The Last Ayah of Surah 73 (73:20) Explained Phrase by Phrase

The twentieth and final ayah of Surah 73 is unusual. It has 78 Arabic words, close to two-fifths of the whole surah, and it changes the tone of the surah from command to mercy. It was revealed later than the rest, after the believers had practised long night prayers. Below, the ayah is explained one phrase at a time, followed by the questions people most often ask about it.

The meanings below are given in simple English. To see the ayah in its full context, read it in Arabic alongside the nineteen ayat before it.

The ayah, phrase by phrase

Indeed, your Lord knows that you stand nearly two-thirds of the night, or half of it, or a third of it,

The ayah opens by acknowledging effort. The command in ayah 2 had given a range: half the night, a little less or a little more. Here Allah confirms that the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) had been doing exactly that, sometimes close to two-thirds of the night. Before any change is announced, the work already done is recognised. It is a gentle way to open.

and so does a group of those with you.

The companions were standing with him. 'A'ishah reported that the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) and his companions prayed at night for a whole year until their feet swelled, and then the ease came at the end of the surah (Sahih Muslim 746). This phrase honours them by name, as it were, in the Quran itself.

And Allah measures the night and the day.

Only Allah knows the exact length of the night and its parts. Without clocks, the believers could not measure half or a third precisely. Some of them, the commentators mention, stayed up the whole night out of fear of falling short.

He knows that you will not be able to keep count of it, so He has turned to you in mercy.

The word lan tuhsuhu means you will not be able to track it or keep it up precisely. The response is fa-taba 'alaykum, He turned to you. In this context, the commentators explain that "turning" means lightening the obligation, not forgiving a sin, because nobody had sinned.

So recite what is easy of the Quran.

This is the heart of the ayah. The long, fixed night prayer was replaced with "what is easy". Most scholars understood "recite" here to mean "pray", since recitation is the main act of the night prayer. The night prayer became voluntary, and its amount was left to each person.

He knows that there will be among you those who are sick, and others travelling in the land seeking the bounty of Allah, and others fighting in the cause of Allah.

Three groups are named. The sick cannot stand long. Travellers seeking provision, including traders and labourers, are exhausted by the day. Those striving in Allah's cause have their own burden. Notably, earning a lawful living is mentioned right next to striving in Allah's cause. Many scholars pointed out the honour this gives to honest work.

So recite what is easy of it,

The command is repeated, this time with minhu, "of it". The repetition after the list of hardships makes the point unmistakable: the ease is real and intended.

and establish prayer and give zakah,

The ease in the night prayer did not touch the pillars. The five daily prayers and zakah remain firm. The ayah clearly separates what is voluntary from what is obligatory.

and lend Allah a goodly loan.

Qardan hasana, a good loan, is the Quran's way of describing charity beyond zakah. Allah, who owns everything, calls our giving a "loan" to Him, promising to repay it many times over. The giving should be good: from lawful money, sincere and without reminders of the favour.

And whatever good you send ahead for yourselves, you will find it with Allah, better and greater in reward.

Every good deed is described as something sent ahead, like luggage forwarded to a destination. Nothing is lost. It is waiting for you, and it will be better and larger than what you sent.

And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

The surah ends with istighfar. Even after a year of long night prayers, the believers are told to seek forgiveness. Some scholars explained that istighfar completes deeds and covers their shortcomings, just as it is recommended after every salah. The final two names of Allah close the surah with hope.

Questions people ask about this ayah

Why is this ayah so much longer than the rest?

The first nineteen ayat are short and rhythmic, typical of early Makkan revelation. Ayah 20 is a legal and practical ayah, explaining a change in a ruling and listing exceptions, and such ayat tend to be longer. Its rhyme also changes, ending in "-im" (rahim) instead of the "-la" sound of most earlier ayat. Reciting it with care takes time: it is the longest audio file in the surah for every reciter we measured, and calm, measured recitation, which we explain in our guide to tarteel, is especially important in a long ayah like this.

Was it revealed in Makkah or Madinah?

Scholars differ. Because it mentions fighting and zakah, several held it to be Madani. Others held the whole surah to be Makki, reading those words as Allah's knowledge of what would come. Either way, it was revealed after the believers had practised the night prayer for a long period, a year according to 'A'ishah.

Did it cancel the night prayer?

It cancelled the obligation, not the prayer. After this ayah, the night prayer became a highly recommended voluntary act. The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) continued praying at night throughout his life, and said it is the best prayer after the obligatory ones (Sahih Muslim 1163).

Is this an example of abrogation?

Many scholars give it as a clear example of naskh, where a later ruling replaces an earlier one within the Quran. The command at the start of the surah and the ease at the end are both still recited, and together they show how Allah prepared the community before lightening the load.

How much is "what is easy"?

No fixed amount is given, and that is deliberate. For one person it may be two rakats with short surahs. For another it may be an hour. The point is to do something sustainable.

What does this ayah mean for us today?

It speaks to everyone who feels they cannot do enough: the sick, the overworked, the traveller, the struggling. Allah names those situations, eases the burden, and still invites us to pray, give, do good and seek forgiveness. We draw out the practical side of this in seven lessons for people with busy lives.

Summary