Chapter 73, 20 verses
O you who have wrapped up in your garments!
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. O thou wrapped up in thy raiment!
O you who wraps himself [in clothing],
Rise to pray in the night except a little,
Keep vigil the night long, save a little -
Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little -
Half of it, or lessen it a little,
A half thereof, or abate a little thereof
Half of it - or subtract from it a little
Or add to it, and recite the Quran as it ought to be recited.
Or add (a little) thereto - and chant the Qur'an in measure,
Or add to it, and recite the Qur'an with measured recitation.
Surely We will make to light upon you a weighty Word.
For we shall charge thee with a word of weight.
Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word.
Surely the rising by night is the firmest way to tread and the best corrective of speech.
Lo! the vigil of the night is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain.
Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words.
Surely you have in the day time a long occupation.
Lo! thou hast by day a chain of business.
Indeed, for you by day is prolonged occupation.
And remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with (exclusive) devotion.
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 [complete] devotion.
The Lord of the East and the West - - there is no god but He - - therefore take Him for a protector.
Lord of the East and the West; there is no God save Him; so choose thou Him alone for thy defender -
[He is] the Lord of the East and the West; there is no deity except Him, so take Him as Disposer of [your] affairs.
And bear patiently what they say and avoid them with a becoming avoidance.
And bear with patience what they utter, and part from them with a fair leave - taking.
And be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance.
And leave Me and the rejecters, the possessors of ease and plenty, and respite them a little.
Leave Me to deal with the deniers, lords of ease and comfort (in this life); and do thou respite them awhile.
And leave Me with [the matter of] the deniers, those of ease [in life], and allow them respite a little.
Surely with Us are heavy fetters and a flaming fire,
Lo! with Us are heavy fetters and a raging fire,
Indeed, with Us [for them] are shackles and burning fire
And food that chokes and a painful punishment,
And food which choketh (the partaker), and a painful doom
And food that chokes and a painful punishment -
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 hills rock, and the hills become a heap of running sand.
On the Day the earth and the mountains will convulse and the mountains will become a heap of sand pouring down.
Surely We have sent to you an Apostle, a witness against you, as We sent an apostle to Firon.
Lo! We have sent unto you a messenger as witness against you, even as We sent unto Pharaoh a messenger.
Indeed, We have sent to you a Messenger as a witness upon you just as We sent to Pharaoh a messenger.
But Firon disobeyed the apostle, so We laid on him a violent hold.
But Pharaoh rebelled against the messenger, whereupon We seized him with no gentle grip.
But Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger, so We seized him with a ruinous seizure.
How, then, will you guard yourselves, if you disbelieve, on the day which shall make children grey - headed?
Then how, if ye disbelieve, will ye protect yourselves upon the day which will turn children grey,
Then how can you fear, if you disbelieve, a Day that will make the children white - haired?
The heaven shall rend asunder thereby; His promise is ever brought to fulfillment.
The very heaven being then rent asunder. His promise is to be fulfilled.
The heaven will break apart therefrom; ever is His promise fulfilled.
Surely this is a reminder, then let him, who will take the way to his Lord.
Lo! This is a Reminder. Let him who will, then, choose a way unto his Lord.
Indeed, this is a reminder, so whoever wills may take to his Lord a way.
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.
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.
Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muhammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allah determines [the extent of] the night and the day. He has known that you [Muslims] will not be able to do it and has turned to you in forgiveness, so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur'an. He has known that there will be among you those who are ill and others traveling throughout the land seeking [something] of the bounty of Allah and others fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.