The Night (Al-Layl)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
CONSIDER the night as it veils [the earth] in darkness, 1 And the day when it shines in all its glory, 2 And Him Who hath created male and female, 3 surely your strivings are divergent. 4 For him that gives and fears (Allah) 5 and believes in the truth of what is right, 6 Surely We will ease his way unto the state of ease. 7 But he who is a greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient, 8 And denied the best matter, 9 We shall pave his way to hardship, 10 And his riches will not avail him when he falls headlong (into the Abyss). 11 Lo! Ours it is (to give) the guidance 12 And verily unto Us (belong) the End and the Beginning. 13 Therefore I warn you of the fire that flames: 14 None shall reach it but those most unfortunate ones 15 Who give the lie to Truth and turn their backs. 16 He will be far away from the most pious. (The first Caliph S. Abu Bakr Siddiq) 17 who spend for the cause of God and purify themselves. 18 And none hath with him any favour for reward, 19 acting only for the sake of his Lord the Most High -- 20 and such, indeed, shall in time be well-pleased. 21