The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

a
and that which is witnessed, 
4damned were the
makers of the trench,
b
5the makers of the fuel-stoked fire! 6They
sat down 
7to watch what they were doing to the believers. 8Their
only grievance against them was their faith in God, the Mighty, the
Praiseworthy, 
9to whom all control over the heavens and earth
belongs: God is witness over all things.
10For those who persecute believing men and women, and do not
repent afterwards, there will be the torment of Hell and burning.
11But for those who believe and do good deeds there will be Gardens
graced with 
flowing streams: that is the great triumph. 12[Prophet],
your Lord’s punishment is truly stern ––
13it is He who brings people
to life, and will restore them to life again ––
14and He is the Most
Forgiving, the Most Loving. 
15The Glorious Lord of the Throne,
16He does whatever He will. 17Have you [not] heard the stories of the
forces 
18of Pharaoh and Thamud? 19Yet still the disbelievers persist
in denial. 
20God surrounds them all.
21This is truly a glorious Quran 22[written] on a preserved Tablet.
c
a
God.
b
Various suggestions are made as to who these trench-makers were, among others,
that they were those commanded to make a trench by a Jewish ruler of sixth-century
Yemen in order to torture Christians, also that the passage could refer to Nimrod’s
treatment of Abraham (Razi).
c
God keeps this with Him.
(
416)

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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
1By the sky and the night-comer––2What will explain to you what
the night-comer is? 
3The piercing star––4there is a watcher over
every soul.
5Man should reflect on what he was created from. 6He is created
from spurting 
fluid, 7then he
a
emerges from between the backbone
and breastbone:
b
8God is certainly able to bring him back to life. 9On
the Day when secrets are laid bare 
10he will have no power and no
one to help him.
11By the sky and its recurring rain, 12by the earth that cracks
open!
c
13This is truly a decisive statement; 14it is not something to be
taken lightly. 
15They plot and scheme, 16but 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.
(
417)

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87. THE MOST HIGH
A Meccan sura reassuring the Prophet that God will help him and urging him
to continue with his mission. The temporary nature of this world is highlighted
through mention of the short life of green pasture (cf. 
10: 24; 18: 45).
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1[Prophet], glorify the name of your Lord the Most High, 2who
created [all things] in due proportion; 
3who determined their des-
tinies and guided them; 
4who brought out the green pasture 5then
made it dark debris. 
6[Prophet], We shall teach you [the Quran] and
you will not forget ––
7unless God wishes; He knows both what is
open and what is hidden ––
8We shall show you the easy way.