وَمِنَ ٱلَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَأَدْبَـٰرَ ٱلسُّجُودِ 40
Translations
And [in part] of the night exalt Him and after prostration [i.e., prayer].
Transliteration
Wa minal-layli fa-sabbihhu wa-adbāra as-sujūd
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to glorify and praise Allah during the night and after the completion of prayers (sujud). According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to the night prayers (Tahajjud) and the remembrance of Allah following the obligatory prostrations. The instruction emphasizes the importance of nocturnal devotion and the continuous remembrance of Allah as acts of worship that bring one closer to the Divine.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Qaf, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes divine omniscience and the resurrection. The broader context of verses 40-46 instructs the Prophet on establishing night vigils and maintaining constant remembrance of Allah, reflecting the practice encouraged during the early Meccan period when such devotional acts were central to spiritual development.
Related Hadiths
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer' (Sahih Muslim). Additionally, the Prophet encouraged performing Tahajjud as mentioned in multiple ahadiths emphasizing the virtue of standing in prayer at night (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true devotion transcends obligatory acts and extends to voluntary night worship and continuous glorification of Allah. For modern Muslims, it serves as a reminder that deepening one's relationship with Allah requires consistent effort, discipline, and the willingness to dedicate special times—particularly the quiet hours of the night—to remembrance and prayer.