1. O thou folded in garments!
2. Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night,-
3. Nisfahu awi onqus minhu qaleelan
3. Half of it,- or a little less,
4. Aw zid AAalayhi warattili alqur-ana tarteelan
4. Or a little more; and recite the Qur'an in slow, measured rhythmic tones.
5. Inna sanulqee AAalayka qawlan thaqeelan
5. Soon shall We send down to thee a weighty Message.
6. Inna nashi-ata allayli hiya ashaddu wat-an waaqwamu qeelan
6. Truly the rising by night is most potent for governing (the soul), and most suitable for (framing) the Word (of Prayer and Praise).
7. Inna laka fee alnnahari sabhan taweelan
7. True, there is for thee by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties:
8. Waothkuri isma rabbika watabattal ilayhi tabteelan
8. But keep in remembrance the name of thy Lord and devote thyself to Him whole-heartedly.
9. Rabbu almashriqi waalmaghribi la ilaha illa huwa faittakhithhu wakeelan
9. (He is) Lord of the East and the West: there is no god but He: take Him therefore for (thy) Disposer of Affairs.
10. Waisbir AAala ma yaqooloona waohjurhum hajran jameelan
10. And have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble (dignity).
11. Watharnee waalmukaththibeena olee alnnaAAmati wamahhilhum qaleelan
11. And leave Me (alone to deal with) those in possession of the good things of life, who (yet) deny the Truth; and bear with them for a little while.
12. Inna ladayna ankalan wajaheeman
12. With Us are Fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them),
13. WataAAaman tha ghussatin waAAathaban aleeman
13. And a Food that chokes, and a Penalty Grievous.
14. Yawma tarjufu al-ardu waaljibalu wakanati aljibalu katheeban maheelan
14. One Day the earth and the mountains will be in violent commotion. And the mountains will be as a heap of sand poured out and flowing down.
15. Inna arsalna ilaykum rasoolan shahidan AAalaykum kama arsalna ila firAAawna rasoolan
15. We have sent to you, (O men!) an apostle, to be a witness concerning you, even as We sent an apostle to Pharaoh.
16. FaAAasa firAAawnu alrrasoola faakhathnahu akhthan wabeelan
16. But Pharaoh disobeyed the apostle; so We seized him with a heavy Punishment.
17. Fakayfa tattaqoona in kafartum yawman yajAAalu alwildana sheeban
17. Then how shall ye, if ye deny ((Allah)), guard yourselves against a Day that will make children hoary-headed?-
18. Alssamao munfatirun bihi kana waAAduhu mafAAoolan
18. Whereon the sky will be cleft asunder? His Promise needs must be accomplished.
19. Inna hathihi tathkiratun faman shaa ittakhatha ila rabbihi sabeelan
19. Verily this is an Admonition: therefore, whoso will, let him take a (straight) path to his Lord!