The Quran

Preface

أَمَّن هُوَ قانِتٌ آناءَ اللَّيلِ ساجِدًا وَقائِمًا يَحذَرُ الآخِرَةَ وَيَرجو رَحمَةَ رَبِّهِ ۗ قُل هَل يَستَوِي الَّذينَ يَعلَمونَ وَالَّذينَ لا يَعلَمونَ ۗ إِنَّما يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الأَلبابِ

Yusuf Ali

Is one who worships devoutly during the hour of the night¹ prostrating himself or standing (in adoration), who takes heed of the Hereafter, and who places his hope in the Mercy of his Lord - (like one who does not)? Say: “Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition.²

Cf. 3:113-117. It is a great thing when a man gets into the attitude of humble devotion to God. To him the Hereafter is a real thing, and he prepares for it with good works. He does not build his hopes on the vanities of this world, but on God’s Grace and Mercy. Such a man is “endued with understanding” and receives God’s Message with fervour and alacrity. He is not to be compared with the cynic or the unbeliever, who knows nothing of the real value of the inner life.
Cf. 13:19.