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Qur’an reader

92. Al-Lail · The Night

Night and day introduce contrasting human paths shaped by generosity or miserliness, trust or rejection. The surah challenges the security promised by possessions and portrays sincere giving as seeking God's approval without demanding repayment from other people.

Updated 20 October 2026Editorial review edition

Meccan (traditional classification) · 21 verses

Editorial themes: Generosity · Miserliness · Sincerity · Moral choice

English: Marmaduke Pickthall (1930), public-domain translation. Arabic: Tanzil Project, Uthmani 1.1, used verbatim under its text licence. Text provenance & limitations →

A note on Arabic, English and verse numbering

Tanzil’s Arabic source includes the opening basmala with the first verse of surahs other than 9. Pickthall’s numbered translation includes it at 1:1; at other surah openings it is not repeated within the numbered English verse. This display preserves both source conventions. The Arabic is not a collection of all variant readings.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰ

By the night enshrouding

وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّىٰ

And the day resplendent

وَمَا خَلَقَ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلْأُنثَىٰٓ

And Him Who hath created male and female,

إِنَّ سَعْيَكُمْ لَشَتَّىٰ

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

فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَىٰ وَٱتَّقَىٰ

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

وَصَدَّقَ بِٱلْحُسْنَىٰ

And believeth in goodness;

فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ

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

وَأَمَّا مَنۢ بَخِلَ وَٱسْتَغْنَىٰ

But as for him who hoardeth and deemeth himself independent,

وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلْحُسْنَىٰ

And disbelieveth in goodness;

فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلْعُسْرَىٰ

Surely We will ease his way unto adversity.

وَمَا يُغْنِى عَنْهُ مَالُهُۥٓ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰٓ

His riches will not save him when he perisheth.

إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا لَلْهُدَىٰ

Lo! Ours it is (to give) the guidance

وَإِنَّ لَنَا لَلْـَٔاخِرَةَ وَٱلْأُولَىٰ

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

فَأَنذَرْتُكُمْ نَارًا تَلَظَّىٰ

Therefor have I warned you of the flaming Fire

لَا يَصْلَىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلْأَشْقَى

Which only the most wretched must endure,

ٱلَّذِى كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

He who denieth and turneth away.

وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا ٱلْأَتْقَى

Far removed from it will be the righteous

ٱلَّذِى يُؤْتِى مَالَهُۥ يَتَزَكَّىٰ

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

وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُۥ مِن نِّعْمَةٍ تُجْزَىٰٓ

And none hath with him any favour for reward,

إِلَّا ٱبْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ

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

وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَىٰ

He verily will be content.

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