تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ 16
Translations
Their sides part [i.e., they arise] from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend.
Transliteration
Tatajāfā junūbuhum 'anil-madāji'i yad'ūna rabbahum khawfan wa-ta ma'an wa-mimmā razaqnāhum yunfiqūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the righteous servants of Allah whose sides forsake their beds during the night to stand in prayer, calling upon their Lord with fear and hope, and spending from the provisions Allah has given them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that 'tajāfā junūb' (sides departing from beds) refers to Tahajjud night prayers, demonstrating complete devotion and submission. The phrase 'khawfan wa-ta ma'an' (fear and hope) captures the balanced emotional state of the believers—fear of Allah's punishment and hope for His mercy—which motivates both their worship and their charitable spending.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah As-Sajdah and is part of a passage (32:15-17) describing the characteristics of the believers. The surah emphasizes the signs of Allah in creation and the contrast between the righteous and the heedless, providing encouragement to the early Muslim community facing persecution in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer' (Sahih Muslim 1163). Additionally, 'Aishah reported that the Prophet would stand in prayer at night until his feet became swollen, saying 'Should I not be a grateful servant?' (Sahih Bukhari 4837).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith manifests in consistent night worship and generosity, driven by a balanced awareness of both Allah's justice and His mercy. For modern readers, it emphasizes that spiritual devotion requires sacrifice of comfort and material possessions, with the heart simultaneously aware of accountability and hopeful for divine favor.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ فَلَا تَكُن فِى مِرْيَةٍ مِّن لِّقَآئِهِۦ ۖ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ هُدًى لِّبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ
And We certainly gave Moses the Scripture, so do not be in doubt over his meeting. And We made it [i.e., the Torah] guidance for the Children of Israel.
ذَٰلِكَ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
That is the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Exalted in Might, the Merciful,
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ مَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا شَفِيعٍ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ
It is Allāh who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in six days; then He established Himself above the Throne. You have not besides Him any protector or any intercessor; so will you not be reminded?
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّا نَسُوقُ ٱلْمَآءَ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلْجُرُزِ فَنُخْرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرْعًا تَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ أَنْعَـٰمُهُمْ وَأَنفُسُهُمْ ۖ أَفَلَا يُبْصِرُونَ
Have they not seen that We drive water [in clouds] to barren land and bring forth thereby crops from which their livestock eat and [they] themselves? Then do they not see?