Surah Al Layl: Explanation and Benefits

By Eman Abdallah Kamel

Eman is a writer and engineer. She also studied at the Zad Academy for Islamic Studies (Shariah), an online course.

Surah al-Layl is a Meccan. It is the ninety-second surah (chapter) of the holy Quran, containing 21 verses. In this article, you will learn about the summary of Surah Al-Layl and an explanation of the verses and their benefits.

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Al-Layl (The Night)

At the beginning of Surah al-Layl, God Almighty swore by the night when it covers the earth and all that is on it with its darkness, by the day, and by the One Who created male and female, that humanity’s work is different between one who works for good and one who works for evil.

Then the verses guide us to the fact that whoever spends his money on good deeds, fears God, avoids disobeying Him, and believes in “There is no god but Allah” and resurrection after death and judgment on the Day of Resurrection, God will guide him to goodness and make his affairs easy for him.

As for whoever does not spend his money on what Allah has commanded, such as zakat, and does not fear God, and who does not believe in God, resurrection, and reckoning, God will facilitate for him the causes of misery.

Then the verses show that God Almighty has made the path of guidance clear to us. And to Allah alone belong the Hereafter and this life.

Then the verses remind us of the hellfire in the afterlife, which God Almighty has warned us about. Only the wretched infidel who denied the prophets whom God Almighty sent with truth to guide humanity to the straight path will enter this hellfire. The believer who fears God and spends part of his money on good deeds to gain God’s satisfaction will avoid it, and Allah Almighty will satisfy him by giving him a great reward.

Surah Al-Layl (The Night) is Meccan: Surah number: 92; number of verses: 21; number of words: 71.

Tafsir (Explanation)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

{1} By the night when it covers,

Meaning: Allah Almighty swears by the night when it covers the earth with its darkness.

{2} And by the day as it appears,

God Almighty swears by the day when it appears, which begins with the rising of dawn, the light that is the precursor to the rising of the sun.

To learn about the phenomenon of day and night, visit education.vic.gov.au (Day and Night).

{3} And by He Who created the male and female,

Meaning: Allah Almighty swears by Himself, Who created male and female.

Allah Almighty says:

And of all things, We created pairs, so perhaps you would be mindful. Adh-Dhariyat (The Winnowing Winds) 51:49

{4} Surely your efforts are diverse.

Meaning: The actions and efforts of people are diverse; some do good, some do evil, and some are mixed between good and bad.

{5} As for the one who gives and has Taqwa (fears Allah),

Meaning: What Allah has commanded to be given, such as zakat, charity, and spending for good. And he who fears God and stays away from forbidden things and sins.

{6} And believes in the finest reward,

Meaning: The person who believes in the oneness of Allah Almighty and the reward on the Day of Resurrection.

{7} We will facilitate him toward ease.

Meaning: Whoever gives, fears Allah, and believes in the oneness of Allah Almighty, God Almighty will ease for him the way of ease in all his affairs.

Allah Almighty says:

And whoever fears Allah, He will make their matters easy for them.

At-Talaq (The Divorce) 65:4

{8} But as for he who is stingy and indifferent ˹to Allah,

Meaning: He who doesn’t spend his money on what Allah Almighty commanded him to spend and does not fear his Lord.

{9} And denies the best reward,… Meaning: The one who denies the reward in the Hereafter and doesn’t believe in the oneness of Allah Almighty.

{10} We will facilitate him toward difficulty.

{11} And his wealth will not benefit him when he falls. Meaning: His wealth will not benefit him when he dies or is destroyed. It also means when he falls into Hellfire. No benefit will benefit a person in the Hereafter except his obedience to God Almighty and good deeds.

{12} Indeed, upon Us to show ‘the way to’ guidance.

This is a commitment from God Almighty to guide people to the path of guidance to Him. Also, God Almighty explained what is lawful and what is prohibited. Allah Almighty says:

Indeed, We have revealed to you [O Prophet] as We have revealed to Noah and the prophets after him.

An-Nisa (The Women) 4:163

Allah Almighty also said:

[All were] messengers delivering good tidings and warnings so mankind should have no excuse against Allah after [the coming of] the messengers. And Allah is ever Exalted in Might and Wise.

An-Nisa (The Women) 4:165

{13} And surely to Us belong the Hereafter and the first life.

God Almighty alone is the owner of everything. He alone has the sovereignty of this life-world and the Hereafter. Whoever wants the bliss of the Hereafter, let him strive to please God Almighty in this world.

{14} And so I have warned you of a blazing Fire.

The blazing Fire from which God Almighty has warned us in many verses of the Quran.

{15} None will burn therein except the most wretched.

Then Allah Almighty explains who is the most wretched by His saying,

{16} Who denies and turns away… Meaning: The person who denies belief in God Almighty in his heart and turns away from obeying Him.

{17} But the righteous will avoid it –

{18} Who donates [from] his wealth to purify himself… Meaning: Those who donate some of their money in obedience to God to purify themselves and their money. Allah Almighty says:

Take from their wealth ‘O Prophet’ charity to purify and bless them, and pray (supplicate) for them—Indeed, your prayer is reassurance for them. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

At-Tawbah (The Repentance) 9:103

{19} And not in return for someone’s favors,

Meaning: His spending is not a reward for someone who did him a favor.

{20} But to seek the pleasure of his Lord, the Most High.

{21} And certainly, he will be pleased. Meaning: Indeed, God Almighty will please those who have these characteristics by giving them abundant rewards. Allah Almighty said:

The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a grain that grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains—and Allah multiplies [His reward even more] for whom He wills. And Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.

Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2:261

Benefits

The verses show the contrast between night and day and male and female. Likewise, some people take the path of good, and others take the path of evil.
The verses call us to fear God and stay away from sin. The more a person fears God Almighty, the easier his affairs become.
Whoever wants to enjoy bliss in al-Akhirah (the Hereafter) should follow the path of God Almighty in this world by following the path of obedience to God, avoiding sins, and doing many good deeds. Allah Almighty says:

Say, [O Prophet], “I am only a man like you, to whom it has been revealed that your god is only one God. So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do good deeds and associate none in the worship of his Lord.”

Al-Kahf (The Cave) 18:110

Sources

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