The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

d
–– let those who strive, strive
for this ––
27mixed with the water of Tasnim,
e
28a spring from which
those brought near will drink. 
29The wicked used to laugh at the
believers ––
30they would wink at one another when the believers
a
The root of this word, s–j–n, is the same as the one for sijn meaning ‘prison’. The
form is intensive.
b
The root of this word, 
 –l–w, relates to height. The form is intensive.
c
The elect. See also verse 
28.
d
One meaning of misk (also ‘musk’).
e
The root of this word, s–n–m, suggests height and opulence.
(
413)

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passed by them, 
31joke about them when they got back to their own
people, 
32and say, when they saw them, ‘These people are misguided,’
33though they were not sent to be their keepers–– 34so today
a
the
believers are laughing at the disbelievers 
35as they sit on couches,
gazing around. 
36Have the disbelievers [not] been repaid for their
deeds?
a
This is in the present tense, as if described on that Day.
83: 31
414
The Qur
an

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84. RIPPED APART
A Meccan sura dealing with the inevitability of man’s meeting with his Lord
on the Day of Judgement. The obedience of the sky and earth is contrasted with
the disobedience of the disbelievers. The reaction of the believers and of the
disbelievers on the Day of Judgement is described. The title is taken from
the description of events on that Day in the opening verse.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1When the sky is ripped apart, 2obeying its Lord as it rightly must,
3when the earth is levelled out, 4casts out its contents, and becomes
empty, 
5obeying its Lord as it rightly must, 6you humans, toiling
laboriously towards your Lord, will meet Him: 
7whoever is given his
record in his right hand 
8will have an easy reckoning 9and return to
his people well pleased, 
10but whoever is given his record from
behind his back 
11will cry out for destruction––12he will burn in the
blazing Fire. 
13He used to live among his people well pleased. 14He
thought he would never return [to his Lord] ––
15indeed he will! His
Lord was watching him. 
16I swear by the glow of sunset, 17by the
night and what it covers, 
18by the full moon, 19you will progress from
stage to stage.
a
20So why do they not believe? 21Why, when the Quran is read
to them, do they not prostrate themselves [to God]? 
22No! The
disbelievers reject the Qur
an––23God knows best what they keep
hidden inside ––
24so give them news of a painful torment. 25But
those who believe and do good deeds will have a never-ending
reward.
a
As the sun sets, followed by darkness, which is then illuminated by the moon, you
will move by stages from death to resurrection.
(
415)

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85. THE TOWERING CONSTELLATIONS
This Meccan sura strengthened the heart of the Prophet and his followers by
referring to the fate of those who tortured earlier believers. The title expresses
God’s power over the whole universe, from the stars in the sky to the evildoers
referred to in this sura. Indeed, His all-encompassing power is a recurring
theme throughout the sura.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1By the sky with its towering constellations, 2by the promised Day,
3by the Witness