Surah Al-Layl (The Night)

Al-Layl means "The Night," taken from the surah's opening oath by the night as it covers over, paired with oaths by the day and by creation.

Al-Layl is the ninety-second surah of the Quran, a Meccan chapter of twenty-one ayahs. It opens with oaths by the night as it conceals, the day as it reveals, and the creation of male and female, before affirming that human efforts and aims are genuinely diverse. The surah then draws a sustained contrast between two kinds of people and two outcomes. On one side is the person who gives, is mindful of God, and affirms what is good; such a one is described as being eased toward ease. On the other side is the person who is miserly, considers himself self-sufficient, and denies what is good; such a one is described as being eased toward hardship, with wealth availing nothing in the end. The surah affirms that guidance is from God and that both this life and the next belong to Him, and it closes by contrasting the one who turns away with the God-conscious, generous soul who seeks only the pleasure of the Lord and will be well satisfied.

Surah number: 92
Revelation: Meccan
Ayahs: 21
Arabic: الليل

Read Surah Al-Layl online — full Arabic text with the Pickthall English translation.

Main themes

Oaths by the night, the day, and the creation of male and female
The genuine diversity of human striving and aims
Generosity and God-consciousness leading toward ease
Miserliness and self-sufficiency leading toward hardship
The limits of wealth in the face of accountability
Guidance belonging to God, and seeking only His pleasure

Why this surah matters

Al-Layl is well known for its clear moral contrast between the generous, God-conscious person and the miserly one who imagines himself beyond need, a comparison frequently referenced in teachings on charity and sincerity. Its closing description of the soul that gives purely to seek the pleasure of its Lord is widely cited as a picture of ideal intention. As a short, early Meccan surah with a memorable structure, it is commonly memorized and recited in prayer, and it is often studied alongside neighboring surahs that share its rhythmic style and its emphasis on the two paths open to human beings.

Frequently asked questions

Is Surah Al-Layl Meccan or Medinan?

It is commonly held to be Meccan, belonging to the earlier revelations, in keeping with its concise style and its themes of moral contrast and accountability.

What is the central contrast in Surah Al-Layl?

It contrasts the generous, God-conscious person who is eased toward ease with the miserly person who denies what is good and is eased toward hardship, underscoring that wealth alone brings no lasting benefit.

What does the name Al-Layl refer to?

It means "The Night," taken from the surah's opening oath by the night as it covers over, which is paired with an oath by the day and by creation.

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