92. Sūrat Al-Layl · The Night

By the night when it covers,

By the night enshrouding

CONSIDER the night as it veils [the earth] in darkness,

By the night when it overshadows.

By the night when it covers up (and conceals everything in its darkness)

and the day when it shines!

And the day resplendent

and the day as it rises bright!

And by the day when it brightens.

And by the day when it brightens up

And by ˹the One˺ Who created male and female!

And Him Who hath created male and female,

Consider the creation of the male and the female!

And by Him Who made the male and female.

And by that Being Who created male and female (in everything)

Surely the ends you strive for are diverse.

Lo! your effort is dispersed (toward divers ends).

Verily, [O men,] you aim at most divergent ends!

Undoubtedly, your strivings are diverse.

Indeed, your striving is different (and singular)

As for the one who is charitable, mindful ˹of Allah˺,

As for him who giveth and is dutiful (toward Allah)

Thus, as for him who gives [to others] and is conscious of God,

Then as for him who gave (in charity) and feared God.

So he who gives away (his wealth in the way of Allah) and commits himself to piousness

and ˹firmly˺ believes in the finest reward,

And believeth in goodness;

and believes in the truth of the ultimate good

And testified the best,

And affirms the good (the Din [Religion]) of truth and life after death through charity and Godwariness)

We will facilitate for them the Way of Ease.

Surely We will ease his way unto the state of ease.

for him shall We make easy the path towards [ultimate] ease.

We shall soon provide him facility.

Soon We shall facilitate him in seeking (Allah’s pleasure) with ease

And as for the one who is stingy, indifferent ˹to Allah˺,

But as for him who hoardeth and deemeth himself independent,

But as for him who is niggardly, and thinks that he is self-sufficient,

And as for him who stinted and became independent,

But he who is miser and disregards (spending in the cause of Allah)

and ˹staunchly˺ denies the finest reward,

And disbelieveth in goodness;

and calls the ultimate good a lie –

And belied the best,

And (in this way) denies the good (the Din [Religion]) of truth and afterlife)

We will facilitate for them the path of hardship.

Surely We will ease his way unto adversity.

for him shall We make easy the path towards hardship:

We shall soon provide him hardship.

Soon shall We facilitate his landing into hardship (advancing towards torment, so that punishment becomes his rightful due)

And their wealth will be of no benefit to them when they tumble ˹into Hell˺.

His riches will not save him when he perisheth.

and what will his wealth avail him when he goes down [to his grave]?

And his wealth will not avail him when he will perish.

And his wealth will not help him any way when he falls into (the pit of) destruction

It is certainly upon Us ˹alone˺ to show ˹the way to˺ guidance.

Lo! Ours it is (to give) the guidance

BEHOLD, it is indeed for Us to grace [you] with guidance;

Undoubtedly, upon Us rests the guidance.

Indeed, it is binding on Us to show you the path (of truth)

And surely to Us ˹alone˺ belong this life and the next.

And lo! unto Us belong the latter portion and the former.

and, behold, Ours is [the dominion over] the life to come as well as [over] this earlier part [of your life]:

And undoubtedly, to Us belongs the Hereafter as well as the present world.

And indeed, We are the Master of the Hereafter and the world

And so I have warned you of a raging Fire,

Therefor have I warned you of the flaming Fire

and so I warn you of the raging fire -

So I warn you of the Fire which is flaming.

So I have warned you of the raging Fire (of Hell)

in which none will burn except the most wretched—

Which only the most wretched must endure,

[the fire] which none shall have to endure but that most hapless wretch

None shall enter it but the most wicked one.

No one shall enter it but the most wretched

who deny and turn away.

He who denieth and turneth away.

who gives the lie to the truth and turns away [from it].

Who belied and turned his face.

He who gives lie to (the Din [Religion] of truth) and turns away (from obedience to the Messenger [blessings and peace be upon him])

But the righteous will be spared from it—

Far removed from it will be the righteous

For, distant from it shall remain he who is truly conscious of God:

But the most pious one shall be kept far away from it,

But the most pious one shall be saved from this (Fire)

who donate ˹some of˺ their wealth only to purify themselves,

Who giveth his wealth that he may grow (in goodness).

he that spends his possessions [on others] so that he might grow in purity –

Who gives his wealth to become purified.

Who gives his wealth away (in the cause of Allah) to attain to purity (of his soul and assets)

not in return for someone’s favours,

And none hath with him any favour for reward,

not as payment for favours received,

And he owes no favour to anyone for recompense;

And who owes no favour to anyone that he is seeking to pay back

but seeking the pleasure of their Lord, the Most High.

Except as seeking (to fulfil) the purpose of his Lord Most High.

but only out of a longing for the countenance of his Sustainer, the All-Highest:

But he only seeks the pleasure of his Lord Who is the Most High.

Rather (he spends) seeking the pleasure of his Lord, Most High

They will certainly be pleased.

He verily will be content.

and such, indeed, shall in time be well-pleased.

And undoubtedly, soon he will be pleased

And soon shall he be well-pleased (with Allah for His bestowal and Allah with him for his fidelity)