Chapter 73, 20 verses
O thou folded in garments!
O you who have wrapped up in your garments!
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. O thou wrapped up in thy raiment!
Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night, -
Rise to pray in the night except a little,
Keep vigil the night long, save a little -
Half of it, - or a little less,
Half of it, or lessen it a little,
A half thereof, or abate a little thereof
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.
Or add (a little) thereto - and chant the Qur'an in measure,
Soon shall We send down to thee a weighty Message.
Surely We will make to light upon you a weighty Word.
For we shall charge thee with a word of weight.
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.
Lo! the vigil of the night is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain.
True, there is for thee by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties:
Surely you have in the day time a long occupation.
Lo! thou hast by day a chain of business.
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.
So remember the name of thy Lord and devote thyself with a complete devotion -
(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.
Lord of the East and the West; there is no God save Him; so choose thou Him alone for thy defender -
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 bear with patience what they utter, and part from them with a fair leave - taking.
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.
Leave Me to deal with the deniers, lords of ease and comfort (in this life); and do thou respite them awhile.
With Us are Fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them),
Surely with Us are heavy fetters and a flaming fire,
Lo! with Us are heavy fetters and a raging fire,
And a Food that chokes, and a Penalty Grievous.
And food that chokes and a painful punishment,
And food which choketh (the partaker), and a painful doom
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.
On the day when the earth and the hills rock, and the hills become a heap of running sand.
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.
Lo! We have sent unto you a messenger as witness against you, even as We sent unto Pharaoh a messenger.
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.
But Pharaoh rebelled against the messenger, whereupon We seized him with no gentle grip.
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?
Then how, if ye disbelieve, will ye protect yourselves upon the day which will turn children grey,
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.
The very heaven being then rent asunder. His promise is to be fulfilled.
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.
Lo! This is a Reminder. Let him who will, then, choose a way unto his Lord.
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.
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.