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Chapter 92

The Nightal-Layl ( الليل )

21 verses • revealed at Meccan

»The surah that opens with the oath of the Divine One swearing by the whelming of The Night that swathes the world in darkness. It is named after “the night” (al-layl), mentioned in verse 1. The surah shows the consequences of the paths people choose and emphasizing God’s guidance and warning.«

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

Yusuf Ali: In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

1
وَاللَّيلِ إِذا يَغشىٰ

Yusuf Ali

This was one of the first Sūras to be revealed,—within the first ten; and may be placed in date close to S. 89 and S. 93. Note that in all these three Sūras the mystery and the contrast as between Night and Day are appealed to for the consolation of man in his spiritual yearning. Here we are told to strive our utmost towards God, and He will give us every help and satisfaction.
C. 272 | [92:1-21] When we consider God’s wonderful Creation, we see many mysteries—many opposites—many differences; the succession of nights and days, the creation of male and female. Can we wonder at the differences in the nature and objectives of man? He is endowed with Will, and he must strive for the Right through all his diverse paths. For the righteous, the way is made smoother for bliss; for the arrogant crooked will, the way is the smoother for Misery. But God’s guidance is always nigh, if man will choose it. And what is the goal for those who choose aright?—the sight of the Face of God Most High: for that indeed is happiness supreme.
By the Night as it conceals (the light);1
  • The evidence of three things is invoked, viz. Night, Day, and the mystery of Sex, and the conclusion is stated in verse 4, that men’s aims are diverse. But similarly there are contrasts in nature. What contrast can be greater than between Night and Day? When the Night spreads her veil, the sun’s light is hidden, but not lost. The sun is in its place all the time, and will come forth in all its glory again in its own good time. Cf. 91:3-4, and first note to verse 91:3. Man pursuing diverse aims may find, owing to his own position, God’s light obscured from him for a time, but he must strive hard to put himself in a position to reach it in all its glory.