الـمـزّمّـل

1 O you who have wrapped up in your garments!

1 O thou folded in garments!

2 Rise to pray in the night except a little,

2 Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night, -

3 Half of it, or lessen it a little,

3 Half of it, - or a little less,

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

4 Or a little more; and recite the Qur'an in slow, measured rhythmic tones.

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

5 Soon shall We send down to thee a weighty Message.

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

6 Truly the rising by night is most potent for governing (the soul), and most suitable for (framing) the Word (of Prayer and Praise).

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

7 True, there is for thee by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties:

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

8 But keep in remembrance the name of thy Lord and devote thyself to Him whole - heartedly.

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

9 (He is) Lord of the East and the West: there is no god but He: take Him therefore for (thy) Disposer of Affairs.

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

10 And have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble (dignity).

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

11 And leave Me (alone to deal with) those in possession of the good things of life, who (yet) deny the Truth; and bear with them for a little while.

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

12 With Us are Fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them),

13 And food that chokes and a painful punishment,

13 And a Food that chokes, and a Penalty Grievous.

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

14 One Day the earth and the mountains will be in violent commotion. And the mountains will be as a heap of sand poured out and flowing down.

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

15 We have sent to you, (O men!) a messenger, to be a witness concerning you, even as We sent a messenger to Pharaoh.

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

16 But Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger; so We seized him with a heavy Punishment.

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

17 Then how shall ye, if ye deny (Allah), guard yourselves against a Day that will make children hoary - headed? -

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

18 Whereon the sky will be cleft asunder? His Promise needs must be accomplished.

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

19 Verily this is an Admonition: therefore, whoso will, let him take a (straight) path to his Lord!

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.

20 Thy Lord doth know that thou standest forth (to prayer) nigh two - thirds of the night, or half the night, or a third of the night, and so doth a party of those with thee. But Allah doth appoint night and day in due measure He knoweth that ye are unable to keep count thereof. So He hath turned to you (in mercy): read ye, therefore, of the Qur'an as much as may be easy for you. He knoweth that there may be (some) among you in ill - health; others travelling through the land, seeking of Allah's bounty; yet others fighting in Allah's Cause, read ye, therefore, as much of the Qur'an as may be easy (for you); and establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan. And whatever good ye send forth for your souls ye shall find it in Allah's Presence, - yea, better and greater, in Reward and seek ye the Grace of Allah: for Allah is Oft - Forgiving, Most Merciful.