Surah Al-Lail – Yousef Bin Noah Ahmad

Al-Lail (Al-Layl, "The Night") is the 92nd surah of the Quran, in Juz' Amma. Meccan, it has 21 verses and is the 9th surah in the traditional order of revelation, after Al-Ala. It opens with oaths by the night as it covers, the day as it shines forth, and the creation of male and female (92:1-3).

The oaths introduce its theme: "Indeed, your strivings are diverse" (92:4). Whoever gives, fears God and affirms the best reward will be eased towards ease; whoever is stingy, thinks himself self-sufficient and denies it will be eased towards hardship (92:5-10). Asked why one should act if everyone's place is already written, the Prophet ﷺ replied: "Act, for each is eased towards what he was created for", and recited these verses (al-Bukhari, Muslim).

The surah ends by warning of a blazing fire from which the most God-fearing will be kept: the one who gives his wealth to purify himself, seeking only the face of his Lord, "and he will surely be satisfied" (92:17-21). Many commentators relate these verses to Abu Bakr, who spent his wealth freeing persecuted slaves such as Bilal.