Surah Al-Layl

وَٱلَّيۡلِ إِذَا يَغۡشَىٰ ﴿١﴾

By the night when it covers

وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّىٰ ﴿٢﴾

And [by] the day when it appears

وَمَا خَلَقَ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰٓ ﴿٣﴾

And [by] He who created the male and female

إِنَّ سَعۡيَكُمۡ لَشَتَّىٰ ﴿٤﴾

Indeed, your efforts are diverse

فَأَمَّا مَنۡ أَعۡطَىٰ وَٱتَّقَىٰ ﴿٥﴾

As for he who gives and fears Allah

وَصَدَّقَ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ ﴿٦﴾

And believes in the best [reward]

فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلۡيُسۡرَىٰ ﴿٧﴾

We will ease him toward ease

وَأَمَّا مَنۢ بَخِلَ وَٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰ ﴿٨﴾

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

وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ ﴿٩﴾

And denies the best [reward]

فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلۡعُسۡرَىٰ ﴿١٠﴾

We will ease him toward difficulty

وَمَا يُغۡنِي عَنۡهُ مَالُهُۥٓ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰٓ ﴿١١﴾

And what will his wealth avail him when he falls

إِنَّ عَلَيۡنَا لَلۡهُدَىٰ ﴿١٢﴾

Indeed, [incumbent] upon Us is guidance

وَإِنَّ لَنَا لَلۡأٓخِرَةَ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ ﴿١٣﴾

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

فَأَنذَرۡتُكُمۡ نَارٗا تَلَظَّىٰ ﴿١٤﴾

So I have warned you of a Fire which is blazing

لَا يَصۡلَىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلۡأَشۡقَى ﴿١٥﴾

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

ٱلَّذِي كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ ﴿١٦﴾

Who had denied and turned away

وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا ٱلۡأَتۡقَى ﴿١٧﴾

But the righteous one will avoid it

ٱلَّذِي يُؤۡتِي مَالَهُۥ يَتَزَكَّىٰ ﴿١٨﴾

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

وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُۥ مِن نِّعۡمَةٖ تُجۡزَىٰٓ ﴿١٩﴾

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

إِلَّا ٱبۡتِغَآءَ وَجۡهِ رَبِّهِ ٱلۡأَعۡلَىٰ ﴿٢٠﴾

But only seeking the countenance of his Lord, Most High

وَلَسَوۡفَ يَرۡضَىٰ ﴿٢١﴾

And he is going to be satisfied

About Surah Al-Layl

Surah Al-Layl (The Night) contrasts the two paths of human behavior: the path of charity, piety, and belief in goodness versus the path of greed, self-sufficiency, and denial. It promises divine ease for those who strive for Allah's sake.

Key Themes & Lessons

• Duality in human efforts and their ultimate consequences
• Virtue of generous charity for the pleasure of Allah alone
• Divine assurance of ease for the righteous and hardship for the arrogant

When Commonly Recited

Frequently recited during night prayers (Tahajjud), Isha Salah, and daily Quran recitation.

Authentic Sources & References