Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of The Glorious Koran. An Explanatory Translation (1930)
SÛRAH LXXIX
An-Nâzi‘ât takes its name from a word in the first verse.
An early Meccan Sûrah.
“Those Who Drag Forth”
1. By those who drag forth to destruction,
2. By the meteors rushing,
3. By the lone stars floating,1
4. By the angels hastening,
5. And those who govern the event,
6. On the day when the first trump resoundeth
7. And the second followeth it,
8. On that day hearts beat painfully
9. While eyes are downcast
10. (Now) they are saying: Shall we really be restored to our first state
11. Even after we are crumbled bones?
12. They say: Then that would be a vain proceeding.
13. Surely it will need but one shout,
14. And lo! they will be awakened.
15. Hath there come unto thee the history of Moses?
1 Some commentators take vv. 2 and 3 also as referring to angels and explain them thus: “By those who console (the spirits of the righteous) tenderly.” “By those who come floating (down from heaven with their Lord’s command).” The rendering given in the text above is the more obvious.
