وَٱلشَّفْعِ وَٱلْوَتْرِ 3
Translations
And [by] the even [number] and the odd
Transliteration
Wa ash-shaf'i wa al-watr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's oaths by 'the even' (ash-shaf'i) and 'the odd' (al-watr), which classical scholars interpret in multiple ways: some understand it as referring to the even and odd nights, others as the paired and unpaired creation, and still others as references to specific nights of spiritual significance. Ibn Kathir notes that Allah swears by these as evidence of His power and the certainty of the Day of Judgment, emphasizing the creation's inherent balance and divine order. Al-Tabari mentions that these terms may also reference the even and odd verses of the Quran or the paired and single creatures in creation.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Fajr is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islamic revelation when the Prophet Muhammad faced significant opposition. This ayah opens the surah with divine oaths meant to emphasize the seriousness of the warnings and promises that follow, particularly regarding the certainty of the Day of Judgment and accountability for deeds.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of odd nights, particularly the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr), in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, relating to the spiritual significance of 'the odd' mentioned in this context. Additionally, hadiths about the creation's balanced pairs relate to the concept of 'the even.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah's creation operates with perfect balance and divine wisdom, and that by swearing such oaths, He emphasizes the absolute certainty of accountability in the afterlife—a call for believers to reflect on their deeds and maintain consciousness of their relationship with the Divine.