Al-Fajr (الفجر)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ وَالْفَجْرِ
Wal-Fajr
CONSIDER the daybreak
وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ
Wa layaalin 'ashr
and the ten nights!
وَالشَّفْعِ وَالْوَتْرِ
Wash shaf'i wal watr
Consider the multiple and the One!
وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَسْرِ
Wallaili izaa yasr
Consider the night as it runs its course!
هَلْ فِي ذَٰلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِذِي حِجْرٍ
Hal fee zaalika qasamul lizee hijr
Considering all this - could there be, to anyone endowed with reason, a [more] solemn evidence of the truth?
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ
Alam tara kaifa fa'ala rabbuka bi'aad
ART THOU NOT aware of how thy Sustainer has dealt with [the tribe of] ‘Ad,
إِرَمَ ذَاتِ الْعِمَادِ
Iramaa zaatil 'imaad
[the people of] Iram the many-pillared,
الَّتِي لَمْ يُخْلَقْ مِثْلُهَا فِي الْبِلَادِ
Allatee lam yukhlaq misluhaa fil bilaad
the like of whom has never been reared in all the land? –
وَثَمُودَ الَّذِينَ جَابُوا الصَّخْرَ بِالْوَادِ
Wa samoodal lazeena jaabus sakhra bil waad
and with [the tribe of] Thamud, who hollowed out rocks in the valley? –
وَفِرْعَوْنَ ذِي الْأَوْتَادِ
Wa fir'awna zil awtaad
and with Pharaoh of the [many] tent-poles?
الَّذِينَ طَغَوْا فِي الْبِلَادِ
Allazeena taghaw fil bilaad
[It was they] who transgressed all bounds of equity all over their lands,
فَأَكْثَرُوا فِيهَا الْفَسَادَ
Fa aksaroo feehal fasaad
and brought about great corruption therein:
فَصَبَّ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّكَ سَوْطَ عَذَابٍ
Fasabba 'alaihim Rabbuka sawta 'azaab
and therefore thy Sustainer let loose upon them a scourge of suffering:
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَبِالْمِرْصَادِ
Inna Rabbaka labil mirsaad
for, verily, thy Sustainer is ever on the watch!
فَأَمَّا الْإِنْسَانُ إِذَا مَا ابْتَلَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَأَكْرَمَهُ وَنَعَّمَهُ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّي أَكْرَمَنِ
Fa ammal insaanu izaa mab talaahu Rabbuhoo fa akramahoo wa na' 'amahoo fa yaqoolu Rabbeee akraman
BUT AS FOR man, whenever his Sustainer tries him by His generosity and by letting him enjoy a life of ease, he says, "My Sustainer has been [justly] generous towards me";
وَأَمَّا إِذَا مَا ابْتَلَاهُ فَقَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ رِزْقَهُ فَيَقُولُ رَبِّي أَهَانَنِ
Wa ammaaa izaa mabtalaahu faqadara 'alaihi rizqahoo fa yaqoolu Rabbeee ahaanan
whereas, whenever He tries him by straitening his means of livelihood, he says, "My Sustainer has disgraced me!"
كَلَّا ۖ بَلْ لَا تُكْرِمُونَ الْيَتِيمَ
Kalla bal laa tukrimooo nal yateem
But nay, nay, [O men, consider all that you do and fail to do:] you are not generous towards the orphan,
وَلَا تَحَاضُّونَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ
Wa laa tahaaaddoona 'alaata'aamil miskeen
and you do not urge one another to feed the needy,
وَتَأْكُلُونَ التُّرَاثَ أَكْلًا لَمًّا
Wa taakuloonat turaasa aklal lammaa
and you devour the inheritance [of others] with devouring greed,
وَتُحِبُّونَ الْمَالَ حُبًّا جَمًّا
Wa tuhibboonal maala hubban jammaa
and you love wealth with boundless love!
كَلَّا إِذَا دُكَّتِ الْأَرْضُ دَكًّا دَكًّا
Kallaaa izaaa dukkatil ardu dakkan dakka
Nay, but [how will you fare on Judgment Day,] when the earth is crushed with crushing upon crushing,
وَجَاءَ رَبُّكَ وَالْمَلَكُ صَفًّا صَفًّا
Wa jaaa'a Rabbuka wal malaku saffan saffaa
and [the majesty of] thy Sustainer stands revealed, as well as [the true nature of] the angels; rank upon rank?
وَجِيءَ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِجَهَنَّمَ ۚ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَتَذَكَّرُ الْإِنْسَانُ وَأَنَّىٰ لَهُ الذِّكْرَىٰ
Wa jeee'a yawma'izim bi jahannnam; Yawma 'iziny yatazakkarul insaanu wa annaa lahuz zikraa
And on that Day hell will be brought [within sight]; on that Day man will remember [all that he did and failed to do]: but what will that remembrance avail him?
يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي قَدَّمْتُ لِحَيَاتِي
Yaqoolu yaa laitanee qaddamtu lihayaatee
He will say, "Oh, would that I had. provided beforehand for my life [to come]!"
فَيَوْمَئِذٍ لَا يُعَذِّبُ عَذَابَهُ أَحَدٌ
Fa Yawma izil laa yu'azzibu 'azaabahooo ahad
For, none can make suffer as He will make suffer [the sinners] on that Day,
وَلَا يُوثِقُ وَثَاقَهُ أَحَدٌ
Wa laa yoosiqu wasaaqa hooo ahad
and none can bind with bonds like His.
يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ
Yaaa ayyatuhan nafsul mutma 'innah
[But unto the righteous God will say,] "O thou human being that hast attained to inner peace!
ارْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَرْضِيَّةً
Irji'eee ilaa Rabbiki raadiyatam mardiyyah
Return thou unto thy Sustainer, well-pleased [and] pleasing [Him]:
فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي
Fadkhulee fee 'ibaadee
enter, then, together with My [other true] servants –
وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي
Wadkhulee jannatee
yea, enter thou My paradise!"
Meaning
The Dawn
Ayas
30
Revelation
Meccan
Surah No
89
Reflection on the Day of Judgment:
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “Whoever recites Surah Al-Ghashiyah, Allah will protect him from the distress of the Day of Judgment and grant him peace.” (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
Encouragement of contemplation:
The Prophet (ﷺ) also said: “Reflect on the signs of Allah’s creation, for they are meant to guide you to Him.” (Sahih Muslim)
Reminder of Allah’s justice: Surah Al-Fajr serves as a reminder that those who reject faith and oppress others will face divine punishment, while those who are righteous will be rewarded.
Encouragement to seek repentance: The Surah warns the disbelievers and oppressors, urging them to repent and turn towards Allah before it is too late.
Highlighting Allah’s mercy: For those who are pious, the Surah highlights Allah’s mercy and the eternal reward that awaits them in the Hereafter.
Increases awareness of accountability: Reciting this Surah helps believers remain mindful of their actions, knowing that they will be judged for everything they do.
Encourages repentance: The Surah encourages a repentant heart and strengthens the resolve to live a righteous life, turning away from sin.
Protection from evil: It is believed that reciting Surah Al-Fajr brings protection from harm and evil, and it encourages striving for goodness.
Power of reflection:
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “Whoever recites Surah Al-Fajr, Allah will grant him peace and protect him from the harms of the Day of Judgment.” (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
Repentance and seeking forgiveness:
The Prophet (ﷺ) taught that: “If you seek forgiveness from Allah with sincerity, Allah will accept your repentance and forgive your sins.” (Sahih Bukhari)
“If you find any mistakes in this, please let us know. For a more accurate translation, please refer to the English version. May Allah forgive us for any unintentional mistakes.”
