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سُورَةُ اللَّيۡلِ

Surah Al-Lail

The Night · 21 verses · Meccan

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

About this surah

The name. Al-Lail means "The Night," from its opening oath by the night when it covers (92:1), followed by oaths on the day and on the creation of male and female (92:1-3), leading into a statement that human efforts are genuinely diverse — pointing in different directions rather than converging on one path. It is Meccan.

What it is known for. The surah is known for its contrast between one who gives, fears Allah, and believes in the best reward, who is eased toward ease, and one who withholds, considers himself free of need, and denies the best reward, who is eased toward difficulty (92:5-10) — widely quoted on charity, and on the idea that a person's own choices set the direction their life is then eased toward. Its closing verses describe the one who gives his wealth purely to seek his Lord's countenance, expecting nothing back, not even a favor returned (92:18-21), often cited on sincerity in giving.

Reading it. At 21 ayahs it is a short surah, built almost entirely on this one contrast repeated with variation, so a first-time reader should treat it as two portraits set side by side rather than a sequence of separate points, with the closing verses adding the one detail — sincerity, no expectation of return — that separates real generosity from a transaction.

Last updated: 2026-10-23

Translation: Sahih International · alquran.cloud

  1. 1

    بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰ

    By the night when it covers

  2. 2

    وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّىٰ

    And [by] the day when it appears

  3. 3

    وَمَا خَلَقَ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلْأُنثَىٰٓ

    And [by] He who created the male and female,

  4. 4

    إِنَّ سَعْيَكُمْ لَشَتَّىٰ

    Indeed, your efforts are diverse.

  5. 5

    فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَىٰ وَٱتَّقَىٰ

    As for he who gives and fears Allah

  6. 6

    وَصَدَّقَ بِٱلْحُسْنَىٰ

    And believes in the best [reward],

  7. 7

    فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ

    We will ease him toward ease.

  8. 8

    وَأَمَّا مَنۢ بَخِلَ وَٱسْتَغْنَىٰ

    But as for he who withholds and considers himself free of need

  9. 9

    وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلْحُسْنَىٰ

    And denies the best [reward],

  10. 10

    فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلْعُسْرَىٰ

    We will ease him toward difficulty.

  11. 11

    وَمَا يُغْنِى عَنْهُ مَالُهُۥٓ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰٓ

    And what will his wealth avail him when he falls?

  12. 12

    إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا لَلْهُدَىٰ

    Indeed, [incumbent] upon Us is guidance.

  13. 13

    وَإِنَّ لَنَا لَلْءَاخِرَةَ وَٱلْأُولَىٰ

    And indeed, to Us belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].

  14. 14

    فَأَنذَرْتُكُمْ نَارًۭا تَلَظَّىٰ

    So I have warned you of a Fire which is blazing.

  15. 15

    لَا يَصْلَىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلْأَشْقَى

    None will [enter to] burn therein except the most wretched one.

  16. 16

    ٱلَّذِى كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

    Who had denied and turned away.

  17. 17

    وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا ٱلْأَتْقَى

    But the righteous one will avoid it -

  18. 18

    ٱلَّذِى يُؤْتِى مَالَهُۥ يَتَزَكَّىٰ

    [He] who gives [from] his wealth to purify himself

  19. 19

    وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُۥ مِن نِّعْمَةٍۢ تُجْزَىٰٓ

    And not [giving] for anyone who has [done him] a favor to be rewarded

  20. 20

    إِلَّا ٱبْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ

    But only seeking the countenance of his Lord, Most High.

  21. 21

    وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَىٰ

    And he is going to be satisfied.