Sura 73

Surah 73. The Enshrouded One, Folded in Garments, Bundled Up

73:1. O thou folded in garments (Revelation 3:4; 16:15)!
73:2. Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night,-
73:3. Half of it,- or a little less,
73:4. Or a little more; and recite the Koran in slow, measured rhythmic tones.
73:5. Soon shall We send down to thee a weighty Message.
73:6. Truly the rising by night is most potent for governing (the soul), and most suitable for (framing) the Word (of Prayer and Praise).
73:7. True, there is for thee by day prolonged occupation with ordinary duties:
73:8. But keep in remembrance the name of thy Lord and devote thyself to Him whole-heartedly.
73:9. (He is) Lord of the East and the West: there is no God but He: take Him therefore for (thy) Disposer of Affairs.
73:10. And have patience with what they say, and leave them with noble (dignity).
73:11. And leave Me (alone to deal with) those in possession of the good things of life, who (yet) deny the Truth; and bear with them for a little while.
73:12. With Us are Fetters (to bind them)(Enoch 53:3-4), and a Fire (to burn them),
73:13. And a Food that chokes, and a Penalty Grievous.
73:14. One Day the "earth" and the "mountains" will be in violent commotion. And the "mountains" will be as a heap of sand poured out and flowing down.
73:15. We have sent to you, (O men!) an Apostle, to be a witness concerning you, even as We sent an Apostle to Pharaoh.
73:16. But Pharaoh disobeyed the Apostle; so We seized him with a heavy Punishment.
73:17. Then how shall ye, if ye deny "I AM", guard yourselves against a Day that will make children hoary-headed?-
73:18. Whereon the sky will be cleft asunder? His Promise needs must be accomplished.
73:19. Verily this is a Warning: therefore, whoso will, let him take The (Straight) Way to his Lord!
73:20. Thy Lord doth know that thou standest forth (to prayer) nearly two-thirds of the night, or half the night, or a third of the night, and so doth a party of those with thee. But "I AM" doth appoint night and day in due measure. He knoweth that ye are unable to keep count thereof. So He hath turned to you (in mercy): read ye, therefore, of the Koran as much as may be easy for you. He knoweth that there may be (some) among you in ill-health; others travelling through the land, seeking of "I AM"'s bounty; yet others fighting in "I AM"'s Cause. Read ye, therefore, as much of the Koran as may be easy (for you); and establish Constant Prayer (1 Thess. 5:17) and give regular Charity; and loan to "I AM" a Beautiful Loan. And whatever good ye send forth for your souls, ye shall find it in "I AM"'s Presence,- yea, better and greater, in Reward (Matthew 6:19-21). And seek ye the Grace of "I AM": for God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

JAH