الـمـزّمّـل

1 In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. O thou wrapped up in thy raiment!

1 O you who have wrapped up in your garments!

2 Keep vigil the night long, save a little -

2 Rise to pray in the night except a little,

3 A half thereof, or abate a little thereof

3 Half of it, or lessen it a little,

4 Or add (a little) thereto - and chant the Qur'an in measure,

4 Or add to it, and recite the Quran as it ought to be recited.

5 For we shall charge thee with a word of weight.

5 Surely We will make to light upon you a weighty Word.

6 Lo! the vigil of the night is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain.

6 Surely the rising by night is the firmest way to tread and the best corrective of speech.

7 Lo! thou hast by day a chain of business.

7 Surely you have in the day time a long occupation.

8 So remember the name of thy Lord and devote thyself with a complete devotion -

8 And remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with (exclusive) devotion.

9 Lord of the East and the West; there is no God save Him; so choose thou Him alone for thy defender -

9 The Lord of the East and the West - - there is no god but He - - therefore take Him for a protector.

10 And bear with patience what they utter, and part from them with a fair leave - taking.

10 And bear patiently what they say and avoid them with a becoming avoidance.

11 Leave Me to deal with the deniers, lords of ease and comfort (in this life); and do thou respite them awhile.

11 And leave Me and the rejecters, the possessors of ease and plenty, and respite them a little.

12 Lo! with Us are heavy fetters and a raging fire,

12 Surely with Us are heavy fetters and a flaming fire,

13 And food which choketh (the partaker), and a painful doom

13 And food that chokes and a painful punishment,

14 On the day when the earth and the hills rock, and the hills become a heap of running sand.

14 On the day when the earth and the mountains shall quake and the mountains shall become (as) heaps of sand let loose.

15 Lo! We have sent unto you a messenger as witness against you, even as We sent unto Pharaoh a messenger.

15 Surely We have sent to you an Apostle, a witness against you, as We sent an apostle to Firon.

16 But Pharaoh rebelled against the messenger, whereupon We seized him with no gentle grip.

16 But Firon disobeyed the apostle, so We laid on him a violent hold.

17 Then how, if ye disbelieve, will ye protect yourselves upon the day which will turn children grey,

17 How, then, will you guard yourselves, if you disbelieve, on the day which shall make children grey - headed?

18 The very heaven being then rent asunder. His promise is to be fulfilled.

18 The heaven shall rend asunder thereby; His promise is ever brought to fulfillment.

19 Lo! This is a Reminder. Let him who will, then, choose a way unto his Lord.

19 Surely this is a reminder, then let him, who will take the way to his Lord.

20 Lo! thy Lord knoweth how thou keepest vigil sometimes nearly two - thirds of the night, or (sometimes) half or a third thereof, as do a party of those with thee. Allah measureth the night and the day. He knoweth that ye count it not, and turneth unto you in mercy. Recite, then, of the Qur'an that which is easy for you. He knoweth that there are sick folk among you, while others travel in the land in search of Allah's bounty, and others (still) are fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite of it that which is easy (for you), and establish worship and pay the poor - due, and (so) lend unto Allah a goodly loan. Whatsoever good ye send before you for your souls, ye will find it with Allah, better and greater in the recompense. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

20 Surely your Lord knows that you pass in prayer nearly two - thirds of the night, and (sometimes) half of it, and (sometimes) a third of it, and (also) a party of those with you; and Allah measures the night and the day. He knows that you are not able to do it, so He has turned to you (mercifully), therefore read what is easy of the Quran. He knows that there must be among you sick, and others who travel in the land seeking of the bounty of Allah, and others who fight in Allah's way, therefore read as much of it as is easy (to you), and keep up prayer and pay the poor - rate and offer to Allah a goodly gift, and whatever of good you send on beforehand for yourselves, you will find it with Allah; that is best and greatest in reward; and ask forgiveness of Allah; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.