الضحى
Surah Ad-Duhaa
The Morning Hours · Surah 93 · Meccan · 11 verses
1وَٱلضُّحَىٰ ١By the morning hours.InsightElmalılı describes the forenoon as ‘the youth of the day’. According to some commentators it alludes to the time when the sun of truth, prophethood, began to shine upon the world.2وَٱلَّيۡلِ إِذَا سَجَىٰ ٢And by the night when it is stillest.InsightElmalılı explains that the word ‘saja’ is used for a calm sea without waves and a night without wind. The word ‘sajiyyah’, a person’s settled character, comes from the same root meaning ‘to become still’.3مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ ٣Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee nor doth He hate thee.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, ‘has not forsaken’ could be understood in two ways: not leaving out of grace, or not leaving out of wrath. By immediately adding ‘nor is He displeased’, the verse removes any thought of anger and makes clear that this is the continuation of mercy.4وَلَلۡأٓخِرَةُ خَيۡرࣱ لَّكَ مِنَ ٱلۡأُولَىٰ ٤And verily the latter portion will be better for thee than the former.5وَلَسَوۡفَ يُعۡطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرۡضَىٰٓ ٥And verily thy Lord will give unto thee so that thou wilt be content.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this is a giving that leaves no trace of sorrow, hurt or waiting, so that one is completely content. He sees it as a contentment even higher than the station of ‘well pleased and well pleasing’.6أَلَمۡ يَجِدۡكَ يَتِيمࣰا فَـَٔاوَىٰ ٦Did He not find thee an orphan and protect (thee).InsightElmalılı draws attention to Allah’s name ‘al-Wajid’ here: the One who finds, who brings into being and who is rich. It is He who ‘finds’ the orphan and gives shelter.7وَوَجَدَكَ ضَآلࣰّا فَهَدَىٰ ٧Did He not find thee wandering and direct (thee).InsightElmalılı stresses that the word ‘dall’ here does not mean being astray. The Prophet never worshipped idols; he was pure in character and trustworthy. What is meant is the great difference between his understanding before prophethood and the knowledge that came through revelation.8وَوَجَدَكَ عَآئِلࣰا فَأَغۡنَىٰ ٨Did He not find thee destitute and enrich (thee).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the word ‘’a’il’ has two meanings: being poor, or having many people to provide for. So the verse can be understood in two ways: Allah made him rich in wealth, or made him rich enough for all who looked to him for knowledge and grace.9فَأَمَّا ٱلۡيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقۡهَرۡ ٩Therefor the orphan oppress not.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this command is part of gratitude for blessings received: you tasted orphanhood and saw Allah’s grace. One must not look down on the orphan as weak, but protect their rights. In a hadith Elmalılı relates, every hair touched by the hand of one who strokes an orphan’s head becomes light for them on the Day of Resurrection.10وَأَمَّا ٱلسَّآئِلَ فَلَا تَنۡهَرۡ ١٠Therefor the beggar drive not away.11وَأَمَّا بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثۡ ١١Therefor of the bounty of thy Lord be thy discourse.