الشمس

Ash-Shams

The Sun

15 verses

Context

A Meccan surah of 15 verses, Ash-Shams contains a series of oaths by the sun, the moon, the day, the night, and the soul, followed by the account of the people of Thamud.

Main themes

Ash-Shams teaches that the human soul is endowed with the ability to choose between good and evil, and that purifying the soul leads to success while corrupting it leads to ruin.

Learning tip

Help your child understand that they have the choice between good and evil, and that every good deed purifies their heart.

Listen to chapter - Ash-Shams

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بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

1
وَٱلشَّمْسِ وَضُحَىٰهَا

By the sun and its brightness

2
وَٱلْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلَىٰهَا

And [by] the moon when it follows it

3
وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذَا جَلَّىٰهَا

And [by] the day when it displays it1

4
وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰهَا

And [by] the night when it covers [i.e., conceals] it

5
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا بَنَىٰهَا

And [by] the sky and He who constructed it

6
وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا طَحَىٰهَا

And [by] the earth and He who spread it

7
وَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّىٰهَا

And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it1

8
فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَىٰهَا

And inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness,

9
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا

He has succeeded who purifies it,

10
وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّىٰهَا

And he has failed who instills it [with corruption].

11
كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِطَغْوَىٰهَآ

Thamūd denied [their prophet] by reason of their transgression,

12
إِذِ ٱنۢبَعَثَ أَشْقَىٰهَا

When the most wretched of them was sent forth.1

13
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ نَاقَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَسُقْيَـٰهَا

And the messenger of Allāh [i.e., Ṣāliḥ] said to them, "[Do not harm] the she-camel of Allāh or [prevent her from] her drink."

14
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَدَمْدَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسَوَّىٰهَا

But they denied him and hamstrung1 her. So their Lord brought down upon them destruction for their sin and made it equal [upon all of them].

15
وَلَا يَخَافُ عُقْبَـٰهَا

And He does not fear the consequence thereof.1

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