Revealed in Makkah, Surah Ash-Shams (The Sun) utilizes eleven consecutive oaths based on cosmic phenomena to emphasize the purity of the human soul. It establishes that the one who purifies their soul will succeed, while the one who corrupts it will fail. The chapter recounts the destruction of the tribe of Thamud, who arrogantly hamstrung the sacred she-camel of Prophet Salih, as a warning against rebellion.
Transliteration
Waalshshamsi waduhaha
Translation
By the sun and its radiance
God swears by the physical sun and its radiant morning illumination that powers life on Earth.
Transliteration
Waalqamari itha talaha
Translation
And the moon as it follows it
God swears by the moon as it reflects the sun's light and rises as the sun sets.
Transliteration
Waalnnahari itha jallaha
Translation
And the day as it reveals it
God swears by the brilliant daylight that fully unveils the landscape to human sight.
Transliteration
Waallayli itha yaghshaha
Translation
And the night as it conceals it
God swears by the dark night as it envelops the world in darkness and tranquil rest.
Transliteration
Waalssamai wama banaha
Translation
And the sky and He who built it
God swears an oath by the vast structure of the sky and the Supreme Power that constructed it without flaw or weakness.
Transliteration
Waalardi wama tahaha
Translation
And the earth and He who spread it
God swears an oath by the earth, spread out and prepared for life, and prepared with optimal conditions to sustain biological life.
Transliteration
Wanafsin wama sawwaha
Translation
And the soul and He who proportioned it
God swears by the human soul, fashioned in balance, endowed with intellect, and granted moral agency.
Transliteration
Faalhamaha fujooraha wataqwaha
Translation
And inspired it with its wickedness and its righteousness
Highlights the moral architecture of the human soul: God fashioned the human soul and divinely inspired it with intuitive awareness of both moral corruption ('Fujur') and righteous self-discipline ('Taqwa').
Transliteration
Qad aflaha man zakkaha
Translation
Successful is he who purifies it
The foundational criterion of human salvation: 'He has truly succeeded who purifies it' ('Qad aflaha man zakkaha')—affirming that eternal success is achieved by cleansing the soul from greed, pride, and malice.
Transliteration
Waqad khaba man dassaha
Translation
Failing is he who corrupts it
The definition of moral failure: 'And he has truly failed who corrupts and buries it' ('Wa-qad khaba man dassaha')—smothering one's innate conscience under persistent sinful arrogance.
Transliteration
Kaththabat thamoodu bitaghwaha
Translation
Thamood denied in its pride
Transliteration
Ithi inbaAAatha ashqaha
Translation
When it followed its most wicked
Transliteration
Faqala lahum rasoolu Allahi naqata Allahi wasuqyaha
Translation
The messenger of God said to them, “This is the she-camel of God, so let her drink.”
Transliteration
Fakaththaboohu faAAaqarooha fadamdama AAalayhim rabbuhum bithanbihim fasawwaha
Translation
But they called him a liar, and hamstrung her. So their Lord crushed them for their sin, and leveled it
Memorializes the historical destruction of Thamud: their most reckless chieftain (Qudar ibn Salif) hamstrung the miraculous She-Camel, directly defying Prophet Salih, which resulted in their entire city being leveled to dust.
Transliteration
Wala yakhafu AAuqbaha
Translation
And He does not fear its sequel