Chapter 73, 20 verses
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. O thou wrapped up in thy raiment!
O you who have wrapped up in your garments!
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. O you wrapped in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)!
Keep vigil the night long, save a little -
Rise to pray in the night except a little,
Stand (to pray) all night, except a little -
A half thereof, or abate a little thereof
Half of it, or lessen it a little,
Half of it or a little less than that,
Or add (a little) thereto - and chant the Qur'an in measure,
Or add to it, and recite the Quran as it ought to be recited.
Or a little more. And recite the Qur'an (aloud) in a slow, (pleasant tone and) style.
For we shall charge thee with a word of weight.
Surely We will make to light upon you a weighty Word.
Verily, We shall send down to you a weighty Word (i.e. obligations, laws).
Lo! the vigil of the night is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain.
Surely the rising by night is the firmest way to tread and the best corrective of speech.
Verily, the rising by night (for Tahajjud prayer) is very hard and most potent and good for governing oneself, and most suitable for (understanding) the Word (of Allah).
Lo! thou hast by day a chain of business.
Surely you have in the day time a long occupation.
Verily, there is for you by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties.
So remember the name of thy Lord and devote thyself with a complete devotion -
And remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with (exclusive) devotion.
And remember the Name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with a complete devotion.
Lord of the East and the West; there is no God save Him; so choose thou Him alone for thy defender -
The Lord of the East and the West - - there is no god but He - - therefore take Him for a protector.
(He Alone is) the Lord of the east and the west; La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). So take Him Alone as Wakil (Disposer of your affairs).
And bear with patience what they utter, and part from them with a fair leave - taking.
And bear patiently what they say and avoid them with a becoming avoidance.
And be patient (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) with what they say, and keep away from them in a good way.
Leave Me to deal with the deniers, lords of ease and comfort (in this life); and do thou respite them awhile.
And leave Me and the rejecters, the possessors of ease and plenty, and respite them a little.
And leave Me Alone to deal with the beliers (those who deny My Verses), those who are in possession of good things of life. And give them respite for a little while.
Lo! with Us are heavy fetters and a raging fire,
Surely with Us are heavy fetters and a flaming fire,
Verily, with Us are fetters (to bind them), and a raging Fire.
And food which choketh (the partaker), and a painful doom
And food that chokes and a painful punishment,
And a food that chokes, and a painful torment.
On the day when the earth and the hills rock, and the hills become a heap of running sand.
On the day when the earth and the mountains shall quake and the mountains shall become (as) heaps of sand let loose.
On the Day when the earth and the mountains will be in violent shake, and the mountains will be a heap of sand poured out.
Lo! We have sent unto you a messenger as witness against you, even as We sent unto Pharaoh a messenger.
Surely We have sent to you an Apostle, a witness against you, as We sent an apostle to Firon.
Verily, We have sent to you (O men) a Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) to be a witness over you, as We did send a Messenger [Musa (Moses)] to Fir'aun (Pharaoh).
But Pharaoh rebelled against the messenger, whereupon We seized him with no gentle grip.
But Firon disobeyed the apostle, so We laid on him a violent hold.
But Fir'aun (Pharaoh) disobeyed the Messenger [Musa (Moses)]; so We seized him with a severe punishment.
Then how, if ye disbelieve, will ye protect yourselves upon the day which will turn children grey,
How, then, will you guard yourselves, if you disbelieve, on the day which shall make children grey - headed?
Then how can you avoid the punishment, if you disbelieve, on a Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) that will make the children grey-headed?
The very heaven being then rent asunder. His promise is to be fulfilled.
The heaven shall rend asunder thereby; His promise is ever brought to fulfillment.
Whereon the heaven will be cleft asunder? His Promise is certainly to be accomplished.
Lo! This is a Reminder. Let him who will, then, choose a way unto his Lord.
Surely this is a reminder, then let him, who will take the way to his Lord.
Verily, this is an admonition: therefore whosoever will, let him take a Path to His Lord!
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.
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.
Verily, your Lord knows that you do stand (to pray at night) a little less than two thirds of the night, or half the night, or a third of the night, and also a party of those with you. And Allah measures the night and the day. He knows that you are unable to pray the whole night, so He has turned to you (in mercy). So, recite you of the Qur'an as much as may be easy for you. He knows that there will be some among you sick, others travelling through the land, seeking of Allah's Bounty, yet others fighting in Allah's Cause. So recite as much of the Qur'an as may be easy (for you), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat ) and give Zakat, and lend to Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you send before you for yourselves (i.e. Nawafil non-obligatory acts of worship: prayers, charity, fasting, Hajj and 'Umrah), you will certainly find it with Allah, better and greater in reward. And seek Forgiveness of Allah. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful .