Commentary · Quran
Surah 91: The SunThe Sun
If you don’t know me, my name is Rachel, and these are my scripture notes on the Quran. The ayat are presented sequentially in English and Arabic, followed by my commentary. Think of it as a living midrash: whenever I learn something new, I add a note. My notes draw from an eclectic range of ancient sources, both Jewish and Gentile. See my about page for more.
I’ve used Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall’s 1930 translation of the Quran’s meanings since it’s both public domain and very pretty.
Surah 91: The Sunسُورَةُ الشَّمۡسِ
1By the sun and his brightness, 2And the moon when she followeth him, 3And the day when it revealeth him, 4And the night when it enshroudeth him, 5And the heaven and Him Who built it, 6And the earth and Him Who spread it, 7And a soul and Him Who perfected it 8And inspired it (with conscience of) what is wrong for it and (what is) right for it. 9He is indeed successful who causeth it to grow, 10And he is indeed a failure who stunteth it. 11(The tribe of) Thamud denied (the truth) in their rebellious pride, 12When the basest of them broke forth 13And the messenger of Allah said: It is the she-camel of Allah, so let her drink! 14But they denied him, and they hamstrung her, so Allah doomed them for their sin and rased (their dwellings). 15He dreadeth not the sequel (of events).
1بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ وَٱلشَّمْسِ وَضُحَىٰهَا 2وَٱلْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلَىٰهَا 3وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذَا جَلَّىٰهَا 4وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰهَا 5وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا بَنَىٰهَا 6وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا طَحَىٰهَا 7وَنَفْسٍۢ وَمَا سَوَّىٰهَا 8فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَىٰهَا 9قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا 10وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّىٰهَا 11كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِطَغْوَىٰهَآ 12إِذِ ٱنۢبَعَثَ أَشْقَىٰهَا 13فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ نَاقَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَسُقْيَٰهَا 14فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَدَمْدَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسَوَّىٰهَا 15وَلَا يَخَافُ عُقْبَٰهَا