Ash-Shams

By the sun in its morning brightness

and by the moon as it follows it,

by the day as it displays the sun’s glory

and by the night as it conceals it,

by the sky and how He built it

and by the earth and how He spread it,

by the soul and how He formed it

and inspired it [to know] its own rebellion and piety!

The one who purifies his soul succeeds

and the one who corrupts it fails.

In their arrogant cruelty, the people of Thamud called [their messenger] a liar,

when the most wicked man among them rose [against him].

The messenger of God said to them, ‘[Leave] God’s camel to drink,’

but they called him a liar and hamstrung her. Their Lord destroyed them for their crime and levelled them.

He did not hesitate to punish them.