Chapter 73, 20 verses
O you who wraps himself [in clothing],
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. O thou wrapped up in thy raiment!
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. O you wrapped in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)!
Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little -
Keep vigil the night long, save a little -
Stand (to pray) all night, except a little -
Half of it - or subtract from it a little
A half thereof, or abate a little thereof
Half of it or a little less than that,
Or add to it, and recite the Qur'an with measured recitation.
Or add (a little) thereto - and chant the Qur'an in measure,
Or a little more. And recite the Qur'an (aloud) in a slow, (pleasant tone and) style.
Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word.
For we shall charge thee with a word of weight.
Verily, We shall send down to you a weighty Word (i.e. obligations, laws).
Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words.
Lo! the vigil of the night is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain.
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).
Indeed, for you by day is prolonged occupation.
Lo! thou hast by day a chain of business.
Verily, there is for you by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties.
And remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with [complete] devotion.
So remember the name of thy Lord and devote thyself with a complete devotion -
And remember the Name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with a complete devotion.
[He is] the Lord of the East and the West; there is no deity except Him, so take Him as 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 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).
And be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance.
And bear with patience what they utter, and part from them with a fair leave - taking.
And be patient (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) with what they say, and keep away from them in a good way.
And leave Me with [the matter of] the deniers, those of ease [in life], and allow them respite a little.
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 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.
Indeed, with Us [for them] are shackles and burning fire
Lo! with Us are heavy fetters and a raging fire,
Verily, with Us are fetters (to bind them), and a raging Fire.
And food that chokes and a painful punishment -
And food which choketh (the partaker), and a painful doom
And a food that chokes, and a painful torment.
On the Day the earth and the mountains will convulse and the mountains will become a heap of sand pouring down.
On the day when the earth and the hills rock, and the hills become a heap of running sand.
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.
Indeed, We have sent to you a Messenger as a witness upon you just as We sent to Pharaoh a messenger.
Lo! We have sent unto you a messenger as witness against you, even as We sent unto Pharaoh a messenger.
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).
But Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger, so We seized him with a ruinous seizure.
But Pharaoh rebelled against the messenger, whereupon We seized him with no gentle grip.
But Fir'aun (Pharaoh) disobeyed the Messenger [Musa (Moses)]; so We seized him with a severe punishment.
Then how can you fear, if you disbelieve, a Day that will make the children white - haired?
Then how, if ye disbelieve, will ye protect yourselves upon the day which will turn children grey,
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?
The heaven will break apart therefrom; ever is His promise fulfilled.
The very heaven being then rent asunder. His promise is to be fulfilled.
Whereon the heaven will be cleft asunder? His Promise is certainly to be accomplished.
Indeed, this is a reminder, so whoever wills may take to his Lord a way.
Lo! This is a Reminder. Let him who will, then, choose a way unto his Lord.
Verily, this is an admonition: therefore whosoever will, let him take a Path to His Lord!
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.
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.
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 .