فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَـٰبًا مَّوْقُوتًا 103
Translations
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allāh standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
Transliteration
Fa-iza qadaytumu as-salata fadhkuru Allaha qiyaman wa quAAudan wa AAala junubikum fa-iza itma-annantum fa-aqimu as-salata inna as-salata kanat AAala al-mu/minina kitaban mawqutan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah instructs believers to remember Allah in all states—standing, sitting, and lying on their sides—after completing the obligatory prayers, and to resume prayer once they feel secure and at ease. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this verse establishes the continuity of remembrance of Allah (dhikr) throughout all circumstances and postures, while also emphasizing that prayer is a binding obligation with specific appointed times (mawqut). The verse reflects the Quranic principle that prayer anchors a believer's relationship with Allah amid the trials and uncertainties of life, particularly in the context of the early Muslim community facing persecution.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Madinah during a period when Muslims faced constant threats and were commanded to maintain vigilance during prayer, particularly in times of military conflict and danger. The surah An-Nisa addresses social order and rights within the Muslim community, and this ayah contextualizes prayer as both a spiritual obligation and a means of maintaining steadfastness during hardship. It follows guidance on shortened prayers during travel and fear.
Related Hadiths
1) Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi report that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of deeds is prayer at its prescribed time.' 2) Sahih Muslim records that 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet would remember Allah in all his states and positions.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should cultivate constant awareness of Allah in all circumstances and positions of life, viewing prayer not as a burdensome ritual but as an anchor of stability and spiritual strength during uncertain times. This teaches that worship adapts to circumstances—whether in ease or difficulty—while maintaining unwavering commitment to the obligations Allah has prescribed.
Related Ayahs
بَشِّرِ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ بِأَنَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
Give tidings to the hypocrites that there is for them a painful punishment -
مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ وَرَٰعِنَا لَيًّۢا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْنًا فِى ٱلدِّينِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ وَٱنظُرْنَا لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَقْوَمَ وَلَـٰكِن لَّعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
Among the Jews are those who distort words from their [proper] places [i.e., usages] and say, "We hear and disobey" and "Hear but be not heard" and "Rāʿinā," twisting their tongues and defaming the religion. And if they had said [instead], "We hear and obey" and "Wait for us [to understand]," it would have been better for them and more suitable. But Allāh has cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few.
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍۭ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُم مِّيثَـٰقٌ أَوْ جَآءُوكُمْ حَصِرَتْ صُدُورُهُمْ أَن يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمْ أَوْ يُقَـٰتِلُوا۟ قَوْمَهُمْ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَسَلَّطَهُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ فَلَقَـٰتَلُوكُمْ ۚ فَإِنِ ٱعْتَزَلُوكُمْ فَلَمْ يُقَـٰتِلُوكُمْ وَأَلْقَوْا۟ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلسَّلَمَ فَمَا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سَبِيلًا
Except for those who take refuge with a people between yourselves and whom is a treaty or those who come to you, their hearts strained at [the prospect of] fighting you or fighting their own people. And if Allāh had willed, He could have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. So if they remove themselves from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, then Allāh has not made for you a cause [for fighting] against them.
ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ ۖ وَكَفَىٰ بِهِۦٓ إِثْمًا مُّبِينًا
Look how they invent about Allāh untruth, and sufficient is that as a manifest sin.