ثُمَّ استَوىٰ إِلَى السَّماءِ وَهِيَ دُخانٌ فَقالَ لَها وَلِلأَرضِ ائتِيا طَوعًا أَو كَرهًا قالَتا أَتَينا طائِعينَ

Then, He turned to the sky, which was smoke, and He said to it and the earth, “Come, willingly or unwillingly.” They responded, “We come willingly.”

فَقَضاهُنَّ سَبعَ سَماواتٍ في يَومَينِ وَأَوحىٰ في كُلِّ سَماءٍ أَمرَها ۚ وَزَيَّنَّا السَّماءَ الدُّنيا بِمَصابيحَ وَحِفظًا ۚ ذٰلِكَ تَقديرُ العَزيزِ العَليمِ

Thus, He completed them as seven heavens in two periods, and He assigned to each heaven its duty. We adorned the nearest heaven with lamps and protection. Such is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.

فَإِن أَعرَضوا فَقُل أَنذَرتُكُم صاعِقَةً مِثلَ صاعِقَةِ عادٍ وَثَمودَ

If they turn away, say, “I have warned you of a thunderbolt, similar to Aad’s and Thamud’s.”

إِذ جاءَتهُمُ الرُّسُلُ مِن بَينِ أَيديهِم وَمِن خَلفِهِم أَلّا تَعبُدوا إِلَّا اللَّهَ ۖ قالوا لَو شاءَ رَبُّنا لَأَنزَلَ مَلائِكَةً فَإِنّا بِما أُرسِلتُم بِهِ كافِرونَ

When the messengers came to them, from in front and behind, saying, “Worship none but God,” they responded, “If our Lord had willed, He would’ve sent down angels. Therefore, we disbelieve in your message.”

فَأَمّا عادٌ فَاستَكبَروا فِي الأَرضِ بِغَيرِ الحَقِّ وَقالوا مَن أَشَدُّ مِنّا قُوَّةً ۖ أَوَلَم يَرَوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ الَّذي خَلَقَهُم هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنهُم قُوَّةً ۖ وَكانوا بِآياتِنا يَجحَدونَ

As for Aad, they were arrogant on earth, denied the truth, and said, “Who is mightier than us?” Didn’t they see that God, who created them, is mightier than them? And they continued to deny Our revelations.

وَأَمّا ثَمودُ فَهَدَيناهُم فَاستَحَبُّوا العَمىٰ عَلَى الهُدىٰ فَأَخَذَتهُم صاعِقَةُ العَذابِ الهونِ بِما كانوا يَكسِبونَ

As for Thamud, We offered them guidance, but they preferred blindness over guidance. Thus, the thunderbolt of a humiliating punishment seized them for their deeds.

وَنَجَّينَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا وَكانوا يَتَّقونَ

And We saved those who believed and were righteous.

وَيَومَ يُحشَرُ أَعداءُ اللَّهِ إِلَى النّارِ فَهُم يوزَعونَ

On the Day when God’s enemies are gathered and marshaled towards the Fire.

حَتّىٰ إِذا ما جاءوها شَهِدَ عَلَيهِم سَمعُهُم وَأَبصارُهُم وَجُلودُهُم بِما كانوا يَعمَلونَ

When they reach it, their hearing, their eyes, and their skin will testify against them regarding what they used to do.

وَقالوا لِجُلودِهِم لِمَ شَهِدتُم عَلَينا ۖ قالوا أَنطَقَنَا اللَّهُ الَّذي أَنطَقَ كُلَّ شَيءٍ وَهُوَ خَلَقَكُم أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَإِلَيهِ تُرجَعونَ

They will ask their skins, “Why did you testify against us?” They will reply, “God, who gave everything the ability to speak, made us speak. He who first created you, and to Him, you will return.