سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 110
قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ أَوِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنَ ۖ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُوا۟ فَلَهُ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَلَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَٱبْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا ﴿110﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم): "Invoke Allâh or invoke the Most Gracious (Allâh), by whatever name you invoke Him (it is the same), for to Him belong the Best Names. And offer your Salât (prayer) neither aloud nor in a low voice, but follow a way between.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قُلِ
quli
Say
ٱدْعُوا۟
id'ʿū
Invoke
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
أَوِ
awi
or
ٱدْعُوا۟
id'ʿū
invoke
ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنَ ۖ
l-raḥmāna
the Most Gracious
أَيًّۭا
ayyan
By whatever (name)
مَّا
mā
By whatever (name)
تَدْعُوا۟
tadʿū
you invoke
فَلَهُ
falahu
to Him (belongs)
ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ
l-asmāu
the Most Beautiful Names
ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ
l-ḥus'nā
the Most Beautiful Names
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَجْهَرْ
tajhar
be loud
بِصَلَاتِكَ
biṣalātika
in your prayers
وَلَا
walā
and not
تُخَافِتْ
tukhāfit
be silent
بِهَا
bihā
therein
وَٱبْتَغِ
wa-ib'taghi
but seek
بَيْنَ
bayna
between
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
سَبِيلًۭا
sabīlan
a way
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 110) ➊ { قُلِ ادْعُوا اللّٰهَ اَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمٰنَ …:} The disbelievers of Makkah used to dislike the name “Ar-Rahman,” so Allah Almighty mentioned their aversion to this name in several verses. Thus, He said: «وَ اِذَا قِيْلَ لَهُمُ اسْجُدُوْا لِلرَّحْمٰنِ قَالُوْا وَ مَا الرَّحْمٰنُ اَنَسْجُدُ لِمَا تَاْمُرُنَا وَ زَادَهُمْ نُفُوْرًا » [ الفرقان : ۶۰ ] “And when it is said to them, ‘Prostrate to Ar-Rahman,’ they say, ‘And what is Ar-Rahman? Should we prostrate to what you command us?’ And it increases them in aversion.” Their aversion is also mentioned in Surah Al-Anbiya (36). When the treaty of Hudaybiyyah was being written, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to the scribe: “Write {’’بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ‘‘}.” Then (the representative of the disbelievers) Suhail bin Amr said: “Ar-Rahman! By Allah, I do not know what Ar-Rahman is. Rather, write {’’بِاسْمِكَ اللّٰهُمَّ‘‘} as you used to write before.” [ بخاری، الشروط، باب الشروط فی الجہاد… : ۲۷۳۱، ۲۷۳۲ ] Allah Almighty said, “Call upon Allah or call upon Ar-Rahman, whichever (name) you call, to Him belong the best names.” When all are the best, then why would not these two be the best? For further details, see the commentary of Surah Al-A’raf (180).
➋ By { وَ لَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ …:’’ صَلَاةٌ ‘‘} is meant the recitation of the Noble Qur’an in prayer. Thus, regarding the explanation of this verse, Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said that this verse was revealed when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was in hiding in Makkah. When he led his companions in prayer, he would recite the Qur’an aloud. When the polytheists heard it, they would abuse the Qur’an and the One who revealed it. So Allah Almighty said to His Prophet (peace be upon him): [ «وَ لَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ » أَيْ بِقِرَاءَتِكَ فَيَسْمَعَ الْمُشْرِكُوْنَ فَيَسُبُّوا الْقُرْآنَ «وَ لَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا » عَنْ أَصْحَابِكَ فَلَا تُسْمِعُهُمْ «وَ ابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذٰلِكَ سَبِيْلًا » ] [ بخاري، التفسیر، سورۃ بني إسرائیل باب : «ولا تجہر بصلاتک ولا تخافت بھا » : ۴۷۲۲ ] The meaning of {’’ وَ لَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ ‘‘} is that do not raise your voice with your recitation so that the polytheists hear it and abuse it, nor recite so quietly that you hide it from your companions, for then you will not be able to make them hear it. Rather, seek a way between the two.” Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that this verse was revealed regarding supplication. [ بخاري، التفسیر، سورۃ بني إسرائیل باب : « ولا تجہر بصلاتک ولا تخافت بھا » : ۴۷۲۳ ] In Abu Dawood, there is an authentic hadith that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) heard Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) reciting in a low voice and Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reciting in a loud voice during the night prayer, so he told Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) to raise his voice a little and Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) to lower his voice a little. [ أبوداوٗد، التطوع، باب رفع الصوت بالقراء ۃ فی صلاۃ اللیل : ۱۳۲۹ ] The words of the verse accommodate both the meanings of recitation and supplication.
➋ By { وَ لَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ …:’’ صَلَاةٌ ‘‘} is meant the recitation of the Noble Qur’an in prayer. Thus, regarding the explanation of this verse, Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said that this verse was revealed when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was in hiding in Makkah. When he led his companions in prayer, he would recite the Qur’an aloud. When the polytheists heard it, they would abuse the Qur’an and the One who revealed it. So Allah Almighty said to His Prophet (peace be upon him): [ «وَ لَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ » أَيْ بِقِرَاءَتِكَ فَيَسْمَعَ الْمُشْرِكُوْنَ فَيَسُبُّوا الْقُرْآنَ «وَ لَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا » عَنْ أَصْحَابِكَ فَلَا تُسْمِعُهُمْ «وَ ابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذٰلِكَ سَبِيْلًا » ] [ بخاري، التفسیر، سورۃ بني إسرائیل باب : «ولا تجہر بصلاتک ولا تخافت بھا » : ۴۷۲۲ ] The meaning of {’’ وَ لَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ ‘‘} is that do not raise your voice with your recitation so that the polytheists hear it and abuse it, nor recite so quietly that you hide it from your companions, for then you will not be able to make them hear it. Rather, seek a way between the two.” Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that this verse was revealed regarding supplication. [ بخاري، التفسیر، سورۃ بني إسرائیل باب : « ولا تجہر بصلاتک ولا تخافت بھا » : ۴۷۲۳ ] In Abu Dawood, there is an authentic hadith that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) heard Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) reciting in a low voice and Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reciting in a loud voice during the night prayer, so he told Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) to raise his voice a little and Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) to lower his voice a little. [ أبوداوٗد، التطوع، باب رفع الصوت بالقراء ۃ فی صلاۃ اللیل : ۱۳۲۹ ] The words of the verse accommodate both the meanings of recitation and supplication.
