بعثَ الإلهُ إلى ثمودٍ صالحِاً

بعثَ الإلهُ إلى ثمودٍ صالحِاً

منه بنورٍ سلامةٍ لا يُشْكِلُ

منه بنورٍ سلامةٍ لا يُشْكِلُ

God sent Salih to Thamud,

God sent Salih to Thamud

From Him, with an unmistakable light of deliverance.

With light and safety that leaves no confusion

قالوا له أَخرِجْ لنا من صَخْرَةِ

قالوا له أَخرِجْ لنا من صَخْرَةِ

عشراءَ نَحلِبُها إذا ما نَنْزِلُ

عشراءَ نَحلِبُها إذا ما نَنْزِلُ

They said to him, "Bring forth for us from a rock

They said to him, “Bring out for us from the rock face

A she-camel ten months pregnant, to milk whenever we halt."

A she-camel that we may milk when we descend"

فتصدَّعَتْ عن ناقةٍ فُتنوا بها

فتصدَّعَتْ عن ناقةٍ فُتنوا بها

وقضاءُ ربّك ليس عنه مَرْحَلُ

وقضاءُ ربّك ليس عنه مَرْحَلُ

So it split open, revealing a she-camel with which they were tested.

So it split open revealing a she-camel and they were tested by her

And from your Lord's decree there is no escape.

And your Lord’s decree cannot be averted

في حفلِ دِرَّتِها لِقاحٌ خلفَها

في حفلِ دِرَّتِها لِقاحٌ خلفَها

سَقبٌ ويَقدُمها هناكَ ويَنزِلُ

سَقبٌ ويَقدُمها هناكَ ويَنزِلُ

Her abundant milk equaled a milch herd's yield; behind her

With milk in her udders, she had a newborn calf behind her

Was a male calf, who went ahead of her there and halted.

Someone leads her there, and settles her down

لما رَأَوْها حافِلاً حَفُّوا بها

لما رَأَوْها حافِلاً حَفُّوا بها

ودَعوا بأوعيةٍ وقالوا احمِلوا

ودَعوا بأوعيةٍ وقالوا احمِلوا

When they saw her full of milk, they crowded around her,

When they saw her pregnant, they envied her

And called for vessels and said, "Carry them!"

And called for containers and said “Load up!”

حتى عَتوا وتمرّدوا وسطَوْا بها

حتى عَتوا وتمرّدوا وسطَوْا بها

بَطَراً فأسرَعَ في شَواها المُنْصُلُ

بَطَراً فأسرَعَ في شَواها المُنْصُلُ

Until they grew insolent, rebelled, and fell upon her

Until they transgressed, rebelled, and dominated her

In wanton pride; then the blade sped into her limbs.

Violently, so the appointed one hastened to slaughter her

خَضبوا فَراسِنَها بقانٍ مُعْجَلٍ

خَضبوا فَراسِنَها بقانٍ مُعْجَلٍ

فرغا هنالكَ بَكرُها فاستُؤصِلوا

فرغا هنالكَ بَكرُها فاستُؤصِلوا

They stained her footpads with swiftly shed crimson blood.

They dyed her forelegs with blood in haste

Then her calf bellowed there, and they were utterly destroyed,

So her first-born calf was ripped out, and they were eradicated

قبلَ الصباح بصيحةٍ أخذتهم

قبلَ الصباح بصيحةٍ أخذتهم

بعد الرُّقادِ سَرى إليهم مَنْهَلُ

بعد الرُّقادِ سَرى إليهم مَنْهَلُ

Before dawn, by a cry that seized them.

Before dawn with a cry that seized them

After sleep, a watering-place came to them by night.

After slumber, what had come to them was unveiled