50. Surah Qaf [45 verses]

Mecca Period 34

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

فَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ ﴿٣٩﴾

50: 39.  Bear, then with patience, all that they say, and celebrate the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting,

C4978. Allah should be remembered at all times. But the best time for individual adoration is:

• early in the morning before sunrise,

• late in the day before sunset, and

• a portion of the night, when there is stillness in the air, and man's spirit loves to commune with things spiritual.

Those who would connect this with the five canonical prayers, instituted at a later stage in Madinah, would take:

• the Fair for the prayer before sunrise,

• the Zuhr and, the Asr for the afternoon prayers before sunset and

• the Magrib and the Ishaa for the night prayers.

Asad’s Version:

50:39 HENCE, [O believe,] bear thou with patience whatever they may say, 30 and extol thy Sustainer's limitless glory and praise before the rising of the sun and before its setting; 31

[[Asad’s notes - 30 Sc, "regarding the alleged 'impossibility' of resurrection" .

31 Le., "remember His almightiness at all times of day". ]]