وَبِٱلَّيْلِ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ 138
Translations
And at night. Then will you not use reason?
Transliteration
wa-bil-layli, a-fa-lā ta'qilūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah, which concludes a passage about Allah's signs and creation, rhetorically asks: 'And by the night—do you not use reason?' The verse emphasizes the night as one of Allah's clear signs demonstrating His power and wisdom, inviting believers to reflect upon how the alternation of day and night sustains life and serves human needs. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that this ayah calls for intellectual contemplation (tafakkur) of the natural phenomena as evidence of the Creator's existence and attributes.
Revelation Context
Surah As-Saffat is a Meccan surah that emphasizes monotheism and refutation of polytheism through signs in creation. This particular ayah is part of a broader section discussing Allah's creative power and the signs evident in the natural world, addressing the Meccan disbelievers' denial and their failure to use reason to recognize the truth.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, the Qur'an repeatedly encourages reflection: 'Do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon their hearts?' (47:24), emphasizing intellectual engagement with signs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to use their intellect and observation of natural phenomena as a means of deepening faith and recognizing Allah's greatness. In our modern age, it reminds us that science and reason are tools for understanding creation and should lead us closer to the Creator, not away from Him.