سُوْرَةُ الْمُزَّمِّلِ
Surah Al-Muzzammil (73) — Ayah 20
۞ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَىِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُۥ وَثُلُثَهُۥ وَطَآئِفَةٌ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَعَكَ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَىٰ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ ۚ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًا ۚ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌۢ ﴿20﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, your Lord knows that you do stand (to pray at night) a little less than two thirds of the night, or half the night, or a third of the night, and also a party of those with you. And Allâh measures the night and the day. He knows that you are unable to pray the whole night, so He has turned to you (in mercy). So, recite you of the Qur’ân as much as may be easy for you. He knows that there will be some among you sick, others travelling through the land, seeking of Allâh’s Bounty, yet others fighting in Allâh’s Cause. So recite as much of the Qur’ân as may be easy (for you), and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât ) and give Zakât, and lend to Allâh a goodly loan. And whatever good you send before you for yourselves (i.e. Nawâfil non-obligatory acts of worship: prayers, charity, fasting, Hajj and ‘Umrah), you will certainly find it with Allâh, better and greater in reward. And seek Forgiveness of Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
رَبَّكَ
rabbaka
your Lord
يَعْلَمُ
yaʿlamu
knows
أَنَّكَ
annaka
that you
تَقُومُ
taqūmu
stand
أَدْنَىٰ
adnā
(a little) less
مِن
min
than
ثُلُثَىِ
thuluthayi
two-thirds
ٱلَّيْلِ
al-layli
(of) the night
وَنِصْفَهُۥ
waniṣ'fahu
and half of it
وَثُلُثَهُۥ
wathuluthahu
and a third of it
وَطَآئِفَةٌۭ
waṭāifatun
and (so do) a group
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
مَعَكَ ۚ
maʿaka
(are) with you
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
يُقَدِّرُ
yuqaddiru
determines
ٱلَّيْلَ
al-layla
the night
وَٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ
wal-nahāra
and the day
عَلِمَ
ʿalima
He knows
أَن
an
that
لَّن
lan
not
تُحْصُوهُ
tuḥ'ṣūhu
you count it
فَتَابَ
fatāba
so He has turned
عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ
ʿalaykum
to you
فَٱقْرَءُوا۟
fa-iq'raū
so recite
مَا
mā
what
تَيَسَّرَ
tayassara
is easy
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْقُرْءَانِ ۚ
l-qur'āni
the Quran
عَلِمَ
ʿalima
He knows
أَن
an
that
سَيَكُونُ
sayakūnu
there will be
مِنكُم
minkum
among you
مَّرْضَىٰ ۙ
marḍā
sick
وَءَاخَرُونَ
waākharūna
and others
يَضْرِبُونَ
yaḍribūna
traveling
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the land
يَبْتَغُونَ
yabtaghūna
seeking
مِن
min
of
فَضْلِ
faḍli
(the) Bounty
ٱللَّهِ ۙ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَءَاخَرُونَ
waākharūna
and others
يُقَـٰتِلُونَ
yuqātilūna
fighting
فِى
fī
in
سَبِيلِ
sabīli
(the) way
ٱللَّهِ ۖ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
فَٱقْرَءُوا۟
fa-iq'raū
So recite
مَا
mā
what
تَيَسَّرَ
tayassara
is easy
مِنْهُ ۚ
min'hu
of it
وَأَقِيمُوا۟
wa-aqīmū
and establish
ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ
l-ṣalata
the prayer
وَءَاتُوا۟
waātū
and give
ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ
l-zakata
the zakah
وَأَقْرِضُوا۟
wa-aqriḍū
and loan
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
قَرْضًا
qarḍan
a loan
حَسَنًۭا ۚ
ḥasanan
goodly
وَمَا
wamā
And whatever
تُقَدِّمُوا۟
tuqaddimū
you send forth
لِأَنفُسِكُم
li-anfusikum
for yourselves
مِّنْ
min
of
خَيْرٍۢ
khayrin
good
تَجِدُوهُ
tajidūhu
you will find it
عِندَ
ʿinda
with
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
هُوَ
huwa
It
خَيْرًۭا
khayran
(will be) better
وَأَعْظَمَ
wa-aʿẓama
and greater
أَجْرًۭا ۚ
ajran
(in) reward
وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟
wa-is'taghfirū
And seek forgiveness
ٱللَّهَ ۖ
l-laha
(of) Allah
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
غَفُورٌۭ
ghafūrun
(is) Oft-Forgiving
رَّحِيمٌۢ
raḥīmun
Most Merciful
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
20. 1 When, at the beginning of the Surah, the command was given to stand (in prayer) for half the night or less or more, the Prophet ﷺ and a group of his companions would stand in prayer at night, sometimes for less or more than two-thirds, sometimes for half the night, sometimes for a third of the night, as mentioned here. But, firstly, this standing at night was extremely burdensome, and secondly, it was difficult to estimate the time—whether it was half the night or a third—therefore, in this verse, Allah revealed the command of concession, which, according to some, gives permission to leave the standing (in prayer).
20. 2 That is, Allah can count the hours of the night—how many have passed and how many remain—but for you, it is impossible to estimate.
20. 3 When it is not possible for you to accurately estimate the passing of the night, then how can you remain engaged in the prayer of Tahajjud for the prescribed times?
20. 4 That is, for trade and business, you will have to travel, and go from one city to another, or from one country to another.
20. 5 Similarly, in jihad, one has to undertake arduous journeys and hardships, and these three things—illness, travel, and jihad—occur to everyone from time to time, so Allah has given a concession in the command of standing at night, because in all three conditions, it is extremely difficult and a great test of patience.
20. 6 Along with the reasons for concession, this command of concession is repeated again for emphasis.
20. 7 That is, the five prayers which are obligatory.
20. 8 That is, spend in the way of Allah as needed and as you are able; it is called a good loan because Allah will grant in return a reward up to seven hundred times or even more. The voluntary prayers, charity, and other good deeds—whatever you do, you will receive the best reward from Allah. According to most commentators, this verse was revealed in Madinah, so they say that half of it is Makki and half is Madani.
20. 2 That is, Allah can count the hours of the night—how many have passed and how many remain—but for you, it is impossible to estimate.
20. 3 When it is not possible for you to accurately estimate the passing of the night, then how can you remain engaged in the prayer of Tahajjud for the prescribed times?
20. 4 That is, for trade and business, you will have to travel, and go from one city to another, or from one country to another.
20. 5 Similarly, in jihad, one has to undertake arduous journeys and hardships, and these three things—illness, travel, and jihad—occur to everyone from time to time, so Allah has given a concession in the command of standing at night, because in all three conditions, it is extremely difficult and a great test of patience.
20. 6 Along with the reasons for concession, this command of concession is repeated again for emphasis.
20. 7 That is, the five prayers which are obligatory.
20. 8 That is, spend in the way of Allah as needed and as you are able; it is called a good loan because Allah will grant in return a reward up to seven hundred times or even more. The voluntary prayers, charity, and other good deeds—whatever you do, you will receive the best reward from Allah. According to most commentators, this verse was revealed in Madinah, so they say that half of it is Makki and half is Madani.
