Chapter 73, 20 verses
O you who have wrapped up in your garments!
O thou folded in garments!
O you who wraps himself [in clothing],
Rise to pray in the night except a little,
Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night, -
Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little -
Half of it, or lessen it a little,
Half of it, - or a little less,
Half of it - or subtract from it a little
Or add to it, and recite the Quran as it ought to be recited.
Or a little more; and recite the Qur'an in slow, measured rhythmic tones.
Or add to it, and recite the Qur'an with measured recitation.
Surely We will make to light upon you a weighty Word.
Soon shall We send down to thee a weighty Message.
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.
Truly the rising by night is most potent for governing (the soul), and most suitable for (framing) the Word (of Prayer and Praise).
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.
True, there is for thee by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties:
Indeed, for you by day is prolonged occupation.
And remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with (exclusive) devotion.
But keep in remembrance the name of thy Lord and devote thyself to Him whole - heartedly.
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.
(He is) Lord of the East and the West: there is no god but He: take Him therefore for (thy) Disposer of Affairs.
[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 have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble (dignity).
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.
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.
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,
With Us are Fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them),
Indeed, with Us [for them] are shackles and burning fire
And food that chokes and a painful punishment,
And a Food that chokes, and a Penalty Grievous.
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.
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.
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.
We have sent to you, (O men!) a messenger, to be a witness concerning you, even as We sent a messenger to Pharaoh.
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 disobeyed the messenger; so We seized him with a heavy Punishment.
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 shall ye, if ye deny (Allah), guard yourselves against a Day that will make children hoary - headed? -
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.
Whereon the sky will be cleft asunder? His Promise needs must be accomplished.
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.
Verily this is an Admonition: therefore, whoso will, let him take a (straight) path to 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.
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.
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.