Ad-Dhuha

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سورة الضحى
Sūrat al-Ḍuḥā
The Morning Hours

Arabic text · English translation

Classification Meccan
Other names (Eng.) Morning Bright, The Early Hours, The Forenoon, The Bright Morning Hours
Position Juz' 30
Structure 11 verses
Morning Time

Sūrat al-Ḍuḥā (Arabic: الضحى‎, "The Morning Hours, Morning Bright") is the 93rd sura of the Qur'an with 11 ayat. The Surah takes its name Ad-Duha from the very first word.

Although there is some debate amongst scholars, this sura is often considered to be the second revealed to Muhammad. After the first sura (al-Alaq) was received, there was a period of silence in which no further messages were revealed. During this time, the new Prophet wondered if he had somehow displeased God, who it seemed for a while was no longer sending down His message. This sura broke that silence, and reassured Muhammad that all will be understood in time. The image of the morning (ad-Dhuha) is the first word of the sura, and can be understood as symbolizing Muhammad's "new day" as the Messenger of God, as well as the "dawn" of the new way of life that would become Islam. After this sura, the visitations of Gabriel with the words of the Qur'an would come to Muhammad regularly until his death.

Because of subject matter, length, style, and placement in the Qur'an, this sura is often coupled with Sura Al-Inshirah. They are generally considered to have be revealed around the same time.

Summary

This sura begins by invoking the Morning and the Night, meaning that God's will acts both during the day (when the Light of God is obvious), and the night (when it seems to man that God is absent). The Qur'an comforts the new Prophet with the message that God is not angered with him, nor has God abandoned him; indeed, God says He is pleased with him. It goes on saying that "The Last will be better for thee than the First" - things will end better as they are now, meaning either (or both) in Muhammad's victories on Earth, or in the Afterlife. To prove the point, the Qur'an asks Muhammad if God has ever failed him:

[93:6] Did He not find you an orphan, so provided you shelter?

[93:7] And He found you wandering, so gave you guidance?

[93:8] And found you in need, so made you prosperous?

The answer for all of these is, of course, yes. Muhammad was in each of these three positions and has risen above them: when he was orphaned he was protected, when he was looking for answers they were given, and when he was without wealth he was provided for. The Qur'an then reverts the three questions into three commands, suggesting that as God has done to His Prophet, the Prophet must do to all people:

"Therefore, as for the orphan protect him,

As for the beggar, oppress him not,

And as for thy Lord's favor, declare it."

Period of revelation

Its subject matter clearly indicates that it belongs to the earliest period at Makkah.[1] Traditions also show that the revelations were suspended for a time, which caused Muhammad to be deeply distressed and grieved. On this account he felt very anxious that perhaps He had committed some error because of which his Lord had become angry with him and had forsaken him. Thereupon he was given the consolation that revelation had not been stopped because of some displeasure but this was necessitated by the same expediency as underlies the peace and stillness of the night after the bright day, as if to say: "If you had continuously been exposed to the intensely bright light of Revelation (Wahy) your nerves could not have endured it. Therefore, an interval was given in order to afford you peace and tranquility." This state was experienced by Muhammad in the initial stage of the Prophethood when he was not yet accustomed to hear the intensity of Revelation. On this basis, observance of a pause in between was necessary. This we have already explained in the introduction to Surah Al-Muddathir; and in E. N. 5 of Surah Al-Muzzammil also we have explained what great burden of the coming down of Revelation he had to bear. Later, when Muhammad developed the power to bear this burden, there was no longer any need for long gaps.

Theme and subject matter

Its theme is to console Muhammad and its object to remove his anxiety and distress, which he had been caused by the suspension of Revelation. First of all, swearing an oath by the bright morning and the stillness of night, he has been reassured, so as to say: "Your Lord has not at all forsaken you, nor is he displeased with you." Then, he has been given the good news that the hardships that he was experiencing in the initial stage of his mission, would not last long, for every later period of life for him would be better than the former period, and before long Allah would bless him so abundantly that he would be well pleased. This is one of the express prophecies of the Quran, which proved literally true, afterwards, whereas when this prophecy was made there seemed not to be the remotest chance that the helpless and powerless man who had come out to wage a war against the ignorance and paganism of the entire nation, would ever achieve such wonderful success.

Then, addressing Muhammad, Allah says:"O My dear Prophet, what has caused you the anxiety and distress that your Lord has forsaken you, and that We are displeased with you? Whereas the fact is that We have been good to you with kindness after kindness ever since the day of your birth. You were born an orphan, We made the best arrangement for your upbringing and care: you were unaware of the Way, We showed you the Way; you were indigent, We made you rich. All this shows that you have been favored by Us from the very beginning and Our grace and bounty has been constantly focused on you."Here, one should also keep in view vv. 37-42 of Sura Ta Ha, where Allah, while sending the Prophet Moses to confront a tyrant like Pharaoh, encouraged and consoled him, saying: "We have been looking after you with kindness ever since your birth; therefore, you should be satisfied that you will not be left alone in this dreadful mission. Our bounty will constantly be with you."

In conclusion, Allah has instructed Muhammad telling him how he should treat the creatures of God to repay for the favors He has done him and how he should render thanks for the blessings He has bestowed on him.

Layout of this surah

The Sura Begins with Oaths. It then asks to reflect and prepares the reader for the ultimate lesson that is about to come. And then The Ultimate lesson in this surah is; Allah gives favours to His Messenger i.e. Duha, Al-Inshirah, and Al-Kawthar. To conclude – Allah will tell what the Messenger of Allah should do to show gratefulness for all the favours.And how can we – as followers – follow his example of gratefulness ?

Trivia

The first part of this sura was recited from Rodwell's translation in Lawrence of Arabia where Lawrence surprises the others by showing he knows it.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Quran Verses in Chronological Order

External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Previous sura:
Al-Lail		 Surah 93 Next sura:
Al-Inshirah
Arabic text