Ayah 1
O you who wraps himself!
English - O you who wraps himself [in clothing], .
Ayah 2
Stand (in) the night, except a little,
English - Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little – .
Ayah 3
Half of it, or lessen from it a little,
English - Half of it – or subtract from it a little .
Ayah 4
Or add to it, and recite the Quran (with) measured rhythmic recitation.
English - Or add to it, and recite the Qur’an with measured recitation. .
Ayah 5
Indeed, We will cast upon you a Word heavy.
English - Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word. .
Ayah 6
Indeed, (the) rising (at) the night, it (is) very hard and most potent and more suitable (for) Word.
English - Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words. .
Ayah 7
Indeed, for you in the day (is) occupation prolonged.
English - Indeed, for you by day is prolonged occupation. .
Ayah 8
And remember (the) name (of) your Lord and devote yourself to Him (with) devotion.
English - And remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with [complete] devotion. .
Ayah 9
(The) Lord (of) the east and the west; (there is) no god except Him, so take Him (as) Disposer of Affairs.
English - [He is] the Lord of the East and the West; there is no deity except Him, so take Him as Disposer of [your] affairs. .
Ayah 10
And be patient over what they say, and avoid them, an avoidance gracious.
English - And be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance. .
Ayah 11
And leave Me and the deniers, possessors (of) the ease, and allow them respite - a little.
English - And leave Me with [the matter of] the deniers, those of ease [in life], and allow them respite a little. .
Ayah 12
Indeed, with Us (are) shackles and burning fire,
English - Indeed, with Us [for them] are shackles and burning fire .
Ayah 13
And food that chokes and a punishment painful.
English - And food that chokes and a painful punishment – .
Ayah 14
(On the) Day will quake the earth and the mountains, and will become the mountains a heap of sand pouring down.
English - On the Day the earth and the mountains will convulse and the mountains will become a heap of sand pouring down. .
Ayah 15
Indeed, We [We] have sent to you a Messenger (as) a witness upon you, as We sent to Firaun a Messenger.
English - Indeed, We have sent to you a Messenger as a witness upon you just as We sent to Pharaoh a messenger. .
Ayah 16
But disobeyed Firaun the Messenger, so We seized him (with) a seizure ruinous.
English - But Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger, so We seized him with a ruinous seizure. .
Ayah 17
Then how will you guard yourselves, if you disbelieve, a Day (that) will make the children gray-haired?
English - Then how can you fear, if you disbelieve, a Day that will make the children white-haired? .
Ayah 18
The heaven (will) break apart therefrom, is His Promise to be fulfilled.
English - The heaven will break apart therefrom; ever is His promise fulfilled. .
Ayah 19
Indeed, this (is) a Reminder, then whoever wills (let him) take to his Lord a way.
English - Indeed, this is a reminder, so whoever wills may take to his Lord a way. .
Ayah 20
Indeed, your Lord knows that you stand (a little) less than two-thirds (of) the night, and half of it and a third of it and (so do) a group of those who (are) with you. And Allah determines the night and the day. He knows that not you count it, so He has turned to you, so recite what is easy of the Quran. He knows that there will be among you sick and others traveling in the land seeking of (the) Bounty (of) Allah, and others fighting in (the) way (of) Allah. So recite what is easy of it, and establish the prayer and give the zakah and loan Allah a loan goodly. And whatever you send forth for yourselves of good, you will find it with Allah. It (will be) better and greater (in) reward. And seek forgiveness (of) Allah. Indeed, Allah (is) Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
English - 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. .