The Sun
The opening moves through sun, moon, day and night. Notice the relationships between illumination and covering rather than reading each image alone. This careful observation prepares you for the chapter’s later turn toward the human soul.
Based on Quran 91:1–5. Original study prompt, not a complete tafsir. Compare the passage ↗English Translation - Noor International Center · QuranEnc.com · v1.1.2 ↗
Issued by Noor International Center. Publisher footnotes appear with their verses.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ وَٱلشَّمْسِ وَضُحَىٰهَا
(1) By the sun and its brightness
وَٱلْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلَىٰهَا
(2) And [by] the moon when it follows it
وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذَا جَلَّىٰهَا
(3) And [by] the day when it displays it[1931]
وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰهَا
(4) And [by] the night when it covers [i.e., conceals] it
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا بَنَىٰهَا
(5) And [by] the sky and He who constructed it
وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا طَحَىٰهَا
(6) And [by] the earth and He who spread it
وَنَفْسٍۢ وَمَا سَوَّىٰهَا
(7) And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it[1932]
فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَىٰهَا
(8) And inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness,
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا
(9) He has succeeded who purifies it,
وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّىٰهَا
(10) And he has failed who instills it [with corruption].
كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِطَغْوَىٰهَآ
(11) Thamūd denied [their prophet] by reason of their transgression,
إِذِ ٱنۢبَعَثَ أَشْقَىٰهَا
(12) When the most wretched of them was sent forth.[1933]
فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ نَاقَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَسُقْيَٰهَا
(13) And the messenger of Allāh [i.e., Ṣāliḥ] said to them, "[Do not harm] the she-camel of Allāh or [prevent her from] her drink."
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَدَمْدَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسَوَّىٰهَا
(14) But they denied him and hamstrung[1934] her. So their Lord brought down upon them destruction for their sin and made it equal [upon all of them].
وَلَا يَخَافُ عُقْبَٰهَا
(15) And He does not fear the consequence thereof.[1935]