073.001 O thou wrapped up in thy raiment!
073.002 Keep vigil the night long, save a little -
073.003 A half thereof, or abate a little thereof
073.004 Or add (a little) thereto - and chant the Qur'an in measure,
073.005 For we shall charge thee with a word of weight.
073.006 Lo! the vigil of the night is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain.
073.007 Lo! thou hast by day a chain of business.
073.008 So remember the name of thy Lord and devote thyself with a complete devotion -
073.009 Lord of the East and the West; there is no God save Him; so choose thou Him alone for thy defender -
073.010 And bear with patience what they utter, and part from them with a fair leave- taking.
073.011 Leave Me to deal with the deniers, lords of ease and comfort (in this life); and do thou respite them awhile.
073.012 Lo! with Us are heavy fetters and a raging fire,
073.013 And food which choketh (the partaker), and a painful doom
073.014 On the day when the earth and the hills rock, and the hills become a heap of running sand.
073.015 Lo! We have sent unto you a messenger as witness against you, even as We sent unto Pharaoh a messenger.
073.016 But Pharaoh rebelled against the messenger, whereupon We seized him with no gentle grip.
073.017 Then how, if ye disbelieve, will ye protect yourselves upon the day which will turn children grey,
073.018 The very heaven being then rent asunder. His promise is to be fulfilled.
073.019 Lo! This is a Reminder. Let him who will, then, choose a way unto his Lord.
073.020 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.