Tafsir of Allah’s statement: 'They used to sleep but little by night' (Qur’an 51:17

Hazrat Abu Alia, in the explanation of the Divine Command { کَانُوا قَلِیلاً مِنَ اللَّیْلِ مَا یَہْجَعُونَ } (they sleep only a little part of the night), says that they do not sleep before the Isha prayer.

Hasan, in the explanation of the command of Allah Almighty { کَانُوا قَلِیلاً مِنَ اللَّیْلِ مَا یَہْجَعُونَ ، وَبِالأَسْحَارِ ہُمْ یَسْتَغْفِرُونَ } (They sleep little at night, and seek forgiveness at the time of dawn for their sins), says that they perform prayers and wake up at the time of dawn to seek forgiveness.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Rawaha, in the explanation of the Divine Command { کَانُوا قَلِیلاً مِنَ اللَّیْلِ مَا یَہْجَعُونَ } (they sleep only a small part of the night), states that they sleep for a short while and then worship until the time of suhoor.

Hazrat Ata, in the explanation of the command of Allah Almighty { کَانُوا قَلِیلاً مِنَ اللَّیْلِ مَا یَہْجَعُونَ } (they sleep only a little part of the night), states that in this verse, the companions were commanded to worship for most of the night. After the revelation of this verse, Hazrat Abu Dharr would not even go near his bed and would worship the entire night with the support of a staff. Then, regarding the worship at night, a concession was revealed in this verse { فَاقْرَؤُوا مَا تَیَسَّرَ مِنْہُ } recite from the Quran whatever is easy for you.

Hasan, in the explanation of the command of Allah Almighty { کَانُوا قَلِیلاً مِنَ اللَّیْلِ مَا یَہْجَعُونَ } (they sleep only a little part of the night), says that they sleep very little at night. Hazrat Mutarrif bin Abdullah used to say that it means there are very few nights in which they do not worship Allah. Hazrat Muhammad bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) says that they did not use to sleep before the Isha prayer.

6449 - And Mutarrif ibn Abd Allah used to say: "There was hardly a night except that they would (attain) (1) from it."

6450 - And Muhammad ibn Ali used to say: They do not sleep until they pray the ‘Isha (night) prayer.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Shikhir, in the explanation of the Divine Command { کَانُوا قَلِیلاً مِنَ اللَّیْلِ مَا یَہْجَعُونَ } (they sleep during a small portion of the night), states that there are very few nights in which they stay awake for the entire night.

Hazrat Dhahhak says about { الْمُتَّقِیْنَ } that they are few.

Hasan, in the explanation of the command of Allah Almighty { کَانُوا قَلِیلاً مِنَ اللَّیْلِ مَا یَہْجَعُونَ } (they sleep little at night), says that they sleep for a short while at night and then worship until the time of suhoor.

Hazrat Saeed bin Abi Al-Hasan says that there are very few nights in which they stay awake the entire night.

Hazrat Mujahid, in the explanation of the Divine Command { کَانُوا قَلِیلاً مِنَ اللَّیْلِ مَا یَہْجَعُونَ } (they sleep only a little part of the night), says that they do not sleep the entire night.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), in the explanation of the Divine statement { کَانُوا قَلِیلاً مِنَ اللَّیْلِ مَا یَہْجَعُونَ } (they sleep only a little part of the night), says that there are very few nights in which they do not perform prayer.

Hazrat Dahhak says that the meaning of { کَانُوْا } is: a few people.

Ibrahim, in the explanation of the Divine statement { کَانُوا قَلِیلاً مِنَ اللَّیْلِ مَا یَہْجَعُونَ } (they sleep only a little part of the night), says that the meaning of "ma yahja‘oon" is "ma yanamoon," that is, they do not sleep.

Hazrat Ibn Abi Najeeh, in the explanation of the Divine Command { کَانُوا قَلِیلاً مِنَ اللَّیْلِ مَا یَہْجَعُونَ } (they sleep only a little part of the night), states that there are very few nights in which they sleep until morning.