إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ ٱلَّيْلِ هِىَ أَشَدُّ وَطْـًٔا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا 6
Translations
Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words.
Transliteration
Inna nashiata al-layli hiya ashaddu watan wa-aqwamu qilan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that standing in prayer during the night (tahajjud) has a stronger spiritual impact and is more conducive to proper recitation of the Quran than daytime worship. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that night prayer produces firmer resolve, better concentration, and more sincere devotion, as the soul is undisturbed by worldly distractions and the heart is more receptive to divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Muzzammil, which addresses the Prophet Muhammad and the early believers regarding night prayers. The surah encourages tahajjud (night vigil) as a spiritual practice, with this particular ayah explaining the superiority of night worship over day worship in terms of its spiritual efficacy and the quality of Quranic recitation achieved during these hours.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer' (Sahih Muslim 1163). Additionally, he stated: 'Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of the night, saying: Who will call upon Me, that I may answer him?' (Sahih Bukhari 1145).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that quality of worship matters more than quantity, and that creating dedicated time away from distractions—especially through night prayer—strengthens our spiritual connection with Allah and enhances our understanding of His revelation.
Related Ayahs
۞ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ثُلُثَىِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَنِصْفَهُۥ وَثُلُثَهُۥ وَطَآئِفَةٌ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَعَكَ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يُقَدِّرُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن لَّن تُحْصُوهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ ۚ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَىٰ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ ۙ وَءَاخَرُونَ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَٱقْرَءُوا۟ مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ ۚ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا وَأَعْظَمَ أَجْرًا ۚ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌۢ
Indeed, your Lord knows, [O Muḥammad], that you stand [in prayer] almost two thirds of the night or half of it or a third of it, and [so do] a group of those with you. And Allāh determines [the extent of] the night and the day. He has known that you [Muslims] will not be able to do it and has turned to you in forgiveness, so recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur’ān. He has known that there will be among you those who are ill and others traveling throughout the land seeking [something] of the bounty of Allāh and others fighting for the cause of Allāh. So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give zakāh and loan Allāh a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allāh. It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
وَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَٱهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا
And be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance.
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ رَسُولًا شَـٰهِدًا عَلَيْكُمْ كَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ رَسُولًا
Indeed, We have sent to you a Messenger as a witness upon you just as We sent to Pharaoh a messenger.
يَوْمَ تَرْجُفُ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَٱلْجِبَالُ وَكَانَتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَثِيبًا مَّهِيلًا
On the Day the earth and the mountains will convulse and the mountains will become a heap of sand pouring down.