8 and inspired it<br />
[to know] its own rebellion and piety! 9 <strong>The</strong> one who purifies his soul<br />
succeeds 10 and the one who corrupts it fails. 11 In their arrogant<br />
cruelty, the people of Thamud a called [their messenger] a liar,<br />
12 when the most wicked man among them rose [against him]. b 13 <strong>The</strong><br />
messenger of God said to them, ‘[Leave] God’s camel to drink,’<br />
14 but they called him a liar and hamstrung her. <strong>The</strong>ir Lord destroyed<br />
them for their crime and levelled them. 15 He did not hesitate c to<br />
punish d them.<br />
a See e.g. 7: 73–9 (on the tribe of Thamud).<br />
b Cf. 54: 29.<br />
c Literally ‘he does not fear’.<br />
d One of the lexical meanings of uqba is jaza, here ‘to punish’; or ‘does not fear the<br />
consequences’.
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