بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ وَالسَّمَاءِ وَالطَّارِقِ

By the heaven, and At-Tariq (the night-comer, i.e. the bright star);

وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الطَّارِقُ

And what will make you to know what At-Tariq (night-comer) is?

النَّجْمُ الثَّاقِبُ

(It is) the star of piercing brightness;

إِنْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ لَمَّا عَلَيْهَا حَافِظٌ

There is no human being but has a protector over him (or her) (i.e. angels incharge of each human being guarding him, writing his good and bad deeds, etc.)

فَلْيَنْظُرِ الْإِنْسَانُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ

So let man see from what he is created!

خُلِقَ مِنْ مَاءٍ دَافِقٍ

He is created from a water gushing forth.

يَخْرُجُ مِنْ بَيْنِ الصُّلْبِ وَالتَّرَائِبِ

Proceeding from between the back-bone and the ribs,

إِنَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَجْعِهِ لَقَادِرٌ

Verily, (Allah) is Able to bring him back (to life)!

يَوْمَ تُبْلَى السَّرَائِرُ

The Day when all the secrets (deeds, prayers, fasting, etc.) will be examined (as to their truth).

فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ وَلَا نَاصِرٍ

Then will (man) have no power, nor any helper.

وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الرَّجْعِ

By the sky (having rain clouds) which gives rain, again and again.

وَالْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ الصَّدْعِ

And the earth which splits (with the growth of trees and plants),

إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ

Verily! This (the Quran) is the Word that separates (the truth from falsehood, and commands strict legal laws for mankind to cut the roots of evil).

وَمَا هُوَ بِالْهَزْلِ

And it is not a thing for amusement.

إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًا

Verily, they are but plotting a plot (against you O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)).

وَأَكِيدُ كَيْدًا

And I (too) am planning a plan.

فَمَهِّلِ الْكَافِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًا

So give a respite to the disbelievers. Deal you gently with them for a while.