Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 20

The meaning of {يُسَبِّحُوْنَ الَّيْلَ وَ النَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُوْنَ:’’ اَلْفُتُوْرُ ‘‘} is to refrain from an action, as He said: «{ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُوْلُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ عَلٰى فَتْرَةٍ مِّنَ الرُّسُلِ }» [ المائدۃ : ۱۹ ] “Indeed, there has come to you Our Messenger, who makes things clear to you, after a pause between the messengers.” That is, the angels glorify Allah day and night, never stopping, never pausing. Here is a question that Abdullah bin Harith bin Naufal asked Ka’b Ahbar: “Tell me, Allah Almighty said about the angels: «{ يُسَبِّحُوْنَ الَّيْلَ وَ النَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُوْنَ }» Does their mutual conversation, delivering revelation to the prophets, and other tasks not interrupt their glorification?” He replied: “Son! Allah Almighty has made glorification for them just as He has made breathing for you. Is it not so that you breathe while talking and you keep breathing while walking?” [ طبری من طرق یقوي أحدھما الآخر، حکمت بن بشیر ] The meaning of glorifying day and night without pause can also be hyperbolic, that they glorify very much, just as it is said that so-and-so praises you all the time, or I remember you day and night, etc. The commentator Al-Alusi has praised this explanation. (Ruh al-Ma’ani) Or, as Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said about the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): [ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَذْكُرُ اللّٰهَ عَلٰی كُلِّ أَحْيَانِهِ ] [ مسلم، الحیض، باب ذکر اللہ في حال الجنابۃ وغیرھا : ۳۷۳ ] “He (peace and blessings be upon him) used to remember Allah at all times.” Obviously, he would speak for his human needs, for dawah and preaching, and for jihad, and he would eat, drink, and sleep as well, yet his heart was never heedless of the remembrance of Allah. This explanation is similar to the explanation of Ka’b Ahbar.