English - Ahmed Ali

Keep watch all the night except some,

Or a little more, and recite the Qur'an slowly and distinctly.

Surely in the watches of the night the soul is most receptive and words more telling.

But recite the name of your Lord withdrawing yourself from everything, devoting yourself exclusively to Him.

Bear with patience what they say, and gracefully come away from them.

Verily We shall have fetters with Us, and a roaring furnace,

On the day the earth and mountains will rock violently, and the mountains turn to a heap of poured-out sand.

But the Pharaoh disobeyed the apostle; so We seized him with a grievous punishment.

The heavens itself will be rent asunder (on that day). His promise is bound to be fulfilled.

Your Lord surely knows that you are occupied with your devotions for nearly two-thirds of the night, or half the night, or one-third of it, as do many others with you. Yet God prescribes the measure of night and day. He knows you cannot calculate it, and so turns to you in benevolence. So recite as much of the Qur'an as you can easily. He knows some among you will be sick, and some will be travelling over the earth in search of the bounty of God, and some fighting in the way of God. So read as much from it as you can easily, and be firm in devotion, pay the zakat, and lend a goodly loan to God. And what you send for yourself of the good, you will find it with God better and greater in reward. So ask for God's forgiveness. Indeed God is forgiving and kind.