فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِمْ أَن سَبِّحُوا۟ بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا 11
Translations
So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [Allāh] in the morning and afternoon.
Transliteration
Fakharaja 'ala qawmihi minal-mihrab fa-awha ilayihim an sabbihoo bukratan wa-'ashiyya
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Zakariyyah (peace be upon him) emerging from the mihrab (prayer niche) after receiving the glad tidings of the birth of Yahya (John the Baptist), and he communicated to his people through signs that they should glorify Allah in the morning and evening. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Zakariyyah had been made unable to speak as a sign from Allah, so he instructed his people through gestures to engage in continuous remembrance of Allah (dhikr) at dawn and dusk, emphasizing the importance of prescribed devotion during these optimal times for worship.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Zakariyyah's supplication and Allah's response to grant him a righteous son despite his advanced age and his wife's barrenness. The broader context of Surah Maryam establishes stories of divine mercy and miraculous births. This particular verse demonstrates the consequence of Zakariyyah's certainty in Allah's promise—his immediate guidance to his community toward sustained remembrance of their Lord.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best supplication is the supplication on the Day of Arafah, and the best thing I and the prophets before me have said is: There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, alone without partner' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3585). Additionally, the Quran emphasizes in Surah Al-Ahzab 33:41-42 the virtue of remembering Allah abundantly, morning and evening.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers the importance of consistent and purposeful worship at designated times, and demonstrates that even when prevented from speaking, a servant of Allah can guide others toward righteousness through sincere intention and clear demonstration of faith. For modern readers, it emphasizes that our role as believers includes not only personal devotion but also encouraging those around us toward the remembrance of Allah.