The surah that opens with the oath of the Divine One swearing by the whelming of The Night that swathes the world in darkness. It is named after “the night” (al-layl), mentioned in verse 1. The surah shows the consequences of the paths people choose and emphasizing God’s guidance and warning.
1
وَاللَّيلِ إِذا يَغشىٰ
wa-l-layli ʾidhā yaghshā
By the night when it envelops,
2
وَالنَّهارِ إِذا تَجَلّىٰ
wa-n-nahāri ʾidhā tajallā
by the day when it brightens,
3
وَما خَلَقَ الذَّكَرَ وَالأُنثىٰ
wa-mā khalaqa dh-dhakara wa-l-ʾunthā
by Him who created the male and the female:
4
إِنَّ سَعيَكُم لَشَتّىٰ
ʾinna saʿyakum la-shattā
your endeavours are indeed unlike.
5
فَأَمّا مَن أَعطىٰ وَاتَّقىٰ
fa-ʾammā man ʾaʿṭā wa-ttaqā
As for him who gives and is Godwary
6
وَصَدَّقَ بِالحُسنىٰ
wa-ṣaddaqa bi-l-ḥusnā
and confirms the best promise,
7
فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِليُسرىٰ
fa-sa-nuyassiruhū li-l-yusrā
We shall surely ease him into facility.
8
وَأَمّا مَن بَخِلَ وَاستَغنىٰ
wa-ʾammā man bakhila wa-staghnā
But as for him who is stingyand self-complacent,
9
وَكَذَّبَ بِالحُسنىٰ
wa-kadhdhaba bi-l-ḥusnā
and denies the best promise,
10
فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلعُسرىٰ
fa-sa-nuyassiruhū li-l-ʿusrā
We shall surely ease him into hardship.
11
وَما يُغني عَنهُ مالُهُ إِذا تَرَدّىٰ
wa-mā yughnī ʿanhu māluhū ʾidhā taraddā
His wealth shall not avail him when he perishes.
12
إِنَّ عَلَينا لَلهُدىٰ
ʾinna ʿalaynā la-l-hudā
Indeed with Us rests guidance,
13
وَإِنَّ لَنا لَلآخِرَةَ وَالأولىٰ
wa-ʾinnā lanā la-l-ʾākhirata wa-l-ʾūlā
and indeed to Us belong the world and the Hereafter.
14
فَأَنذَرتُكُم نارًا تَلَظّىٰ
fa-ʾandhartukum nāran talaẓẓā
So I warn you of a blazing fire,
15
لا يَصلاها إِلَّا الأَشقَى
lā yaṣlāhā ʾillā l-ʾashqā
which none shall enter except the most wretched
16
الَّذي كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلّىٰ
alladhī kadhdhaba wa-tawallā
—he who denies and turns back.
17
وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الأَتقَى
wa-sa-yujannabuhā l-ʾatqā
The Godwary shall be spared it
18
الَّذي يُؤتي مالَهُ يَتَزَكّىٰ
alladhī yuʾtī mālahū yatazakkā
—he who gives his wealth to purify himself
19
وَما لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُ مِن نِعمَةٍ تُجزىٰ
wa-mā li-ʾaḥadin ʿindahū min niʿmatin tujzā
and does not expect any reward from anyone,
20
إِلَّا ابتِغاءَ وَجهِ رَبِّهِ الأَعلىٰ
ʾillā btighāʾa wajhi rabbihi l-ʾaʿlā
but seeks only the pleasure of his Lord,the Most Exalted,
21
وَلَسَوفَ يَرضىٰ
wa-la-sawfa yarḍā
and, surely, soon he will be well-pleased.