وَما أَدراكَ مَا الحاقَّةُ

And what will make you realize what the Inevitable Reality is?

كَذَّبَت ثَمودُ وَعادٌ بِالقارِعَةِ

Thamud and Aad denied the Striking Calamity.

فَأَمّا ثَمودُ فَأُهلِكوا بِالطّاغِيَةِ

As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the Overwhelming.

وَأَمّا عادٌ فَأُهلِكوا بِريحٍ صَرصَرٍ عاتِيَةٍ

As for Aad, they were destroyed by a relentless, roaring wind.

سَخَّرَها عَلَيهِم سَبعَ لَيالٍ وَثَمانِيَةَ أَيّامٍ حُسومًا فَتَرَى القَومَ فيها صَرعىٰ كَأَنَّهُم أَعجازُ نَخلٍ خاوِيَةٍ

He imposed it upon them for seven nights and eight consecutive days. You would see the people lying overthrown, as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees.

وَجاءَ فِرعَونُ وَمَن قَبلَهُ وَالمُؤتَفِكاتُ بِالخاطِئَةِ

Then came Pharaoh, those before him, and the Overturned Cities, all steeped in sin.

فَعَصَوا رَسولَ رَبِّهِم فَأَخَذَهُم أَخذَةً رابِيَةً

They all disobeyed their Lord’s messenger, and consequently, He seized them with a devastating seizure.

إِنّا لَمّا طَغَى الماءُ حَمَلناكُم فِي الجارِيَةِ

When the waters surged, We carried you in the Cruiser.

لِنَجعَلَها لَكُم تَذكِرَةً وَتَعِيَها أُذُنٌ واعِيَةٌ

That We might make it a lesson for you, and for heedful ears to retain.

فَإِذا نُفِخَ فِي الصّورِ نَفخَةٌ واحِدَةٌ

Then, when the Trumpet is blown, with a single blast.