إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ ٱلَّيْلِ هِىَ أَشَدُّ وَطْـًٔا وَأَقْوَمُ قِيلًا 6
Translations
Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words.
Transliteration
Inna nashiata al-layli hiya ashaddu watan wa-aqwamu qilan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that standing in prayer during the night (tahajjud) has a stronger spiritual impact and is more conducive to proper recitation of the Quran than daytime worship. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that night prayer produces firmer resolve, better concentration, and more sincere devotion, as the soul is undisturbed by worldly distractions and the heart is more receptive to divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Muzzammil, which addresses the Prophet Muhammad and the early believers regarding night prayers. The surah encourages tahajjud (night vigil) as a spiritual practice, with this particular ayah explaining the superiority of night worship over day worship in terms of its spiritual efficacy and the quality of Quranic recitation achieved during these hours.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer' (Sahih Muslim 1163). Additionally, he stated: 'Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of the night, saying: Who will call upon Me, that I may answer him?' (Sahih Bukhari 1145).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that quality of worship matters more than quantity, and that creating dedicated time away from distractions—especially through night prayer—strengthens our spiritual connection with Allah and enhances our understanding of His revelation.