Sūrah Al-Lail (سورة الليل)
Meaning: The Night
Chapter: 92
Verses: 21
Place of Revelation: Meccan
🌌 Name & Theme
The name Al-Lail means "The Night", taken from the first verse. The surah contrasts the night and day, male and female, and more importantly, the two paths of human life: righteousness and corruption.
It teaches us that:
Every soul is on a path — and that path leads to either ease and Paradise, or hardship and Hell.
📖 Verse-by-Verse Summary & Reflection
1. Oaths About Opposites (Verses 1–3)
وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰ – وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّىٰ – وَمَا خَلَقَ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلْأُنثَىٰ
“By the night when it covers,
And the day when it appears,
And [by] He who created the male and the female…”
🔁 These verses highlight natural opposites:
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Night and day
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Male and female
👉 This reflects a larger truth: human life is also split into two opposite paths — those who seek goodness and those who reject it.
2. The Two Paths (Verses 4–7)
"Indeed, your efforts are diverse.
As for the one who gives [in charity], fears [Allah],
And affirms the best [truth],
We will ease him toward ease."
🌟 The first group:
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Gives generously,
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Has taqwa (God-consciousness),
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Believes in the ultimate good (such as the reward from Allah, or Paradise).
➡️ For this person, Allah makes the path of goodness easier.
🛤️ “Ease” here refers to both:
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Ease in this world (clarity, contentment, support),
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And ease in the next (Paradise).
3. The Opposite Path (Verses 8–10)
"But as for the one who withholds and considers himself self-sufficient,
And denies the best [truth],
We will ease him toward difficulty."
💔 The second group:
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Withholds from giving,
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Feels independent of Allah,
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Denies the ultimate truth (e.g., the Day of Judgment or divine accountability)
➡️ For this person, the road leads to hardship, loss, and ultimately, Hell.
4. The Futility of Wealth (Verse 11)
"And what will his wealth avail him when he falls?"
💸 In the face of death, wealth cannot save a person.
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You can’t buy your way out of accountability.
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True richness is in faith and action, not gold and status.
5. Allah’s Role in Guidance (Verses 12–13)
"Indeed, upon Us is guidance.
And indeed, to Us belongs the Hereafter and the first [life]."
🧭 Allah reminds us:
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He provides guidance through revelation and signs.
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Both this life and the afterlife are in His control.
You are never alone — but you must choose the right path.
6. The Generous Believer (Verses 14–21)
"So I have warned you of a blazing Fire.
None will burn in it except the wicked one,
Who denied and turned away.
But the righteous one will be spared it —
He who gives his wealth to purify himself,
Not in return for a favor to be repaid,
But only seeking the Face of his Lord, Most High.
And he will surely be satisfied."
🌿 These verses describe the ideal believer:
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Gives sincerely, not for show or return.
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Seeks only Allah’s pleasure.
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Is rewarded with ultimate satisfaction — in this life and the next.
🧠 Key Themes of Sūrah Al-Lail
| Theme | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Moral Choice | Life presents two clear paths — we choose which to walk. |
| Opposites in Nature and Spirit | Just as night and day are opposites, so are good and evil paths. |
| Sincerity Matters | Charity must be done for Allah’s sake, not to impress others. |
| Wealth Is a Test | It’s not a protection — it’s a means to earn reward or punishment. |
| Divine Justice | Every soul’s effort is known, and will be repaid perfectly. |
🕊️ Reflection
“And he will be satisfied.” (وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَىٰ)
This is Allah’s promise to the sincere believer: contentment, fulfillment, peace.
True satisfaction doesn’t come from what you have, but who you are before your Creator.
📌 Quick Structure Summary
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | Oaths by night, day, and creation |
| 4–7 | The righteous path and its reward |
| 8–10 | The path of denial and its ruin |
| 11–13 | The worthlessness of wealth in the Hereafter |
| 14–21 | The fate of the wicked and the righteous |
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