The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 598
CH. 17 BANI ISRĀ'ĪL PT. 15 R. 9. 79. "Observe Prayer at declining and paling of the sun أَقِمِ الصَّلوةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلى غَسَقِ the الَّيْلِ وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ ,on to the darkness of the night كَانَ مَشْهُودًا and the recitation of the Quran in Prayer at dawn. Verily, the recitation of the Quran at dawn is specially acceptable with God. 2008 a11:115; 20:131; 30:18, 19; 50:40. of their bodies and souls while the Jews suffered only moral and political death. But the Meccans were spared this punishment because the Holy Prophet left Mecca in pursuance of God's own command and was not expelled from it by his people. 2008. Important Words: J (at) means, at, on or upon; nigh, near or about; (Lane & Aqrab). For other meanings of )) see 17:62. 5, (declining and paling) is. i. e دلكه الدهر derived from hey say the time proved him and made him expert. means, (1) the sun declined from the meridian; (2) or it became yellow; (3) or it set (Lane & Aqrab). (darkness) is the noun-infinitive from ¿ (ghasaqa). They say i. e. the night became dark means, his eyes became dark or shed tears. (ghasaqun) means, the beginning of the darkness of night or the darkness of the night or the darkness of the beginning of the night or when or redness in the horizon after sunset disappears (Lane). 1806 Commentary: The words of this verse denote the hours of the five daily Prayers of Islam. The three meanings of the word 5, as given under Important Words indicate the times of b (afternoon Prayer) and afternoon Prayer) and (sun-set Prayer). The words include the times of Prayer) but (sun-set late) عصر particularly refer to as (night Prayer). The words (the recitation of the Quran at dawn) indicate the hour of (morning Prayer). In this and the following verses Muslims are warned to be prepared to meet great hardships and privations at the hands of the Jews of Medina. These people were very punctilious about outward acts of worship. The slightest slackness in Prayers on the part of Muslims would make them criticize Islam and the Holy Prophet. Moreover, Islam was destined to make great headway in Medina in the near future and as success and prosperity generally make men prone to a life of ease and they become indifferent towards Prayers, SO Muslims are particularly warned to be