Al-Layl
Makkan Period
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate
[1] By the night when it enshrouds, [2] and by the day when it breaks in its glory, [3] and by Him Who created the male and the female: [4] surely your strivings are divergent.1 [5] As for him who gave out his wealth (for Allah’s sake) and abstained (from disobeying Him), [6] and affirmed the Truth of goodness: [7] We shall facilitate for him the Way to Bliss.2 [8] As for him who was a miser and behaved with aversion (to Allah), [9] and denied the Truth of goodness:
[10] We shall facilitate for him the way to Hardship,3 [11] and his wealth shall be of no avail to him when he perishes.
[12] Surely it is for Us to show the Right Way, [13] and to Us belong the Next Life and the present. [14] I have now warned you of a Blazing Fire, [15] where none shall burn except the most wicked, [16] who rejected the Truth, calling it falsehood and turned his back on it. [17] But the God-fearing shall be kept away from it, [18] the God-fearing who spends his wealth to purify himself; [19] not as payment for any favours that he received, [20] but only to seek the good pleasure of his Lord Most High. [21] He will surely be well-pleased (with him).
1. We observe that the night and the day, and the male and the female are different from one another, and that they give rise to mutually divergent results. Likewise, human beings strive in a variety of ways and for a variety of purposes. Similarly, the results of their striving too are greatly at variance.
2. The statement that “We shall facilitate for him the Way to Bliss” means that God will facilitate man to tread the path that is in sync with his true nature.
3. “We shall facilitate for him the way to Hardship” means that God will facilitate those who choose the path that is discordant with their true nature to tread that very same path, and that will lead them to Hardship.