Revealed in the late Makkan period just prior to the migration to Madinah, Surah Al-Isra (The Night Journey), also known as Surah Bani Isra'il, opens by commemorating one of the most extraordinary miracles in Islamic history: the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) physical and spiritual journey from Makkah to Jerusalem and his subsequent ascension to the heavens. Sent down as an immense source of divine consolation following years of severe persecution and grief, this chapter establishes a profound historical link between the final Prophet and the legacy of previous messengers by detailing the rise, corruption, and divine retributions faced by the Children of Israel in the Holy Land. A central pillar of the Surah is a deeply foundational legislative section—often referred to as the Islamic "Ten Commandments"—which outlines a comprehensive moral and social code for the soon-to-be-established society in Madinah. It commands absolute monotheism, profound tenderness and respect toward aging parents, economic fairness, and the protection of orphans, while strictly prohibiting infanticide, adultery, and walking upon the earth with arrogance. Ultimately, the chapter addresses the impenetrable mystery of the human soul, explicitly challenges all of humanity and jinn to replicate even a fraction of the Quran, and powerfully reminds mankind that every individual's actions are inextricably tied to their own neck, culminating in a deeply personal accountability on the Day of Judgment when they will be commanded to read their own book of deeds.
Transliteration
Subhana allathee asra biAAabdihi laylan mina almasjidi alharami ila almasjidi alaqsa allathee barakna hawlahu linuriyahu min ayatina innahu huwa alssameeAAu albaseeru
Translation
Glory to Him who journeyed His servant by night, from the Sacred Mosque, to the Farthest Mosque, whose precincts We have blessed, in order to show him of Our wonders. He is the Listener, the Beholder
Transliteration
Waatayna moosa alkitaba wajaAAalnahu hudan libanee israeela alla tattakhithoo min doonee wakeelan
Translation
And We gave Moses the Scripture, and made it a guide for the Children of Israel: Take none for protector other than Me
Transliteration
Thurriyyata man hamalna maAAa noohin innahu kana AAabdan shakooran
Translation
The descendants of those We carried with Noah. He was an appreciative servant
Transliteration
Waqadayna ila banee israeela fee alkitabi latufsidunna fee alardi marratayni walataAAlunna AAuluwwan kabeeran
Translation
And We conveyed to the Children of Israel in the Scripture: You will commit evil on earth twice, and you will rise to a great height
Transliteration
Faitha jaa waAAdu oolahuma baAAathna AAalaykum AAibadan lana olee basin shadeedin fajasoo khilala alddiyari wakana waAAdan mafAAoolan
Translation
When the first of the two promises came true, We sent against you servants of Ours, possessing great might, and they ransacked your homes. It was a promise fulfilled
Transliteration
Thumma radadna lakumu alkarrata AAalayhim waamdadnakum biamwalin wabaneena wajaAAalnakum akthara nafeeran
Translation
Then We gave you back your turn against them, and supplied you with wealth and children, and made you more numerous
Transliteration
In ahsantum ahsantum lianfusikum wain asatum falaha faitha jaa waAAdu alakhirati liyasoooo wujoohakum waliyadkhuloo almasjida kama dakhaloohu awwala marratin waliyutabbiroo ma AAalaw tatbeeran
Translation
If you work righteousness, you work righteousness for yourselves; and if you commit evil, you do so against yourselves. Then, when the second promise comes true, they will make your faces filled with sorrow, and enter the Temple as they entered it the first time, and utterly destroy all that falls into their power
Transliteration
AAasa rabbukum an yarhamakum wain AAudtum AAudna wajaAAalna jahannama lilkafireena haseeran
Translation
Perhaps your Lord will have mercy on you. But if you revert, We will revert. We have made Hell a prison for the disbelievers
Transliteration
Inna hatha alqurana yahdee lillatee hiya aqwamu wayubashshiru almumineena allatheena yaAAmaloona alssalihati anna lahum ajran kabeeran
Translation
This Quran guides to what is most upright; and it gives good news to the believers who do good deeds, that they will have a great reward
Transliteration
Waanna allatheena la yuminoona bialakhirati aAAtadna lahum AAathaban aleeman
Translation
And those who do not believe in the Hereafter—We have prepared for them a painful punishment
Transliteration
WayadAAu alinsanu bialshsharri duAAaahu bialkhayri wakana alinsanu AAajoolan
Translation
The human being prays for evil as he prays for good. The human being is very hasty
Transliteration
WajaAAalna allayla waalnnahara ayatayni famahawna ayata allayli wajaAAalna ayata alnnahari mubsiratan litabtaghoo fadlan min rabbikum walitaAAlamoo AAadada alssineena waalhisaba wakulla shayin fassalnahu tafseelan
Translation
We have made the night and the day two wonders. We erased the wonder of the night, and made the wonder of the day revealing, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and know the number of years, and the calculation. We have explained all things in detail
Transliteration
Wakulla insanin alzamnahu tairahu fee AAunuqihi wanukhriju lahu yawma alqiyamati kitaban yalqahu manshooran
Translation
For every person We have attached his fate to his neck. And on the Day of Resurrection, We will bring out for him a book which he will find spread open
Transliteration
Iqra kitabaka kafa binafsika alyawma AAalayka haseeban
Translation
“Read your book; today there will be none but yourself to call you to account.”
Transliteration
Mani ihtada fainnama yahtadee linafsihi waman dalla fainnama yadillu AAalayha wala taziru waziratun wizra okhra wama kunna muAAaththibeena hatta nabAAatha rasoolan
Translation
Whoever is guided—is guided for his own good. And whoever goes astray—goes astray to his detriment. No burdened soul carries the burdens of another, nor do We ever punish until We have sent a messenger
Transliteration
Waitha aradna an nuhlika qaryatan amarna mutrafeeha fafasaqoo feeha fahaqqa AAalayha alqawlu fadammarnaha tadmeeran
Translation
When We decide to destroy a town, We command its affluent ones, they transgress in it, so the word becomes justified against it, and We destroy it completely
Transliteration
Wakam ahlakna mina alqurooni min baAAdi noohin wakafa birabbika bithunoobi AAibadihi khabeeran baseeran
Translation
How many generations have We destroyed after Noah? Your Lord is sufficient as Knower and Beholder of the sins of his servants
Transliteration
Man kana yureedu alAAajilata AAajjalna lahu feeha ma nashao liman nureedu thumma jaAAalna lahu jahannama yaslaha mathmooman madhooran
Translation
Whoever desires the fleeting life, We expedite for him what We decide to give him, to whomever We desire. Then We consign him to Hell, where he will roast, condemned and defeated
Transliteration
Waman arada alakhirata wasaAAa laha saAAyaha wahuwa muminun faolaika kana saAAyuhum mashkooran
Translation
But whoever desires the Hereafter, and pursues it as it should be pursued, while he is a believer; these—their effort will be appreciated
Transliteration
Kullan numiddu haolai wahaolai min AAatai rabbika wama kana AAatao rabbika mahthooran
Translation
To all—these and those—We extend from the gifts of your Lord. The gifts of your Lord are not restricted