قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ أَوِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنَ ۖ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُوا۟ فَلَهُ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَلَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَٱبْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا 110
Translations
Say, "Call upon Allāh or call upon the Most Merciful [ar-Raḥmān]. Whichever [name] you call - to Him belong the best names." And do not recite [too] loudly in your prayer or [too] quietly but seek between that an [intermediate] way.
Transliteration
Qul ud'u Allaha awi ud'u ar-Rahmana ayyan ma tad'u fa lahu al-asma'u al-husna wa la tajhar bi salatika wa la tukhafita biha wabtaghi bayna dhalika sabila
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah teaches that whether one calls upon Allah by the name 'Allah' or 'Ar-Rahman' (The Most Merciful), both names belong to Him, and all His names are beautiful and perfect. The second part instructs the Prophet (peace be upon him) to adopt a moderate approach in prayer—neither praying loudly where it causes ostentation nor so quietly that it lacks proper reverence—striking a balance between these two extremes. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this moderation applies both to the physical volume of prayer and to the state of the heart, warning against both arrogance and excessive humility.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Meccan period and appears in the context of Surah Al-Isra, which discusses the Night Journey and addresses various aspects of Islamic practice and belief. The instruction about prayer moderation is believed to address practices of the early Muslim community, ensuring their worship remains sincere and balanced, neither drawing undue attention nor diminishing the dignity of the prayer.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of deeds is to call upon Allah by His beautiful names' (related to the Asma'ul Husna). Additionally, Surah Al-Maidah 4:176 reinforces that 'To Allah belong the best names, so call upon Him by them.' A Hadith Qudsi emphasizes moderation in worship as pleasing to Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims should understand that the divine names of Allah are interchangeable reflections of His perfect attributes, and devotion to Him transcends linguistic labels. In our spiritual practices and daily lives, we must seek the middle path—avoiding both ostentation that corrupts intention and negligence that diminishes reverence, thereby maintaining authentic and balanced worship.