Chapter 73, 20 verses
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. O you wrapped in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)!
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم يا أيها المزمل
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. O thou wrapped up in thy raiment!
Stand (to pray) all night, except a little -
قم الليل إلا قليلا
Keep vigil the night long, save a little -
Half of it or a little less than that,
نصفه أو انقص منه قليلا
A half thereof, or abate a little thereof
Or a little more. And recite the Qur'an (aloud) in a slow, (pleasant tone and) style.
أو زد عليه ورتل القرآن ترتيلا
Or add (a little) thereto - and chant the Qur'an in measure,
Verily, We shall send down to you a weighty Word (i.e. obligations, laws).
إنا سنلقي عليك قولا ثقيلا
For we shall charge thee with a word of weight.
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).
إن ناشئة الليل هي أشد وطئا وأقوم قيلا
Lo! the vigil of the night is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain.
Verily, there is for you by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties.
إن لك في النهار سبحا طويلا
Lo! thou hast by day a chain of business.
And remember the Name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with a complete devotion.
واذكر اسم ربك وتبتل إليه تبتيلا
So remember the name of thy Lord and devote thyself with a complete devotion -
(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).
رب المشرق والمغرب لا إله إلا هو فاتخذه وكيلا
Lord of the East and the West; there is no God save Him; so choose thou Him alone for thy defender -
And be patient (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) with what they say, and keep away from them in a good way.
واصبر على ما يقولون واهجرهم هجرا جميلا
And bear with patience what they utter, and part from them with a fair leave - taking.
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.
وذرني والمكذبين أولي النعمة ومهلهم قليلا
Leave Me to deal with the deniers, lords of ease and comfort (in this life); and do thou respite them awhile.
Verily, with Us are fetters (to bind them), and a raging Fire.
إن لدينا أنكالا وجحيما
Lo! with Us are heavy fetters and a raging fire,
And a food that chokes, and a painful torment.
وطعاما ذا غصة وعذابا أليما
And food which choketh (the partaker), and a painful doom
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.
يوم ترجف الأرض والجبال وكانت الجبال كثيبا مهيلا
On the day when the earth and the hills rock, and the hills become a heap of running sand.
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).
إنا أرسلنا إليكم رسولا شاهدا عليكم كما أرسلنا إلى فرعون رسولا
Lo! We have sent unto you a messenger as witness against you, even as We sent unto Pharaoh a messenger.
But Fir'aun (Pharaoh) disobeyed the Messenger [Musa (Moses)]; so We seized him with a severe punishment.
فعصى فرعون الرسول فأخذناه أخذا وبيلا
But Pharaoh rebelled against the messenger, whereupon We seized him with no gentle grip.
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?
فكيف تتقون إن كفرتم يوما يجعل الولدان شيبا
Then how, if ye disbelieve, will ye protect yourselves upon the day which will turn children grey,
Whereon the heaven will be cleft asunder? His Promise is certainly to be accomplished.
السماء منفطر به ۚ كان وعده مفعولا
The very heaven being then rent asunder. His promise is to be fulfilled.
Verily, this is an admonition: therefore whosoever will, let him take a Path to His Lord!
إن هذه تذكرة ۖ فمن شاء اتخذ إلى ربه سبيلا
Lo! This is a Reminder. Let him who will, then, choose a way unto his Lord.
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 .
۞ إن ربك يعلم أنك تقوم أدنى من ثلثي الليل ونصفه وثلثه وطائفة من الذين معك ۚ والله يقدر الليل والنهار ۚ علم أن لن تحصوه فتاب عليكم ۖ فاقرءوا ما تيسر من القرآن ۚ علم أن سيكون منكم مرضى ۙ وآخرون يضربون في الأرض يبتغون من فضل الله ۙ وآخرون يقاتلون في سبيل الله ۖ فاقرءوا ما تيسر منه ۚ وأقيموا الصلاة وآتوا الزكاة وأقرضوا الله قرضا حسنا ۚ وما تقدموا لأنفسكم من خير تجدوه عند الله هو خيرا وأعظم أجرا ۚ واستغفروا الله ۖ إن الله غفور رحيم
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.