Overview

(Verse 20)

A Hard Duty is Relaxed

Then comes the second part of the surah, consisting of a single, long verse that was revealed one year after the first part, according to the more authentic reports:

Your Lord knows that you stand in prayer nearly two-thirds of the night, or one-half or a third of it, as do some of your followers. It is God who determines the measure of night and day He is aware that you will not be able to keep a measure of it, and therefore He turns towards you in His grace. Recite of the Qur'an as much as may be easy for you. He knows that some of you will be sick, others will go about in the land seeking God's bounty, and others will be fighting for God's cause. Therefore, recite whatever you may do with ease. Attend regularly to prayer, pay your obligatory charity zakat], and give God a goodly loan. Whatever good you may offer on your own behalf you shall find it with God to be better and richer in reward. Seek God's forgiveness, for God is Much-Forgiving, Ever Merciful. (Verse 20)

This is a compassionate touch, providing relief after much fatigue. It is a relaxation by God granted to the Prophet and the believers, when they have proved themselves to be dedicated totally to His divine message. They were exhausted after having stood up for long hours at night offering prayers in which very long passages of the Qur'an were recited. God never wanted to afflict His Prophet with the Qur'an, putting him to such hardship. Rather, He was only preparing him for the hard task that he was to undertake for the rest of his life. The believers who followed him would also have to share in this heavy burden.

The verse starts with friendly reassurance: "Your Lord knows that you stand in prayer nearly two-thirds of the night, or one-half or a third of it, as do some of your followers." (Verse 20) He has seen you doing it, and what you and your Companions offered of night worship has been accepted and entered in God's records. He knows that you have abandoned your beds, warm as they are on a cold night, preferring to listen to His directives. He is Compassionate towards you and those who are with you. "It is God who determines the measure of night and day." (Verse 20) He causes the one to be longer and the other to be shorter. Thus, the night may get longer or shorter, but you are all carrying on with the duty required of you, staying up close to two-thirds of the night, or half of it, or even a third. He is aware of your weakness. He does not want to afflict you or put you to unbearable hardship; all He wants is that you should have the necessary training. Now that you have been trained, you can relax and take things easier: "Recite of the Qur'an as much as may be easy for you," during your night worship, without putting yourselves to much difficulty. God knows that things will happen to you and drain your energy, making standing long into the night worshipping too hard: "He knows that some of you will be sick," and these cannot offer night worship. "Others will go about in the land seeking God's bounty." (Verse 20) These need to attend to their work and earn their living. This is essential. God does not want people to abandon their life's needs and lead the life of a monk who is totally devoted to worship. "And others will he fighting for God's cause." (Verse 20) God will permit you to stand up and fight against those who wage aggression against you. He will permit you to fight so that Islam will have its safe and sovereign place. You may, then, relax and approach your duty in a comfortable way: "Therefore, recite whatever you may do with ease." (Verse 20) Let there be no exhaustion or hardship. However, you must attend to all obligatory worship: "Attend regularly to prayer, pay your obligatory charity [i.e. zakat].” (Verse 20) When you have done this you may wish to add voluntary charity, which will increase your reward: "And give God a goodly loan. Whatever good you may offer on your own behalf you shall find it with God to be better and richer in reward." (Verse 20) Turn to God, appealing for forgiveness of your shortcomings. Man remains short of what is needed, no matter how diligent he tries to be. "Seek God's forgiveness, for God is Much-Forgiving, Ever Merciful." (Verse 20)

This is a compassionate touch, providing relaxation and reassurance after a whole year of night worship. God relaxed this duty for Muslims, making night worship voluntary, rather than an obligatory duty. The Prophet, however, continued on the same lines, offering night worship for no less than one-third of the night. He would appeal to his Lord in the depths of the night, and receive from Him what he needed for his struggle in life. Although his eyes might sleep, his heart would not. His heart was always busy with God's remembrance. It had no desire for anything else in this life.