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)

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)

فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَىٰ

for him shall We make easy the path towards hardship: (10)

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)