Al-Lail

By the enshrouding night,

وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰ

wa-al-layli idhā yaghshā

by the radiant day,

وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّىٰ

wal-nahāri idhā tajallā

by His creation of male and female!

وَمَا خَلَقَ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنْثَىٰ

wamā khalaqa l-dhakara wal-unthā

The ways you take differ greatly.

إِنَّ سَعْيَكُمْ لَشَتَّىٰ

inna saʿyakum lashattā

There is the one who gives, who is mindful of God,

فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَىٰ وَاتَّقَىٰ

fa-ammā man aʿṭā wa-ittaqā

who testifies to goodness––

وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَىٰ

waṣaddaqa bil-ḥus'nā

We shall smooth his way towards ease.

فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ

fasanuyassiruhu lil'yus'rā

There is the one who is miserly, who is self-satisfied,

وَأَمَّا مَنْ بَخِلَ وَاسْتَغْنَىٰ

wa-ammā man bakhila wa-is'taghnā

who denies goodness––

وَكَذَّبَ بِالْحُسْنَىٰ

wakadhaba bil-ḥus'nā

We shall smooth his way towards hardship

فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَىٰ

fasanuyassiruhu lil'ʿus'rā

and his wealth will not help him as he falls.

وَمَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُ مَالُهُ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰ

wamā yugh'nī ʿanhu māluhu idhā taraddā

Our part is to provide guidance––

إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا لَلْهُدَىٰ

inna ʿalaynā lalhudā

this world and the next belong to Us––

وَإِنَّ لَنَا لَلْآخِرَةَ وَالْأُولَىٰ

wa-inna lanā lalākhirata wal-ūlā

so I warn you about the raging Fire,

فَأَنْذَرْتُكُمْ نَارًا تَلَظَّىٰ

fa-andhartukum nāran talaẓẓā

in which none but the most wicked one will burn,

لَا يَصْلَاهَا إِلَّا الْأَشْقَى

lā yaṣlāhā illā l-ashqā

who denied [the truth], and turned away.

الَّذِي كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

alladhī kadhaba watawallā

The most pious one will be spared this––

وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الْأَتْقَى

wasayujannabuhā l-atqā

who gives his wealth away as self-purification,

الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّىٰ

alladhī yu'tī mālahu yatazakkā

not to return a favour to anyone

وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ تُجْزَىٰ

wamā li-aḥadin ʿindahu min niʿ'matin tuj'zā

but for the sake of his Lord the Most High––

إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الْأَعْلَىٰ

illā ib'tighāa wajhi rabbihi l-aʿlā

and he will be well pleased.

وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَىٰ

walasawfa yarḍā