وَإِذَا المَوءودَةُ سُئِلَت

When the female, buried alive, is asked.

بِأَيِّ ذَنبٍ قُتِلَت

For what sin was she put to death?

وَإِذَا الصُّحُفُ نُشِرَت

When the pages are spread open.

وَإِذَا السَّماءُ كُشِطَت

When the sky is peeled away.

وَإِذَا الجَحيمُ سُعِّرَت

When Hell is set ablaze.

عَلِمَت نَفسٌ ما أَحضَرَت

Each soul will know what it has prepared.

فَلا أُقسِمُ بِالخُنَّسِ

So, I swear by the receding stars.

الجَوارِ الكُنَّسِ

The moving ones that vanish.

وَاللَّيلِ إِذا عَسعَسَ

And by the night as it settles.

وَالصُّبحِ إِذا تَنَفَّسَ

And by the dawn as it breathes.