(1) 1. O you (Prophet Muhammad) enwrapped in garments (seeking cover out of fear, after seeing the angel Gabriel)!
(2) 2. Rise to pray in the night except a little,
(3) 3. Half of it, or a little less,
(4) 4. Or a little more, and recite the Qur’an slowly and meditatively.
(5) 5. Surely We shall send down to you a weighty Word (this Qur’an, in its unparalleled excellence, and in its perfect meanings and noble ordinances).
(6) 6. Surely the rising by night (for prayer) is the firmest way to make a deeper impression on the soul and most suitable (for understanding) the Words (of God, Allah).
(7) 7. Surely you have in the day time a long occupation.
(8) 8. And remember the Name of (Allah) your Lord and devote yourself to Him with (complete) devotion.
(9) 9. (He is) the Lord of the East and the West - there is no god (worthy of worship) except Him - therefore take Him as a Disposer of (all your) affairs.
(10) 10. And bear patiently what they say, and avoid them with a gracious avoidance.
(11) 11. And leave Me to deal with the deniers, the possessors of ease and plenty, and give them respite a little.
(12) 12. Surely with Us (Allah) are heavy fetters and a flaming Fire,
(13) 13. And food that chokes and a painful Torment (for the disbelievers),
(14) 14. On the Day when the earth and the mountains will quake and the mountains will become (as) heaps of sand let loose.
(15) 15. Surely We (Allah) have sent to you a Messenger (the Prophet Muhammad), a witness upon you, as We sent a Messenger (Moses) to Pharaoh.
(16) 16. But Pharaoh disobeyed the Messenger (Moses), so We seized him with a ruinous Seizure.
(17) 17. How then, will you guard yourselves (from the Torment of Allah), if you disbelieve, on the Day which shall make children grey-headed?
(18) 18. The sky will break apart thereby; His Promise is ever brought to fulfillment.
(19) 19. Surely this is a Reminder, then let him who wills, take a Way to his (True) Lord (Allah).
(20) 20. Surely your Lord (Allah) knows that you (O Prophet Muhammad) pass in prayer almost two-thirds of the night, and (sometimes) half of it, and (sometimes) a third of it, and (also) a party of those with you; and Allah determines (the extent of) the night and the day. He knows that you are not able to pray the whole night, so He has turned to you (mercifully), therefore recite what is easy (for you) of the Qur’an. He knows that there is among you those who are sick, and others who travel in the land seeking of the bounty of Allah, and others who fight in Allah’s Way (against the forces of evil and enemies of Peace), therefore recite what is easy from it, and perform the prayer perfectly (at their prescribed times) and pay the poor-rate (to its beneficiaries) and lend to Allah a goodly loan (i.e., spend voluntarily in Allah’s Way or give a loan to a needy person, without interest), and whatever of good you send on before for yourselves, you will find it with Allah - it is better and greater in reward. And ask Forgiveness from Allah - surely Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.