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)!
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. O thou wrapped up in thy raiment!
O thou folded in garments!
Stand (to pray) all night, except a little -
Keep vigil the night long, save a little -
Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night, -
Half of it or a little less than that,
A half thereof, or abate a little thereof
Half of it, - or a little less,
Or a little more. And recite the Qur'an (aloud) in a slow, (pleasant tone and) style.
Or add (a little) thereto - and chant the Qur'an in measure,
Or a little more; and recite the Qur'an in slow, measured rhythmic tones.
Verily, We shall send down to you a weighty Word (i.e. obligations, laws).
For we shall charge thee with a word of weight.
Soon shall We send down to thee a weighty Message.
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! the vigil of the night is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain.
Truly the rising by night is most potent for governing (the soul), and most suitable for (framing) the Word (of Prayer and Praise).
Verily, there is for you by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties.
Lo! thou hast by day a chain of business.
True, there is for thee by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties:
And remember the Name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with a complete devotion.
So remember the name of thy Lord and devote thyself with a complete devotion -
But keep in remembrance the name of thy Lord and devote thyself to Him whole - heartedly.
(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).
Lord of the East and the West; there is no God save Him; so choose thou Him alone for thy defender -
(He is) Lord of the East and the West: there is no god but He: take Him therefore for (thy) Disposer of Affairs.
And be patient (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) with what they say, and keep away from them in a good way.
And bear with patience what they utter, and part from them with a fair leave - taking.
And have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble (dignity).
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.
Leave Me to deal with the deniers, lords of ease and comfort (in this life); and do thou respite them awhile.
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.
Verily, with Us are fetters (to bind them), and a raging Fire.
Lo! with Us are heavy fetters and a raging fire,
With Us are Fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them),
And a food that chokes, and a painful torment.
And food which choketh (the partaker), and a painful doom
And a Food that chokes, and a Penalty Grievous.
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.
On the day when the earth and the hills rock, and the hills become a heap of running sand.
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.
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).
Lo! We have sent unto you a messenger as witness against you, even as We sent unto Pharaoh a messenger.
We have sent to you, (O men!) a messenger, to be a witness concerning you, even as We sent a messenger to Pharaoh.
But Fir'aun (Pharaoh) disobeyed the Messenger [Musa (Moses)]; so We seized him with a severe punishment.
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 heavy Punishment.
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?
Then how, if ye disbelieve, will ye protect yourselves upon the day which will turn children grey,
Then how shall ye, if ye deny (Allah), guard yourselves against a Day that will make children hoary - headed? -
Whereon the heaven will be cleft asunder? His Promise is certainly to be accomplished.
The very heaven being then rent asunder. His promise is to be fulfilled.
Whereon the sky will be cleft asunder? His Promise needs must be accomplished.
Verily, this is an admonition: therefore whosoever will, let him take a Path to His Lord!
Lo! This is a Reminder. Let him who will, then, choose a way unto his Lord.
Verily this is an Admonition: therefore, whoso will, let him take a (straight) path 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 .
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.
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.