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
O you who have wrapped up in your garments!
Stand (to pray) all night, except a little -
قم الليل إلا قليلا
Rise to pray in the night except a little,
Half of it or a little less than that,
نصفه أو انقص منه قليلا
Half of it, or lessen it a little,
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 to it, and recite the Quran as it ought to be recited.
Verily, We shall send down to you a weighty Word (i.e. obligations, laws).
إنا سنلقي عليك قولا ثقيلا
Surely We will make to light upon you a weighty Word.
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
Surely the rising by night is the firmest way to tread and the best corrective of speech.
Verily, there is for you by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties.
إن لك في النهار سبحا طويلا
Surely you have in the day time a long occupation.
And remember the Name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with a complete devotion.
واذكر اسم ربك وتبتل إليه تبتيلا
And remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with (exclusive) 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
The Lord of the East and the West - - there is no god but He - - therefore take Him for a protector.
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 patiently what they say and avoid them with a becoming avoidance.
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
And leave Me and the rejecters, the possessors of ease and plenty, and respite them a little.
Verily, with Us are fetters (to bind them), and a raging Fire.
إن لدينا أنكالا وجحيما
Surely with Us are heavy fetters and a flaming fire,
And a food that chokes, and a painful torment.
وطعاما ذا غصة وعذابا أليما
And food that chokes and a painful punishment,
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 mountains shall quake and the mountains shall become (as) heaps of sand let loose.
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
Surely We have sent to you an Apostle, a witness against you, as We sent an apostle to Firon.
But Fir'aun (Pharaoh) disobeyed the Messenger [Musa (Moses)]; so We seized him with a severe punishment.
فعصى فرعون الرسول فأخذناه أخذا وبيلا
But Firon disobeyed the apostle, so We laid on him a violent hold.
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
How, then, will you guard yourselves, if you disbelieve, on the day which shall make children grey - headed?
Whereon the heaven will be cleft asunder? His Promise is certainly to be accomplished.
السماء منفطر به ۚ كان وعده مفعولا
The heaven shall rend asunder thereby; His promise is ever brought to fulfillment.
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
Surely this is a reminder, then let him, who will take the way to 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
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.