بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Ash-Shams 91:1
The Sun · Juz 30 · Page 595
وَٱلشَّمۡسِ وَضُحَىٰهَا ١
By the sun and its brightness
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Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 91:1
Commentary
Allah swears by the objects and phenomena mentioned in verses [ 1-7], which gives these creations an added significance and draws man's attention to them. Man ought to reflect on these phenomena and try to appreciate their value and the purpose of their creation. The first oath is taken by:
وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا (I swear by the sun and his broad light,...91:1). The phrase and his broad light' is, though conjoined to 'by the sun' by means of the conjunctive particle 'and', the context indicates that 'broad light' is in adjectival position qualifying shams 'the sun', that is to say, 'I swear by the sun when it is in the time of forenoon. The word duha is that part of the day when the sun rises [ early in the morning ] and goes up slightly higher [ on the sky ], and its light spreads on the earth. Man observes it to be near to himself and observes it fully on account of lack of heat.
Page 595
سورة الشمس
Ash-Shams
The Sun · Meccan · 15 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
91:1
وَٱلشَّمۡسِ وَضُحَىٰهَا ١
By the sun and its brightness
91:2
وَٱلۡقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلَىٰهَا ٢
And [by] the moon when it follows it
91:3
وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذَا جَلَّىٰهَا ٣
And [by] the day when it displays it1
1 translator’s note
- The earth. Also interpreted as the sun. The same applies to the following verse. ↩
91:4
وَٱلَّيۡلِ إِذَا يَغۡشَىٰهَا ٤
And [by] the night when it covers [i.e., conceals] it
91:5
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا بَنَىٰهَا ٥
And [by] the sky and He who constructed it
91:6
وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا طَحَىٰهَا ٦
And [by] the earth and He who spread it
91:7
وَنَفۡسٖ وَمَا سَوَّىٰهَا ٧
And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., balanced and refined it, creating in it sound tendencies and consciousness. ↩
91:8
فَأَلۡهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقۡوَىٰهَا ٨
And inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness,
91:9
قَدۡ أَفۡلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا ٩
He has succeeded who purifies it,
91:10
وَقَدۡ خَابَ مَن دَسَّىٰهَا ١٠
And he has failed who instills it [with corruption].
91:11
كَذَّبَتۡ ثَمُودُ بِطَغۡوَىٰهَآ ١١
Thamūd denied [their prophet] by reason of their transgression,
91:12
إِذِ ٱنۢبَعَثَ أَشۡقَىٰهَا ١٢
When the most wretched of them was sent forth.1
1 translator’s note
- To hamstring the she-camel which had been sent by Allāh as a sign to them. ↩
91:13
فَقَالَ لَهُمۡ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ نَاقَةَ ٱللَّهِ وَسُقۡيَٰهَا ١٣
And the messenger of Allāh [i.e., Ṣāliḥ] said to them, "[Do not harm] the she-camel of Allāh or [prevent her from] her drink."
91:14
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَدَمۡدَمَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ رَبُّهُم بِذَنۢبِهِمۡ فَسَوَّىٰهَا ١٤
But they denied him and hamstrung1 her. So their Lord brought down upon them destruction for their sin and made it equal [upon all of them].
1 translator’s note
- And then killed. ↩
91:15
وَلَا يَخَافُ عُقۡبَٰهَا ١٥
And He does not fear the consequence thereof.1
1 translator’s note
- Allāh is not asked about what He does, but His servants will be asked. See 21:23. ↩
سورة الليل
Al-Layl
The Night · Meccan · 21 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
92:1
وَٱلَّيۡلِ إِذَا يَغۡشَىٰ ١
By the night when it covers1
1 translator’s note
- With darkness. ↩
92:2
وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّىٰ ٢
And [by] the day when it appears
92:3
وَمَا خَلَقَ ٱلذَّكَرَ وَٱلۡأُنثَىٰٓ ٣
And [by] He who created the male and female,
92:4
إِنَّ سَعۡيَكُمۡ لَشَتَّىٰ ٤
Indeed, your efforts are diverse.
92:5
فَأَمَّا مَنۡ أَعۡطَىٰ وَٱتَّقَىٰ ٥
As for he who gives and fears Allāh
92:6
وَصَدَّقَ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ ٦
And believes in the best [reward].
92:7
فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلۡيُسۡرَىٰ ٧
We will ease him toward ease.
92:8
وَأَمَّا مَنۢ بَخِلَ وَٱسۡتَغۡنَىٰ ٨
But as for he who withholds and considers himself free of need
92:9
وَكَذَّبَ بِٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ ٩
And denies the best [reward],
92:10
فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلۡعُسۡرَىٰ ١٠
We will ease him toward difficulty.
92:11
وَمَا يُغۡنِي عَنۡهُ مَالُهُۥٓ إِذَا تَرَدَّىٰٓ ١١
And what will his wealth avail him when he falls?1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., when he dies or is destroyed. It can also mean when he falls into the Hellfire. ↩
92:12
إِنَّ عَلَيۡنَا لَلۡهُدَىٰ ١٢
Indeed, [incumbent] upon Us is guidance.
92:13
وَإِنَّ لَنَا لَلۡأٓخِرَةَ وَٱلۡأُولَىٰ ١٣
And indeed, to us belongs the Hereafter and the first [life].
92:14
فَأَنذَرۡتُكُمۡ نَارٗا تَلَظَّىٰ ١٤
So I have warned you of a Fire which is blazing.