This page presents 7 parallel translations of the Qur’an. You can view the verses side by side, compare their meanings, and explore the nuances in each translation. This allows a deeper understanding of the Qur’an’s message and insight into different interpretive approaches.
Chapter (92) sūrat l-layl (The Night)
The Night – Verse (92:1) – English Translation

Sahih International: By the night when it covers
Pickthall: By the night enshrouding
Yusuf Ali: By the Night as it conceals (the light);
Shakir: I swear by the night when it draws a veil,
Muhammad Sarwar: By the night when it covers the day,
Mohsin Khan: By the night as it envelops;
Arberry: By the night enshrouding
The Night – Verse (92:2) – English Translation

Sahih International: And [by] the day when it appears
Pickthall: And the day resplendent
Yusuf Ali: By the Day as it appears in glory;
Shakir: And the day when it shines in brightness,
Muhammad Sarwar: by the day when it appears radiant,
Mohsin Khan: And by the day as it appears in brightness;
Arberry: and the day in splendour
The Night – Verse (92:3) – English Translation

Sahih International: And [by] He who created the male and female,
Pickthall: And Him Who hath created male and female,
Yusuf Ali: By (the mystery of) the creation of male and female;-
Shakir: And the creating of the male and the female,
Muhammad Sarwar: and by that (Power) which created the male and female,
Mohsin Khan: And by Him Who created male and female;
Arberry: and That which created the male and the female,
The Night – Verse (92:4) – English Translation

Sahih International: Indeed, your efforts are diverse.
Pickthall: Lo! your effort is dispersed (toward divers ends).
Yusuf Ali: Verily, (the ends) ye strive for are diverse.
Shakir: Your striving is most surely (directed to) various (ends).
Muhammad Sarwar: you strive in various ways.
Mohsin Khan: Certainly, your efforts and deeds are diverse (different in aims and purposes);
Arberry: surely your striving is to diverse ends.
The Night – Verse (92:5) – English Translation

Sahih International: As for he who gives and fears Allah
Pickthall: As for him who giveth and is dutiful (toward Allah)
Yusuf Ali: So he who gives (in charity) and fears (Allah),
Shakir: Then as for him who gives away and guards (against evil),
Muhammad Sarwar: We shall facilitate the path to bliss
Mohsin Khan: As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him,
Arberry: As for him who gives and is godfearing
The Night – Verse (92:6) – English Translation

Sahih International: And believes in the best [reward],
Pickthall: And believeth in goodness;
Yusuf Ali: And (in all sincerity) testifies to the best,-
Shakir: And accepts the best,
Muhammad Sarwar: for those who spend for the cause of God,
Mohsin Khan: And believes in Al-Husna.
Arberry: and confirms the reward most fair,
The Night – Verse (92:7) – English Translation

Sahih International: We will ease him toward ease.
Pickthall: Surely We will ease his way unto the state of ease.
Yusuf Ali: We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Bliss.
Shakir: We will facilitate for him the easy end.
Muhammad Sarwar: observe piety, and believe in receiving rewards from God.
Mohsin Khan: We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness).
Arberry: We shall surely ease him to the Easing.
The Night – Verse (92:8) – English Translation

Sahih International: But as for he who withholds and considers himself free of need
Pickthall: But as for him who hoardeth and deemeth himself independent,
Yusuf Ali: But he who is a greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient,
Shakir: And as for him who is niggardly and considers himself free from need (of Allah),
Muhammad Sarwar: But for those who are niggardly, horde their wealth,
Mohsin Khan: But he who is greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient .
Arberry: But as for him who is a miser, and self-sufficient,
The Night – Verse (92:9) – English Translation

Sahih International: And denies the best [reward],
Pickthall: And disbelieveth in goodness;
Yusuf Ali: And gives the lie to the best,-
Shakir: And rejects the best,
Muhammad Sarwar: and have no faith in receiving any reward (from God).
Mohsin Khan: And gives the lie to Al-Husna (see Verse No: 6 footnote);
Arberry: and cries lies to the reward most fair,
The Night – Verse (92:10) – English Translation

Sahih International: We will ease him toward difficulty.
Pickthall: Surely We will ease his way unto adversity.
Yusuf Ali: We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Misery;
Shakir: We will facilitate for him the difficult end.
Muhammad Sarwar: We shall facilitate the path to affliction
Mohsin Khan: We will make smooth for him the path for evil;
Arberry: We shall surely ease him to the Hardship;
The Night – Verse (92:11) – English Translation

Sahih International: And what will his wealth avail him when he falls?
Pickthall: His riches will not save him when he perisheth.
Yusuf Ali: Nor will his wealth profit him when he falls headlong (into the Pit).
Shakir: And his wealth will not avail him when he perishes.
Muhammad Sarwar: and their wealth will be of no benefit to them when they face destruction.
Mohsin Khan: And what will his wealth benefit him when he goes down (in destruction).
Arberry: his wealth shall not avail him when he perishes.
The Night – Verse (92:12) – English Translation

Sahih International: Indeed, [incumbent] upon Us is guidance.
Pickthall: Lo! Ours it is (to give) the guidance
Yusuf Ali: Verily We take upon Ourselves to guide,
Shakir: Surely Ours is it to show the way,
Muhammad Sarwar: Surely, in Our hands is guidance,
Mohsin Khan: Truly! Ours it is (to give) guidance,
Arberry: Surely upon Us rests the guidance,
The Night – Verse (92:13) – English Translation

Sahih International: And indeed, to Us belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].
Pickthall: And lo! unto Us belong the latter portion and the former.
Yusuf Ali: And verily unto Us (belong) the End and the Beginning.
Shakir: And most surely Ours is the hereafter and the former.
Muhammad Sarwar: and to Us belong the hereafter and the worldly life.
Mohsin Khan: And truly, unto Us (belong) the last (Hereafter) and the first (this world).
Arberry: and to Us belong the Last and the First.
The Night – Verse (92:14) – English Translation

Sahih International: So I have warned you of a Fire which is blazing.
Pickthall: Therefor have I warned you of the flaming Fire
Yusuf Ali: Therefore do I warn you of a Fire blazing fiercely;
Shakir: Therefore I warn you of the fire that flames:
Muhammad Sarwar: I have warned you about the fierce blazing fire
Mohsin Khan: Therefore I have warned you of a Fire blazing fiercely (Hell);
Arberry: Now I have warned you of a Fire that flames,
The Night – Verse (92:15) – English Translation

Sahih International: None will [enter to] burn therein except the most wretched one.
Pickthall: Which only the most wretched must endure,
Yusuf Ali: None shall reach it but those most unfortunate ones
Shakir: None shall enter it but the most unhappy,
Muhammad Sarwar: in which no one will suffer forever
Mohsin Khan: None shall enter it save the most wretched,
Arberry: whereat none but the most wretched shall be roasted,
The Night – Verse (92:16) – English Translation

Sahih International: Who had denied and turned away.
Pickthall: He who denieth and turneth away.
Yusuf Ali: Who give the lie to Truth and turn their backs.
Shakir: Who gives the lie (to the truth) and turns (his) back.
Muhammad Sarwar: except the wicked ones who have rejected the (Truth) and have turned away from it.
Mohsin Khan: Who denies and turns away.
Arberry: even he who cried lies, and turned away;
The Night – Verse (92:17) – English Translation

Sahih International: But the righteous one will avoid it –
Pickthall: Far removed from it will be the righteous
Yusuf Ali: But those most devoted to Allah shall be removed far from it,-
Shakir: And away from it shall be kept the one who guards most (against evil),
Muhammad Sarwar: The pious ones who spend for the cause of God
Mohsin Khan: And Al-Muttaqun (the pious and righteous – see V.2:2) will be far removed from it (Hell).
Arberry: and from which the most godfearing shall be removed,
The Night – Verse (92:18) – English Translation

Sahih International: [He] who gives [from] his wealth to purify himself
Pickthall: Who giveth his wealth that he may grow (in goodness).
Yusuf Ali: Those who spend their wealth for increase in self-purification,
Shakir: Who gives away his wealth, purifying himself
Muhammad Sarwar: and purify themselves will be safe from this fire.
Mohsin Khan: He who spends his wealth for increase in self-purification,
Arberry: even he who gives his wealth. to purify himself
The Night – Verse (92:19) – English Translation

Sahih International: And not [giving] for anyone who has [done him] a favor to be rewarded
Pickthall: And none hath with him any favour for reward,
Yusuf Ali: And have in their minds no favour from anyone for which a reward is expected in return,
Shakir: And no one has with him any boon for which he should be rewarded,
Muhammad Sarwar: They do not expect any reward
Mohsin Khan: And have in his mind no favour from anyone for which a reward is expected in return,
Arberry: and confers no favour on any man for recompense,
The Night – Verse (92:20) – English Translation

Sahih International: But only seeking the countenance of his Lord, Most High.
Pickthall: Except as seeking (to fulfil) the purpose of his Lord Most High.
Yusuf Ali: But only the desire to seek for the Countenance of their Lord Most High;
Shakir: Except the seeking of the pleasure of his Lord, the Most High.
Muhammad Sarwar: except the pleasure of their Lord, the Most High
Mohsin Khan: Except only the desire to seek the Countenance of his Lord, the Most High;
Arberry: only seeking the Face of his Lord the Most High;
The Night – Verse (92:21) – English Translation

Sahih International: And he is going to be satisfied.
Pickthall: He verily will be content.
Yusuf Ali: And soon will they attain (complete) satisfaction.
Shakir: And he shall soon be well-pleased.
Muhammad Sarwar: and the reward (of their Lord) will certainly make them happy.
Mohsin Khan: He surely will be pleased (when he will enter Paradise).
Arberry: and he shall surely be satisfied.
1. Sahih International
- Translators: A group translation (edited by Umm Muhammad).
- Focus: Aims for literal accuracy (word-for-word meaning) using clear, modern English.
- Key Feature: Very popular in modern digital and print media due to its straightforward language and adherence to a generally accepted literal interpretation.
2. Pickthall
- Translator: Marmaduke Pickthall (An English convert to Islam).
- Focus: Uses a classical, formal English style. It aimed to provide an “English equivalent” while retaining original Islamic terminology (e.g., Allah, Salat).
- Key Feature: Considered the first authoritative English translation by a Muslim. Highly respected for its dignified and formal tone.
3. Yusuf Ali
- Translator: Abdullah Yusuf Ali.
- Focus: Most famous for its extensive footnotes and commentary (tafsir) which offer detailed background and theological context.
- Key Feature: Extremely popular, though the English is sometimes archaic, resembling the King James Bible style. The value lies primarily in its rich commentary.
4. Shakir
- Translator: M.H. Shakir.
- Focus: Known for being more concise and simple than Yusuf Ali, with fewer footnotes.
- Key Feature: The language is generally direct and less stylized, making it an easier read for some.
5. Muhammad Sarwar
- Translator: Muhammad Sarwar.
- Focus: Focuses on using simple, clear, and fluent modern English for easy comprehension.
- Key Feature: A contemporary translation designed to communicate the central message of the Qur’an without heavy theological phrasing or deep commentary.
6. Mohsin Khan (Hilali & Khan)
- Translators: Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan and Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali.
- Focus: Strictly adheres to the Salafi/Wahhabi school of interpretation. It frequently uses parenthetical insertions to clarify the meaning based on Hadith and Sunnah (Prophetic tradition).
- Key Feature: Known for its literal approach and inclusion of bracketed explanations to ensure the interpretation aligns with established scholarly views.
7. Arberry
- Translator: Arthur John Arberry (Academic).
- Focus: An academic and literary translation. Arberry’s primary goal was to capture the rhythm, music, and rhetorical quality (eloquence) of the original Arabic text.
- Key Feature: Highly praised for its attempt to convey the poetic beauty and flow of the Qur’an, often prioritizing literary quality over detailed commentary.

