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)!
O thou folded in garments!
O you who have wrapped up in your garments!
Stand (to pray) all night, except a little -
Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night, -
Rise to pray in the night except a little,
Half of it or a little less than that,
Half of it, - or a little less,
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.
Or a little more; and recite the Qur'an in slow, measured rhythmic tones.
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).
Soon shall We send down to thee a weighty Message.
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).
Truly the rising by night is most potent for governing (the soul), and most suitable for (framing) the Word (of Prayer and Praise).
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.
True, there is for thee by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties:
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.
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 (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).
(He is) Lord of the East and the West: there is no god but He: take Him therefore for (thy) Disposer of Affairs.
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.
And have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble (dignity).
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.
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 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.
With Us are Fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them),
Surely with Us are heavy fetters and a flaming fire,
And a food that chokes, and a painful torment.
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 will be in violent shake, and the mountains will be a heap of sand poured out.
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 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).
We have sent to you, (O men!) a messenger, to be a witness concerning you, even as We sent a messenger to Pharaoh.
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.
But Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger; so We seized him with a heavy Punishment.
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?
Then how shall ye, if ye deny (Allah), guard yourselves against a Day that will make children hoary - headed? -
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.
Whereon the sky will be cleft asunder? His Promise needs must be accomplished.
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!
Verily this is an Admonition: therefore, whoso will, let him take a (straight) path to his Lord!
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 .
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.
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.