كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ 17
Translations
They used to sleep but little of the night,
Transliteration
Kanoo qalīlan mina al-layli mā yahjaʿūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the righteous servants of Allah who sleep very little during the night, spending most of it in worship and prayer. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this refers to those who dedicate themselves to night prayers (tahajjud) and remembrance of Allah, demonstrating their devotion and prioritization of the Hereafter over worldly comfort. The phrase emphasizes the rarity of their sleep—they are people of minimal slumber during nighttime hours.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Adh-Dhariyat, a Meccan surah that discusses the characteristics of the righteous and God-conscious believers. It is part of a broader passage (51:15-19) that outlines the qualities of those who will inherit Paradise, contrasting their dedication and piety with the indifference of the disbelievers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: 'The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer (tahajjud).' (Sahih Muslim 1163). Additionally, Aisha reported that the Prophet would stand in prayer at night until his feet became swollen. (Sahih Bukhari 1149)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that true devotion to Allah requires sacrifice of comfort and rest, with night prayers being a powerful means of drawing close to our Creator. For modern believers, it reminds us that spiritual elevation demands discipline and commitment, not merely wishful thinking, and that dedicating portions of our night to prayer and remembrance can transform our relationship with Allah.