وَٱلَّذِينَ يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّدًا وَقِيَـٰمًا 64
Translations
And those who spend [part of] the night to their Lord prostrating and standing [in prayer]
Transliteration
Wa-alladhīna yabītūna li-rabbihim sujjadan wa-qiyāmā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the characteristics of the righteous servants of Allah who spend their nights in worship, alternating between prostration (sujud) and standing (qiyam) in prayer. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to those who dedicate themselves to night prayers (tahajjud) and voluntary worship, demonstrating their sincere devotion and humility before their Lord. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this ayah highlights the balance between fear and hope in worship, as standing represents awe and respect, while prostration represents humility and submission.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Furqan (The Criterion), a Meccan surah that describes the characteristics of the believers and servants of Allah. The broader context (verses 63-76) outlines the attributes of 'ibad al-Rahman (the servants of the Most Merciful), establishing a standard of righteousness during the early Islamic period when believers faced persecution and needed spiritual fortitude.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer' (Sahih Muslim 1163). Additionally, Aisha reported that the Prophet would stand in night prayer until his feet became swollen, showing his dedication to qiyam al-layl (Sahih Bukhari 1143).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah inspires believers to dedicate time for voluntary night prayers as a means of drawing closer to Allah and strengthening their spiritual connection, while teaching that true worship requires consistent effort, humility, and a sincere heart devoted entirely to the Creator.
Related Ayahs
أَرَءَيْتَ مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُۥ هَوَىٰهُ أَفَأَنتَ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ وَكِيلًا
Have you seen the one who takes as his god his own desire? Then would you be responsible for him?
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۚ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ فَسْـَٔلْ بِهِۦ خَبِيرًا
He who created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six days and then established Himself above the Throne - the Most Merciful, so ask about Him one well informed [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ)].
وَقَالَ ٱلرَّسُولُ يَـٰرَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِى ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ مَهْجُورًا
And the Messenger has said, "O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur’ān as [a thing] abandoned."
قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ مَا كَانَ يَنۢبَغِى لَنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ مِن دُونِكَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ وَلَـٰكِن مَّتَّعْتَهُمْ وَءَابَآءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ نَسُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَكَانُوا۟ قَوْمًۢا بُورًا
They will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for us to take besides You any allies [i.e., protectors]. But You provided comforts for them and their fathers until they forgot the message and became a people ruined."