Home › Surahs › Surah Al-Muzzammil › Verse 20
Surah Al-Muzzammil, verse 20: meaning and tafsir
۞ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَىِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُۥ وَثُلُثَهُۥ وَطَآئِفَةٌ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَعَكَ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَىٰ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يُقَٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ ۚ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًا ۚ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌۢ ٢٠
Indeed, your Lord knows that you [O Prophet] stand up in prayer for nearly two-thirds of the night, or half of it, or one-third of it, as do others among your companions. Allah determines the night and the day; He knows that you [Muslims] cannot keep an accurate count of it, so He pardoned you[7]. Recite then as much of the Qur’an as is easy for you [in the night prayers]. He knows that there are some among you who will be ill, and others traveling in the land, seeking the grace of Allah, and others fighting in Allah’s way. So recite as much of it as is easy for you; establish prayer and give zakah; and lend to Allah a goodly loan[8]. Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will find it with Allah, much better in condition and much greater in reward[9]. And seek forgiveness of Allah, for indeed Allah is All-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.
Translation of the meanings: Rowwad Translation Center — version 1.0.19 · QuranEnc.com
[7] The ruling mentioned at the beginning of this surah is lightened here. So from now on, the believers do not have to stick to any of the portions specified there; rather, they can pray whatever they can at night. It is out of the mercy of Allah upon His servants that He does not want hardship for them.
[8] i.e., giving in charity and for His causes.
[9] It will be rewarded tenfold, or 700-fold, and Allah gives even more to whoever He wills. See 2:261.
Ask about this verseAsk on WhatsApp
Al-Mukhtasar: Abridged Explanation of the Quran
Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies · QuranEnc.com
20. Your Lord, O Messenger, knows that you sometimes spend less than two thirds of the night in prayer, sometimes you stand for half the night, sometimes a third, and a group of the believers stand with you. Allah determines the night and day and counts their hours. He (may He be glorified) knows that you are not able to count and keep a record of its hours, and thus standing for the most part of it seeking the required will be difficult for you. He therefore has accepted your repentance. So pray at night as much as is easy for you. Allah knows that some of you, O believers, may be ill and constrained by illness - others will be travelling seeking Allah’s provision, and others will be fighting the disbelievers seeking Allah’s pleasure and to promote Allah’s word. For these people standing in prayer at night is difficult, so pray at night as much as is easy for you and discharge the obligatory prayer in the most perfect manner. Give the charity of your wealth and spend from your wealth in Allah’s path. Whatever good you send forward for yourselves, you will find it to be better and greater in reward. Seek forgiveness from Allah. Allah Forgiving towards those of His servants who repent and He is merciful to them.
Quran text: Tanzil Project (Tanzil Quran Text, Uthmani v1.1, CC BY 3.0). The translation and tafsir are quoted word for word, unchanged, from the Noble Quran Encyclopedia, QuranEnc.com, each credited to its source. Details on our sources page. These texts are quoted exactly as published; no answer is written by AI. Quran Chat does not issue fatwas.