"Indeed, your Lord knows that you stand [in prayer] less than"—meaning less than—"two-thirds of the night," up to His saying, "He has known that you will not be able to enumerate it [the night], so He has forgiven you." Qatada's interpretation: The obligation of night prayer was at the beginning of this Surah: "O you who wrap yourself, arise [to pray] the night, except for a little—half of it or subtract from it a little or add to it." So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his companions stood for a year until their feet became swollen. Allah held back its conclusion in the heaven for twelve months, then He revealed, "Indeed, your Lord knows that you stand [in prayer] less than two-thirds of the night, and half of it, and a third of it," and some read it as "and a third of it," up to His saying: "So recite what is easy from it. And establish prayer and give zakah"—these are two obligatory duties—"and loan Allah a goodly loan." Al-Hasan's interpretation: This is regarding voluntary deeds. "And whatever good you put forward for yourselves, you will find it with Allah—it is better."