:1. O thou folded in garments!
:2. Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night,-
:3. Half of it,- or a little less,
:4. Or a little more; and recite the Qur'an in slow, measured rhythmic tones.
:5. Soon shall We send down to thee a weighty Message.
: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. True, there is for thee by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties:
:8. But keep in remembrance the name of thy Lord and devote thyself to Him whole-heartedly.
: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. And have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble (dignity).
: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. With Us are Fetters (to bind them), and a Fire (to burn them),
:13. And a Food that chokes, and a Penalty Grievous.
: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. We have sent to you, (O men!) a messenger, to be a witness concerning you, even as We sent a messenger to Pharaoh.
:16. But Pharaoh disobeyed the messenger; so We seized him with a heavy Punishment.
:17. Then how shall ye, if ye deny (Allah), guard yourselves against a Day that will make children hoary-headed?-
:18. Whereon the sky will be cleft asunder? His Promise needs must be accomplished.
:19. Verily this is an Admonition: therefore, whoso will, let him take a (straight) path to his Lord!
