وَذَكَرَ ٱسْمَ رَبِّهِۦ فَصَلَّىٰ 15
Translations
And mentions the name of his Lord and prays.
Transliteration
Wa dhakara isma rabbihī fa-sallā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes one of the characteristics of the righteous servant who will succeed and achieve happiness: he remembers the name of his Lord and then prays. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this means the servant consciously invokes Allah's name, becomes aware of His presence and attributes, and consequently performs prayer with presence of heart and sincerity. The connection between remembrance (dhikr) and prayer indicates that authentic worship stems from conscious awareness of Allah's majesty and lordship.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-A'la is a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period, focusing on the themes of glorification of Allah, remembrance, and the path to success. This ayah appears within a section describing the attributes of those who will achieve success in the hereafter (verses 14-19), contrasting them with those who turn away from guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best remembrance is La ilaha illallah (there is no deity except Allah)' - reported in Tirmidhi. Additionally, the hadith 'Prayer without remembrance of Allah is like a body without a soul' emphasizes the connection between dhikr and salah, though this is a paraphrased meaning found in various Islamic teachings.
Themes
Key Lesson
For believers today, this ayah teaches that meaningful prayer must be preceded by and rooted in conscious remembrance of Allah and awareness of His greatness; rushing through prayers without mindfulness of our Lord's presence diminishes their spiritual benefit. We should cultivate the habit of invoking Allah's names and attributes before and during our prayers to achieve the presence of heart that transforms worship from mere ritual into a transformative spiritual experience.
Related Ayahs
ٱذْهَبْ أَنتَ وَأَخُوكَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِى وَلَا تَنِيَا فِى ذِكْرِى
Go, you and your brother, with My signs and do not slacken in My remembrance.
فَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا ۖ وَمِنْ ءَانَآئِ ٱلَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْ وَأَطْرَافَ ٱلنَّهَارِ لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضَىٰ
So be patient over what they say and exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and during periods of the night [exalt Him] and at the ends of the day, that you may be satisfied.
رِجَالٌ لَّا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَـٰرَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَإِيتَآءِ ٱلزَّكَوٰةِ ۙ يَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ ٱلْقُلُوبُ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ
[Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allāh and performance of prayer and giving of zakāh. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about -
وَٱلْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَـٰهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَـٰٓئِرِ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَآفَّ ۖ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْقَانِعَ وَٱلْمُعْتَرَّ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنَـٰهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols [i.e., rites] of Allāh; for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allāh upon them when lined up [for sacrifice]; and when they are [lifeless] on their sides, then eat from them and feed the needy [who does not seek aid] and the beggar. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful.