The Night
The contrast of night and day leads into the diversity of human striving. Read the opening as a progression from visible contrasts to moral choices. Identify where the discussion of giving begins.
Based on Quran 92:1–5. Original study prompt, not a complete tafsir. Compare the passage ↗English Translation - Noor International Center · QuranEnc.com · v1.1.2 ↗
Issued by Noor International Center. Publisher footnotes appear with their verses.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰ
(1) By the night when it covers[1937]
وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّىٰ
(2) And [by] the day when it appears
وَمَا خَلَقَ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلْأُنثَىٰٓ
(3) And [by] He who created the male and female,
إِنَّ سَعْيَكُمْ لَشَتَّىٰ
(4) Indeed, your efforts are diverse.
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَىٰ وَٱتَّقَىٰ
(5) As for he who gives and fears Allāh
وَصَدَّقَ بِٱلْحُسْنَىٰ
(6) And believes in the best [reward].
فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ
(7) We will ease him toward ease.
وَأَمَّا مَنۢ بَخِلَ وَٱسْتَغْنَىٰ
(8) But as for he who withholds and considers himself free of need
وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلْحُسْنَىٰ
(9) And denies the best [reward],
فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلْعُسْرَىٰ
(10) We will ease him toward difficulty.
وَمَا يُغْنِى عَنْهُ مَالُهُۥٓ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰٓ
(11) And what will his wealth avail him when he falls?[1938]
إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا لَلْهُدَىٰ
(12) Indeed, [incumbent] upon Us is guidance.
وَإِنَّ لَنَا لَلْءَاخِرَةَ وَٱلْأُولَىٰ
(13) And indeed, to us belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].
فَأَنذَرْتُكُمْ نَارًۭا تَلَظَّىٰ
(14) So I have warned you of a Fire which is blazing.
لَا يَصْلَىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلْأَشْقَى
(15) None will [enter to] burn therein except the most wretched one
ٱلَّذِى كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ
(16) Who had denied and turned away.
وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا ٱلْأَتْقَى
(17) But the righteous one will avoid it –
ٱلَّذِى يُؤْتِى مَالَهُۥ يَتَزَكَّىٰ
(18) [He] who gives [from] his wealth to purify himself
وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُۥ مِن نِّعْمَةٍۢ تُجْزَىٰٓ
(19) And not [giving] for anyone who has [done him] a favor to be rewarded[1939] –
إِلَّا ٱبْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
(20) But only seeking the face [i.e., acceptance] of his Lord, Most High.
وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَىٰ
(21) And he is going to be satisfied.