وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰ

CONSIDER the night as it veils [the earth] in darkness, (1)

وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّىٰ

and the day as it rises bright! (2)

وَمَا خَلَقَ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنْثَىٰ

Consider the creation of the male and the female! (3)

إِنَّ سَعْيَكُمْ لَشَتَّىٰ

Verily, [O men,] you aim at most divergent ends! (4)

فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَىٰ وَاتَّقَىٰ

Thus, as for him who gives [to others] and is conscious of God, (5)

وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَىٰ

and believes in the truth of the ultimate good – (6)

فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ

for him shall We make easy the path towards [ultimate] ease. (7)

وَأَمَّا مَنْ بَخِلَ وَاسْتَغْنَىٰ

But as for him who is niggardly, and thinks that he is self-sufficient, (8)

وَكَذَّبَ بِالْحُسْنَىٰ

and calls the ultimate good a lie – (9)

وَمَا يُغْنِي عَنْهُ مَالُهُ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰ

and what will his wealth avail him when he goes down [to his grave]? (11)

إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا لَلْهُدَىٰ

BEHOLD, it is indeed for Us to grace [you] with guidance; (12)

وَإِنَّ لَنَا لَلْآخِرَةَ وَالْأُولَىٰ

and, behold, Ours is [the dominion over] the life to come as well as [over] this earlier part [of your life]: (13)

فَأَنْذَرْتُكُمْ نَارًا تَلَظَّىٰ

and so I warn you of the raging fire – (14)

لَا يَصْلَاهَا إِلَّا الْأَشْقَى

[the fire] which none shall have to endure but that most hapless wretch (15)

الَّذِي كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

who gives the lie to the truth and turns away [from it]. (16)

وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الْأَتْقَى

For distant from it shall remain he who is truly conscious of God: (17)

الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّىٰ

he that spends his possessions [on others] so that he might grow in purity – (18)

وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ تُجْزَىٰ

not as payment for favours received, (19)

إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الْأَعْلَىٰ

but only out of a longing for the countenance of his Sustainer, the All-Highest: (20)

وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَىٰ

and such, indeed, shall in time be well-pleased. (21)