Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary * - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (12) Surah: Al-Isrā’
وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلَّيۡلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ءَايَتَيۡنِۖ فَمَحَوۡنَآ ءَايَةَ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَجَعَلۡنَآ ءَايَةَ ٱلنَّهَارِ مُبۡصِرَةٗ لِّتَبۡتَغُواْ فَضۡلٗا مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَلِتَعۡلَمُواْ عَدَدَ ٱلسِّنِينَ وَٱلۡحِسَابَۚ وَكُلَّ شَيۡءٖ فَصَّلۡنَٰهُ تَفۡصِيلٗا
(12) [3514]We have made the night and day ˹as˺ two Signs. [3515]Then We effaced the sign of the night and We made the sign of day agaze[3516], so that you may seek favour from your Lord and know the number of years, and calculation ˹of time˺[3517]—indeed We have particularly detailed everything![3518]
[3514] Time is ever-changing and never is the same for both nations and individuals. People are not to be rash in anticipation of the befalling of God Almighty’s universal Canons (cf. al-Ghazālī, al-Tafsīr al-Mawḍūʿī li Suwar al-Qur’ān al-Karīm); the universe is ever-changing, light is followed by darkness which is soon to be followed by light and so on (cf. Abū Ḥayyān).
These are two very tangible Signs of the presence of the One and Only Creator, and His Boundless Ability. They are, besides, two great favours that God bestowed on His creation. People might hate night with its darkness and seek to hasten daybreak. But as sure as the alternation of the sun and the moon, darkness and light will ever exist alongside each other. They are opposites that reveal God’s favour; people seek their livelihoods in the day and rest and comfort at night. Had time been all day or all night, people would not have known the difference between them and the lessons that each brings with it: “He is the One Who made the night for you to rest at and the day agaze. Indeed in that are Signs to those who listen!” (10: 67)
[3515] ‘The sign of the night’ and ‘the sign of the day’ are the moon and the sun, respectively. The moon was made dim, ‘effaced’, not illuming by itself, and the sun is light exuding, ‘agaze’ (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Qurṭubī, al-Saʿdī, al-Shinqīṭī).
[3516] Mubṣirah (agaze) means full of light whereby people can go about their daily lives (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Qurṭubī, Ibn Kathīr). This description is figuratively employed to highlight the function of the day (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[3517] “He is the One Who made the sun a glow and the moon a light and ordained for it stations so that you ˹may˺ know the number of years and calculation ˹of time˺. Never has Allah created that except for the Truth; He details the Signs for those who attain knowledge. *Verily in the alternation of night and day, and whatever Allah has created in the Heavens and Earth are Signs for the Mindful ones” (10: 5-6).
[3518] The Message, the Qur’an, explains everything to people, hence undermining any excuse they might have (cf. Abū Ḥayyān): “It ˹the Qur’an˺ has never been fabricated speech, but a confirmation of what came before it, a detailing of everything and a guide and mercy to Believing folks” (12: 111).
These are two very tangible Signs of the presence of the One and Only Creator, and His Boundless Ability. They are, besides, two great favours that God bestowed on His creation. People might hate night with its darkness and seek to hasten daybreak. But as sure as the alternation of the sun and the moon, darkness and light will ever exist alongside each other. They are opposites that reveal God’s favour; people seek their livelihoods in the day and rest and comfort at night. Had time been all day or all night, people would not have known the difference between them and the lessons that each brings with it: “He is the One Who made the night for you to rest at and the day agaze. Indeed in that are Signs to those who listen!” (10: 67)
[3515] ‘The sign of the night’ and ‘the sign of the day’ are the moon and the sun, respectively. The moon was made dim, ‘effaced’, not illuming by itself, and the sun is light exuding, ‘agaze’ (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Qurṭubī, al-Saʿdī, al-Shinqīṭī).
[3516] Mubṣirah (agaze) means full of light whereby people can go about their daily lives (cf. al-Ṭabarī, al-Qurṭubī, Ibn Kathīr). This description is figuratively employed to highlight the function of the day (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[3517] “He is the One Who made the sun a glow and the moon a light and ordained for it stations so that you ˹may˺ know the number of years and calculation ˹of time˺. Never has Allah created that except for the Truth; He details the Signs for those who attain knowledge. *Verily in the alternation of night and day, and whatever Allah has created in the Heavens and Earth are Signs for the Mindful ones” (10: 5-6).
[3518] The Message, the Qur’an, explains everything to people, hence undermining any excuse they might have (cf. Abū Ḥayyān): “It ˹the Qur’an˺ has never been fabricated speech, but a confirmation of what came before it, a detailing of everything and a guide and mercy to Believing folks” (12: 111).
Arabic explanations of the Qur’an:
Translation of the meanings Ayah: (12) Surah: Al-Isrā’
Translation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - Translations’ Index
Translation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’an into English - in progress - translated by Dr. Walid Bleihesh Al-Omari.