فِى بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ ٱللَّهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا ٱسْمُهُۥ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ فِيهَا بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْـَٔاصَالِ 36
Translations
[Such niches are] in houses [i.e., mosques] which Allāh has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned [i.e., praised] therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings
Transliteration
Fī buyūtin adhina -llāhu an turfa'a wa yudhkara fīhā smuh. Yusabbih lahu fīhā bil-ghuduwwi wa-l-āṣāl.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the houses of Allah (masājid - mosques) which He has permitted to be elevated and in which His Name is remembered, with tasbīḥ (glorification) occurring therein at dawn and at dusk. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubī and Ibn Kathīr interpret these as places sanctified for worship where believers continuously praise Allah throughout the day and night, emphasizing the spiritual elevation and purpose of mosques as beacons of divine remembrance in communities.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Sūrah An-Nūr (The Light), a Medinan chapter that discusses various aspects of Islamic jurisprudence and social conduct. The passage immediately precedes the famous 'Āyat an-Nūr (Verse of Light, 24:35) and contextually establishes the significance of mosques as illuminated houses of faith where Allah's light manifests through the remembrance and worship of His servants.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim: The Prophet ﷺ said, 'The most beloved places to Allah are the mosques, and the most disliked places to Allah are the markets.' Additionally, Sahih Bukhari records that the Prophet ﷺ encouraged congregational prayer in mosques, calling them 'the houses of Allah.'
Themes
Key Lesson
Mosques serve as spiritually elevated sanctuaries where believers continuously connect with the Divine through remembrance at all times. For modern readers, this emphasizes the importance of maintaining regular mosque attendance and creating sacred spaces—both physical and spiritual—where Allah's remembrance remains constant in our lives and communities.
Related Ayahs
يُقَلِّبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ
Allāh alternates the night and the day. Indeed in that is a lesson for those who have vision.
وَٱلْقَوَٰعِدُ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ٱلَّـٰتِى لَا يَرْجُونَ نِكَاحًا فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جُنَاحٌ أَن يَضَعْنَ ثِيَابَهُنَّ غَيْرَ مُتَبَرِّجَـٰتٍۭ بِزِينَةٍ ۖ وَأَن يَسْتَعْفِفْنَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُنَّ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And women of post-menstrual age who have no desire for marriage - there is no blame upon them for putting aside their outer garments [but] not displaying adornment. But to modestly refrain [from that] is better for them. And Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
ٱلْخَبِيثَـٰتُ لِلْخَبِيثِينَ وَٱلْخَبِيثُونَ لِلْخَبِيثَـٰتِ ۖ وَٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَ وَٱلطَّيِّبُونَ لِلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ ۖ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
Evil words are for evil men, and evil men are [subjected] to evil words. And good words are for good men, and good men are [an object] of good words. Those [good people] are declared innocent of what they [i.e., slanderers] say. For them is forgiveness and noble provision.
إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَإِذَا كَانُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرٍ جَامِعٍ لَّمْ يَذْهَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَسْتَـْٔذِنُوهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَـْٔذِنُونَكَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱسْتَـْٔذَنُوكَ لِبَعْضِ شَأْنِهِمْ فَأْذَن لِّمَن شِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمُ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
The believers are only those who believe in Allāh and His Messenger and, when they are [meeting] with him for a matter of common interest, do not depart until they have asked his permission. Indeed, those who ask your permission, [O Muḥammad] - those are the ones who believe in Allāh and His Messenger. So when they ask your permission due to something of their affairs, then give permission to whom you will among them and ask forgiveness for them of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.