Revealed in Makkah, Surah Al-Layl (The Night) contrasts two opposite paths of human action: the path of charity, consciousness of God, and belief in goodness, which leads to ease; and the path of greed, self-sufficiency, and disbelief, which leads to hardship. It promises that those who spend their wealth purely to purify themselves and please their Lord will find complete satisfaction and safety from the fire.
Transliteration
Waallayli itha yaghsha
Translation
By the night as it covers
God swears by the night as its shadows conceal the earth in deep darkness.
Transliteration
Waalnnahari itha tajalla
Translation
And the day as it reveals
God swears by the morning daylight as it bursts through the night in brilliant illumination.
Transliteration
Wama khalaqa alththakara waalontha
Translation
And He who created the male and the female
God swears by the divine design of biological gender and complementary pairs in creation.
Transliteration
Inna saAAyakum lashatta
Translation
Your endeavors are indeed diverse
The divine conclusion sworn to by the contrasting oaths: just as day and night are polar opposites, human strivings, lifestyles, and ultimate destinations are fundamentally diverse—some leading to eternal peace, others to spiritual ruin.
Transliteration
Faamma man aAAta waittaqa
Translation
As for him who gives and is righteous
The formula for divine facilitation toward good: whoever spends in charity, practices God-consciousness, and believes sincerely in the ultimate good, God will make the pathway to righteous ease smooth and natural for them ('Fasanuyassiruhu lil-yusra').
Transliteration
Wasaddaqa bialhusna
Translation
And confirms goodness
Transliteration
Fasanuyassiruhu lilyusra
Translation
We will ease his way towards ease
Transliteration
Waamma man bakhila waistaghna
Translation
But as for him who is stingy and complacent
The formula for spiritual destruction: whoever hoards wealth stingily, considers himself self-sufficient without God ('Istaghna'), and rejects moral truth, God will make the pathway to misery and ruin easy for them.
Transliteration
Wakaththaba bialhusna
Translation
And denies goodness
Transliteration
Fasanuyassiruhu lilAAusra
Translation
We will ease his way towards difficulty
Transliteration
Wama yughnee AAanhu maluhu itha taradda
Translation
And his money will not avail him when he plummets
Transliteration
Inna AAalayna lalhuda
Translation
It is upon Us to guide
Transliteration
Wainna lana lalakhirata waaloola
Translation
And to Us belong the Last and the First
Transliteration
Faanthartukum naran talaththa
Translation
I have warned you of a Fierce Blaze
Transliteration
La yaslaha illa alashqa
Translation
None will burn in it except the very wicked
Transliteration
Allathee kaththaba watawalla
Translation
He who denies and turns away
Transliteration
Wasayujannabuha alatqa
Translation
But the devout will avoid it
Historically honored as a divine tribute to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq ('Al-Atqa' - The Most God-Conscious): Abu Bakr spent vast fortunes in Mecca purchasing and emancipating tortured Muslim slaves (such as Bilal and Amir ibn Fuhayrah). When his father asked why he bought weak slaves who could not physically fight for him, Abu Bakr replied that he sought only God's pleasure; these verses were revealed promising that he would be fully pleased in the Hereafter.
Transliteration
Allathee yutee malahu yatazakka
Translation
He who gives his money to become pure
Transliteration
Wama liahadin AAindahu min niAAmatin tujza
Translation
Seeking no favor in return
Transliteration
Illa ibtighaa wajhi rabbihi alaAAla
Translation
Only seeking the acceptance of his Lord, the Most High
Transliteration
Walasawfa yarda
Translation
And he will be satisfied