وَمِن رَّحْمَتِهِۦ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ لِتَسْكُنُوا۟ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ 73
Translations
And out of His mercy He made for you the night and the day that you may rest therein and [by day] seek from His bounty and [that] perhaps you will be grateful.
Transliteration
Wa min rahmatih jaʿala lakumu al-layla wa-al-nahara litaskunu fih wa-latabtagh min fadlih wa-laʿallakum tashkurun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that the alternation of night and day is a divine mercy from Allah, serving multiple purposes: night provides rest and tranquility for human bodies, while day facilitates the pursuit of livelihood and sustenance. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this division demonstrates Allah's wisdom in creating conditions suitable for both physical rest and worldly endeavor, with the ultimate purpose being human gratitude and recognition of divine blessings.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Qasas (a Meccan surah), within a passage discussing divine signs and mercies evident in creation. The surah's broader context addresses the stories of past prophets and the consequences of accepting or rejecting divine guidance. This particular ayah is part of a sequence reminding the Meccans of Allah's tangible blessings in their daily experience.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith emphasizing gratitude: 'Whoever is not grateful for the little, will not be grateful for the much' (Tirmidhi) relates to the ayah's concluding theme of thankfulness.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to recognize the profound wisdom in everyday natural phenomena and to maintain a balance between necessary rest and legitimate pursuit of sustenance. It reminds us that acknowledging these blessings through gratitude and proper use of time is essential to spiritual growth.