Surah Al-Israa (سُورَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ) — Translation, Meaning & Tafsir

Overview

Al-Israa (سُورَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ) — "The Night Journey" is the 17th chapter of the Holy Quran. It contains 111 verses and is a Meccan (Makki) surah.

---

Selected Verses

Verse 1

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ سُبْحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِى بَٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ

LIMITLESS in His glory is He who transported His servant by night from the Inviolable House of Worship [at Mecca] to the Remote House of Worship [, at Jerusalem] - the environs of which We had blessed -so that We might show him some of Our symbols: for, verily, He alone is all-hearing, all-seeing.

---

Verse 2

وَءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَجَعَلْنَٰهُ هُدًۭى لِّبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَلَّا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ مِن دُونِى وَكِيلًۭا

And [thus, too,] We vouchsafed revelation unto Moses, and made it a [source of] guidance for the children of Israel, [commanding them:] "Do not ascribe to any but Me the power to determine your fate,

---

Verse 3

ذُرِّيَّةَ مَنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَبْدًۭا شَكُورًۭا

O you descendants of those whom We caused to be borne (in the ark] with Noah! Behold, he was a most grateful servant (of Ours]!"

---

Verse 4

وَقَضَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ لَتُفْسِدُنَّ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَلَتَعْلُنَّ عُلُوًّۭا كَبِيرًۭا

And we made [this] known to the children of Israel through revelation: Twice, indeed, will you spread corruption on earth and will indeed become grossly overbearing!

---

Verse 5

فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ أُولَىٰهُمَا بَعَثْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ عِبَادًۭا لَّنَآ أُو۟لِى بَأْسٍۢ شَدِيدٍۢ فَجَاسُوا۟ خِلَٰلَ ٱلدِّيَارِ ۚ وَكَانَ وَعْدًۭا مَّفْعُولًۭا

Hence, when the prediction of the first of those two [periods of iniquity] came true, We sent against you some of Our bondmen of terrible prowess in war, and they wrought havoc throughout the land: and so the prediction was fulfilled.

---

Verse 6

ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْكَرَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَمْدَدْنَٰكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍۢ وَبَنِينَ وَجَعَلْنَٰكُمْ أَكْثَرَ نَفِيرًا

And after a time We allowed you to prevail against them once again, and aided you with wealth and offspring, and made you more numerous [than ever].

---

Verse 7

إِنْ أَحْسَنتُمْ أَحْسَنتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَسَأْتُمْ فَلَهَا ۚ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ لِيَسُۥٓـُٔوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَلِيَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْمَسْجِدَ كَمَا دَخَلُوهُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍۢ وَلِيُتَبِّرُوا۟ مَا عَلَوْا۟ تَتْبِيرًا

[And We said:] "If you persevere in doing good, you will but be doing good to yourselves; and if you do evil, it will be [done] to yourselves." And so, when the prediction of the second [period of your iniquity] came true, [We raised new enemies against you, and allowed them] to disgrace you utterly, and to enter the Temple as [their forerunners] had entered it once before, and to destroy with utter destruction all that they had conquered.

---

Verse 8

عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يَرْحَمَكُمْ ۚ وَإِنْ عُدتُّمْ عُدْنَا ۘ وَجَعَلْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ حَصِيرًا

Your Sustainer may well show mercy unto you; but if you revert [to sinning], We shall revert [to chastising you]. And [remember this:] We have ordained that [in the hereafter] hell shall close upon all who deny the truth.

---

Verse 9

إِنَّ هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ يَهْدِى لِلَّتِى هِىَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًۭا كَبِيرًۭا

VERILY, this Qur'an shows the way to all that is most upright, and gives the believers who do good deeds the glad tiding that theirs will be a great reward;

---

Verse 10

وَأَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًۭا

and [it announces, too,] that We have readied grievous suffering for those who will not believe in the life to come.

...and 101 more verses. Read the full surah in your Quran or via a trusted Islamic app.

---

Key Themes

The surah of Al-Israa (The Night Journey) covers important Islamic themes including faith, guidance, and the relationship between humanity and Allah. As a Meccan (Makki) surah, it reflects the spiritual and theological context of that period of revelation.

Virtues of Reading This Surah

Regular recitation of the Quran is highly encouraged. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

"The best of you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it." — Sahih Al-Bukhari

Reading any portion of the Quran brings immense rewards. Make a habit of reciting Surah Al-Israa as part of your daily Quran reading.

How to Recite

1. Make wudu (ritual purification) before touching the Mushaf
2. Begin with "A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim" (I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed devil)
3. Begin with Bismillah (except in Surah At-Tawbah)
4. Recite with tarteel (measured, deliberate pace)
5. Reflect on the meaning as you recite

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When was Surah Al-Israa revealed? It was revealed during the Meccan (Makki) period of the Prophet's ﷺ mission.

Q: How many verses does Surah Al-Israa have? It contains 111 ayaat (verses).

Q: What does "The Night Journey" mean? The name "Al-Israa" translates to "The Night Journey" in English.