سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 12
وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ ءَايَتَيْنِ ۖ فَمَحَوْنَآ ءَايَةَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَجَعَلْنَآ ءَايَةَ ٱلنَّهَارِ مُبْصِرَةً لِّتَبْتَغُوا۟ فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلِتَعْلَمُوا۟ عَدَدَ ٱلسِّنِينَ وَٱلْحِسَابَ ۚ وَكُلَّ شَىْءٍ فَصَّلْنَـٰهُ تَفْصِيلًا ﴿12﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We have appointed the night and the day as two Ayât (signs etc.). Then, We have obliterated the sign of the night (with darkness) while We have made the sign of the day illuminating, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and the reckoning. And We have explained everything (in detail) with full explanation.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَجَعَلْنَا
wajaʿalnā
And We have made
ٱلَّيْلَ
al-layla
the night
وَٱلنَّهَارَ
wal-nahāra
and the day
ءَايَتَيْنِ ۖ
āyatayni
(as) two signs
فَمَحَوْنَآ
famaḥawnā
Then We erased
ءَايَةَ
āyata
(the) sign
ٱلَّيْلِ
al-layli
(of) the night
وَجَعَلْنَآ
wajaʿalnā
and We made
ءَايَةَ
āyata
(the) sign
ٱلنَّهَارِ
l-nahāri
(of) the day
مُبْصِرَةًۭ
mub'ṣiratan
visible
لِّتَبْتَغُوا۟
litabtaghū
that you may seek
فَضْلًۭا
faḍlan
bounty
مِّن
min
from
رَّبِّكُمْ
rabbikum
your Lord
وَلِتَعْلَمُوا۟
walitaʿlamū
and that you may know
عَدَدَ
ʿadada
(the) number
ٱلسِّنِينَ
l-sinīna
(of) the years
وَٱلْحِسَابَ ۚ
wal-ḥisāba
and the account
وَكُلَّ
wakulla
And every
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
thing
فَصَّلْنَـٰهُ
faṣṣalnāhu
We have explained it
تَفْصِيلًۭا
tafṣīlan
(in) detail
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 12) ➊ { وَ جَعَلْنَا الَّيْلَ وَ النَّهَارَ اٰيَتَيْنِ :} These two have been made signs so that from them, Allah’s existence, His perfect craftsmanship and power, and His being solely deserving of worship can be known. The night and the day have been mentioned in the Qur’an at numerous places as evidence and as a blessing. See Surah Ha Meem As-Sajdah (37), Ya Seen (37), Yunus (6), Aal-e-Imran (190), Baqarah (164), Furqan (62), Surah Zumar (5), and other verses.
➋ {فَمَحَوْنَاۤ اٰيَةَ الَّيْلِ … : ’’ مَحَا يَمْحُوْ مَحْوًا ‘‘} (N) To erase or remove the sign of something, that is, just as the night and the day are signs, in the same way, their existence and their continuously coming one after the other, increasing or decreasing daily, are also blessings, because the darkness and silence of the night are necessary for human comfort, rest, and sleep, and the light of the day is necessary for every work and for seeking Allah’s bounty. This is Allah’s favor that He made the night for rest, then erased it and made the day for work. If Allah had made it always night or always day, how could the cycle of life continue? For details, see Surah Qasas (71 to 73), Surah Naba (9 to 11), and Surah Rum (23).
➌ {وَ لِتَعْلَمُوْا عَدَدَ السِّنِيْنَ وَ الْحِسَابَ :} That is, if there were no day and night, and if there were no gradual daily increase or decrease of night and day, and if there were no phases of the moon from crescent to full and from full to crescent, then the season would always remain the same, and there would be no way to know the year and months, nor would there be the existence of time, upon which many religious matters, such as prayer, fasting, zakat, Hajj, Eid, waiting period, etc., and all worldly matters depend.
➍ { وَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَصَّلْنٰهُ تَفْصِيْلًا:} That is, every matter in which lies your success in this world and the Hereafter, We have explained it in detail. {’’ تَفْصِيْلًا ‘‘} The infinitive is for emphasis, so the meaning is: to explain in detail. See also Surah An’am (38) and Surah Nahl (89).
➎ The mutual relevance of these verses (10 to 13), by combining the words of Ibn Ashur and Shah Abdul Qadir, is that in verse (10), when the preparation of a painful punishment for the disbelievers was mentioned, then in verse (11), the reason for the demand based on the stubbornness of the disbelievers was stated, which they used to make to the Muslims: bring the painful punishment now, come, make the sky fall upon us, let Allah rain stones upon us. It is said that man, out of haste, prays for his own harm without thinking, but Allah’s wisdom and the benefit of man himself require that his evil prayer not be accepted. (Ibn Ashur) In verse (13), it is stated that nothing is gained from the disbelievers’ demand for immediate punishment or from the Muslims’ supplication for the immediate destruction of the disbelievers. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: “There is no benefit in being anxious; everything has its appointed time and measure, just like night and day. No one’s anxiety makes the night shorter; morning comes at its appointed time.” (Muwadhih)
➋ {فَمَحَوْنَاۤ اٰيَةَ الَّيْلِ … : ’’ مَحَا يَمْحُوْ مَحْوًا ‘‘} (N) To erase or remove the sign of something, that is, just as the night and the day are signs, in the same way, their existence and their continuously coming one after the other, increasing or decreasing daily, are also blessings, because the darkness and silence of the night are necessary for human comfort, rest, and sleep, and the light of the day is necessary for every work and for seeking Allah’s bounty. This is Allah’s favor that He made the night for rest, then erased it and made the day for work. If Allah had made it always night or always day, how could the cycle of life continue? For details, see Surah Qasas (71 to 73), Surah Naba (9 to 11), and Surah Rum (23).
➌ {وَ لِتَعْلَمُوْا عَدَدَ السِّنِيْنَ وَ الْحِسَابَ :} That is, if there were no day and night, and if there were no gradual daily increase or decrease of night and day, and if there were no phases of the moon from crescent to full and from full to crescent, then the season would always remain the same, and there would be no way to know the year and months, nor would there be the existence of time, upon which many religious matters, such as prayer, fasting, zakat, Hajj, Eid, waiting period, etc., and all worldly matters depend.
➍ { وَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَصَّلْنٰهُ تَفْصِيْلًا:} That is, every matter in which lies your success in this world and the Hereafter, We have explained it in detail. {’’ تَفْصِيْلًا ‘‘} The infinitive is for emphasis, so the meaning is: to explain in detail. See also Surah An’am (38) and Surah Nahl (89).
➎ The mutual relevance of these verses (10 to 13), by combining the words of Ibn Ashur and Shah Abdul Qadir, is that in verse (10), when the preparation of a painful punishment for the disbelievers was mentioned, then in verse (11), the reason for the demand based on the stubbornness of the disbelievers was stated, which they used to make to the Muslims: bring the painful punishment now, come, make the sky fall upon us, let Allah rain stones upon us. It is said that man, out of haste, prays for his own harm without thinking, but Allah’s wisdom and the benefit of man himself require that his evil prayer not be accepted. (Ibn Ashur) In verse (13), it is stated that nothing is gained from the disbelievers’ demand for immediate punishment or from the Muslims’ supplication for the immediate destruction of the disbelievers. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: “There is no benefit in being anxious; everything has its appointed time and measure, just like night and day. No one’s anxiety makes the night shorter; morning comes at its appointed time.” (Muwadhih)
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
12. 1 That is, He made the night without light, meaning dark, so that you could rest and your fatigue from the whole day could be relieved, and He made the day bright so that through earning a livelihood you may seek the bounty of your Lord. Besides this, another benefit of night and day is that in this way you can count and calculate weeks, months, and years, and this calculation has countless benefits. If after night there was no day, or after day there was no night, but always only night or only day remained, then you would not have the opportunity for rest and peace or for conducting business, and similarly, it would not be possible to calculate months and years.
12. 2 That is, for mankind, all the necessary matters of religion and the world have been clearly explained by Us so that people may benefit from them, improve their worldly life, and also be concerned for the Hereafter and prepare for it.
12. 2 That is, for mankind, all the necessary matters of religion and the world have been clearly explained by Us so that people may benefit from them, improve their worldly life, and also be concerned for the Hereafter and prepare for it.
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(See) We have made the night and the day as two signs. We made the sign of the night dark, and the sign of the day bright, so that you may seek the bounty of your Lord and know the counting of months and years [11]. And We have explained everything in detail [12].
[11] Before the mention of every night. The counting of the day from one evening to the next evening is a natural law of gradualness and respite.
The Benefits of Day and Night:
Wherever Allah Almighty has mentioned day and night, He has mentioned the night first, from which it is understood that the natural calendar is that the counting of a day (24 hours) is from one evening or sunset to the next day's sunset. Whether the days are short or long, whether the nights are getting longer or shorter, this duration will always and in every season remain the same (24 hours). Another thing that is understood is that in the coming and going of day and night, neither does the darkness of night come all of a sudden, nor does the day appear all at once with its full brightness and heat. Rather, in every work of Allah, the law of respite and gradualness operates. When the darkness of night comes, it comes gradually; when the light of the moon appears and increases, it does so gradually. Similarly, the light and heat of the sun also increase gradually. Then, the changes that come in the seasons also come gradually. In the same way, when punishment comes upon a nation, the law of gradualness and respite is also at work there. Man's haste achieves nothing. In this way, there are many benefits for humans in the alternation of night and day. During the day, they can earn their livelihood, and at night, they can rest. In addition, through this system of night and day, they can also determine and count the duration of time.
[12]
The Existence of Opposites Maintains the Colorfulness of the World, and This is Allah's Wisdom:
Here, "everything" refers to those things that are recognized by their opposites. That is, day in contrast to night, light in contrast to darkness, heat in contrast to cold, and so on. It is from this difference that the system of the world is established. If there were always day or always night, neither would the existence of humans remain on this earth, nor that of any other animal. Nor could any plants grow. Similarly, if all humans here were righteous, or if evil deeds were completely destroyed, then the purpose of human creation would not remain. Therefore, spiritually, the wisdom in the population of this world is that both truth and falsehood should exist here, and there should be a struggle between them. Their alternation should continue, and the process of testing mankind should go on.
[11] Before the mention of every night. The counting of the day from one evening to the next evening is a natural law of gradualness and respite.
The Benefits of Day and Night:
Wherever Allah Almighty has mentioned day and night, He has mentioned the night first, from which it is understood that the natural calendar is that the counting of a day (24 hours) is from one evening or sunset to the next day's sunset. Whether the days are short or long, whether the nights are getting longer or shorter, this duration will always and in every season remain the same (24 hours). Another thing that is understood is that in the coming and going of day and night, neither does the darkness of night come all of a sudden, nor does the day appear all at once with its full brightness and heat. Rather, in every work of Allah, the law of respite and gradualness operates. When the darkness of night comes, it comes gradually; when the light of the moon appears and increases, it does so gradually. Similarly, the light and heat of the sun also increase gradually. Then, the changes that come in the seasons also come gradually. In the same way, when punishment comes upon a nation, the law of gradualness and respite is also at work there. Man's haste achieves nothing. In this way, there are many benefits for humans in the alternation of night and day. During the day, they can earn their livelihood, and at night, they can rest. In addition, through this system of night and day, they can also determine and count the duration of time.
[12]
The Existence of Opposites Maintains the Colorfulness of the World, and This is Allah's Wisdom:
Here, "everything" refers to those things that are recognized by their opposites. That is, day in contrast to night, light in contrast to darkness, heat in contrast to cold, and so on. It is from this difference that the system of the world is established. If there were always day or always night, neither would the existence of humans remain on this earth, nor that of any other animal. Nor could any plants grow. Similarly, if all humans here were righteous, or if evil deeds were completely destroyed, then the purpose of human creation would not remain. Therefore, spiritually, the wisdom in the population of this world is that both truth and falsehood should exist here, and there should be a struggle between them. Their alternation should continue, and the process of testing mankind should go on.
