وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ 2
Translations
And [by] ten nights
Transliteration
wa-layālin 'ashr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the ten nights, which scholars unanimously interpret as the first ten nights of Dhul-Hijjah, the month of Hajj. Allah swears by these blessed nights to emphasize their immense spiritual significance and virtue. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that these nights are among the most virtuous times in the Islamic calendar, containing the Day of Arafah and Eid al-Adha, making them occasions for intense worship and remembrance of Allah.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Fajr is a Meccan surah that opens with a series of divine oaths (qasam) to draw attention to the serious warnings that follow about the punishment of those who reject faith. The oath by the ten nights establishes the credibility and weight of the message being conveyed, as swearing by something of great importance was a rhetorical device to emphasize truth.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days,' referring to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah (Sahih Bukhari 969). Additionally, Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet said the best nights are the nights of the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.
Themes
Key Lesson
These blessed ten nights invite believers to intensify their worship, remembrance, and good deeds during this sacred period, recognizing that certain times carry greater spiritual weight and opportunity for drawing closer to Allah. The emphasis on these nights reminds us that our faith tradition honors specific periods of heightened spiritual potential that should not be wasted.