Al-Lail

وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰ ۱

{ واليل إذا يغشى } بظلمته كل ما بين السماء والأرض.

By the night as it enshrouds, with its darkness all that is between the heaven and the earth,

وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّىٰ ۲

{ والنهار إذا تجلى } تكشف وظهر، و(إذا) في الموضعين لمجرد الظرفية والعامل فيها فعل القسم.

and [by] the day as it unveils, [as] it is revealed and becomes manifest (idhā, ‘as’, in both instances is an absolute adverbial, operated by the verbal action of the oath),

وَمَا خَلَقَ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلْأُنثَىٰٓ ۳

{ ومآ } بمعنى من أو مصدرية { خلق الذكر والأنثى } آدم وحواء وكل ذكر وكل أنثى، والخنثى المشكل عندنا ذكر أو أنثى عند الله تعالى، فيحنث بتكليمه من حلف لا يكلم ذكرا ولا أنثى.

and [by] the One Who (mā either functions as man, ‘the One Who’, or it is related to a verbal action) created the male and the female, Adam and Eve, or every male and female — the hermaphrodite, although problematic for us, is [in fact] either male or female according to God, and therefore a person [actually] commits perjury if he speaks with one [thinking that] because he has sworn not to speak with a male or a female; [he may do so with a hermaphrodite].

إِنَّ سَعْيَكُمْ لَشَتَّىٰ ۴

{ إن سعيكم } عملكم { لشتى } مختلف فعامل للجنة بالطاعة وعامل للنار بالمعصية.

Assuredly your efforts, your deeds, are dissimilar, with some working towards Paradise by means of obedience, while others [in effect] are working towards the Fire through [acts of] disobedience.

فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَىٰ وَٱتَّقَىٰ ۵

{ فأما من أعطى } حق الله { واتقى } الله.

As for him who gives, what is due to God, and is fearful, of God,

وَصَدَّقَ بِٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۶

{ وصدق بالحسنى } أي بلا إله إلا الله في الموضعين.

and affirms the truth of the best [word], that is, [the truth] of ‘there is no god but God’ (in both places [here and below, verse 9]),

فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ ۷

{ فسنيسره لليسرى } للجنة.

We shall surely ease his way to [the abode of] ease, to Paradise.

وَأَمَّا مَنۢ بَخِلَ وَٱسْتَغْنَىٰ ۸

{ وأما من بخل } بحق الله { واستغنى } عن ثوابه.

But as for him who is niggardly, with what is due to God, and deems himself self-sufficient, without need for His reward, [92:9] and denies the best [word],

وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۹

{ وكذب بالحسنى }.

and denies the best [word],

فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلْعُسْرَىٰ ۱۰

{ فسنيسره } نهيئه { للعسرى } للنار.

We shall surely ease his way, We shall pave for him the way, to hardship, to the Fire;

وَمَا يُغْنِى عَنْهُ مَالُهُۥٓ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰٓ ۱۱

{ وما } نافية { يغنى عنه ماله إذا تردى } في النار.

And his wealth shall not (mā is or negation) avail him when he perishes, in the Fire.

إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا لَلْهُدَىٰ ۱۲

{ إن علينا للهدى } لتبيين طريق الهدى من طريق الضلال ليمتثل أمرنا بسلوك الأول ونهينا عن ارتكاب الثاني.

Truly with Us lies [all] guidance, the pointing out of the path of guidance from that of error, so that Our command may be followed by adhering to the former [manner of conduct] and that Our prohibition [may also be heeded] by refraining from falling into the latter [manner of conduct].