Sacred-texts Islam Hypertext Qur'an Index Previous Next
Arabic (Unicode) Arabic (Translit.) Palmer Pickthall
1 O thou wrapped up in thy raiment!
2 Keep vigil the night long, save a little -
3 A half thereof, or abate a little thereof
4 Or add (a little) thereto - and chant the Qur'an in measure,
5 For we shall charge thee with a word of weight.
6 Lo! the vigil of the night is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain.
7 Lo! thou hast by day a chain of business.
8 So remember the name of thy Lord and devote thyself with a complete devotion -
10 And bear with patience what they utter, and part from them with a fair leave- taking.
12 Lo! with Us are heavy fetters and a raging fire,
13 And food which choketh (the partaker), and a painful doom
14 On the day when the earth and the hills rock, and the hills become a heap of running sand.
16 But Pharaoh rebelled against the messenger, whereupon We seized him with no gentle grip.
18 The very heaven being then rent asunder. His promise is to be fulfilled.
19 Lo! This is a Reminder. Let him who will, then, choose a way unto his Lord.
20
Lo! thy Lord knoweth how thou keepest vigil sometimes nearly two-thirds of the night, or (sometimes) half or a third thereof, as do a party of those with thee. Allah measureth the night and the day. He knoweth that ye count it not, and turneth unto you in mercy. Recite, then, of the Qur'an that which is easy for you. He knoweth that there are sick folk among you, while others travel in the land in search of Allah's bounty, and others (still) are fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite of it that which is easy (for you), and establish worship and pay the poor-due, and (so) lend unto Allah a goodly loan. Whatsoever good ye send before you for your souls, ye will find it with Allah, better and greater in the recompense. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.