1. O thou folded in garments!
2. Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night,-
3. Half of it,- or a little less,
4. Or a little more; and recite the Qurán in slow, measured rhythmic tones.
5. Soon shall We send down to thee a weighty Word.
6. Truly the rising by night is a time when impression is more keen and speech
more certain.
7. True, there is for thee by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties:
8. But keep in remembrance the name of thy Lord and devote thyself to Him
whole-heartedly.
9. (He is) Lord of the East and the West: there is no god but He: take Him
therefore for (thy) Disposer of Affairs.
10. And have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble (dignity).
11. 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.
12. With Us are Fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them),
13. And a Food that chokes, and a Chastisement Grievous.
14. The 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.
15. We have sent to you, (O men!) a messenger, to be a witness concerning you,
even as We sent a messenger to Pharaoh.
16. But Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger; so We seized him with a heavy
Punishment.
17. Then how shall ye, if ye deny (Allah), guard yourselves against a Day that
will make children hoary-headed?-
18. Whereon the sky will be cleft asunder? His Promise needs must be
accomplished.
19. Verily this is an Admonition: therefore, whoso will, let him take a
(straight) path to his Lord!
20. 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'ân as much as may be easy for you. He knoweth that
there may be (some) among you in ill-health; others traveling through the land,
seeking of Allah's bounty; yet others fighting in Allah's Cause, read ye,
therefore, as much of the Qur'ân as may be easy (for you); and establish regular
Prayer and give Zakât; and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan. And whatever good ye
send forth for yourselves ye shall find it with Allah,- yea, better and greater,
in Reward and seek ye the Grace of Allah. for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.
.gif)
