سُوْرَةُ النُّوْرِ
Surah An-Noor (24) — Ayah 41
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلطَّيْرُ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ ۖ كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُۥ وَتَسْبِيحَهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿41﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
See you not (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) that Allâh, He it is Whom glorify whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, and the birds with wings out-spread (in their flight)?. Of each one He (Allâh) knows indeed his Salât (prayer) and his glorification, [or everyone knows his Salât (prayer) and his glorification]; and Allâh is All-Aware of what they do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَلَمْ
alam
Do not
تَرَ
tara
you see
أَنَّ
anna
that
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
يُسَبِّحُ
yusabbiḥu
glorify
لَهُۥ
lahu
Him
مَن
man
whoever
فِى
fī
(is) in
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضِ
wal-arḍi
and the earth
وَٱلطَّيْرُ
wal-ṭayru
and the birds
صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍۢ ۖ
ṣāffātin
(with) wings outspread
كُلٌّۭ
kullun
Each one
قَدْ
qad
verily
عَلِمَ
ʿalima
knows
صَلَاتَهُۥ
ṣalātahu
its prayer
وَتَسْبِيحَهُۥ ۗ
watasbīḥahu
and its glorification
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
عَلِيمٌۢ
ʿalīmun
(is) All-Knower
بِمَا
bimā
of what
يَفْعَلُونَ
yafʿalūna
they do
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 41) ➊ { اَلَمْ تَرَ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهٗ مَنْ فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ :} In the previous verses, it was explained that it is Allah alone who illuminates the heavens and the earth with both physical and spiritual light. Along with this, examples were given of the hearts of the believers being illuminated with the light of faith and the hearts of the disbelievers being immersed in darkness. Now, some proofs are presented that guide towards this light (of Tawheed) spread throughout the heavens and the earth.
➋ { اَلَمْ تَرَ :} It is quite clear that no one except Allah has seen everything in the heavens and the earth glorifying Allah, so here {’’ اَلَمْ تَرَ ‘‘} does not mean "Have you not seen," but rather it means {’’أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ‘‘} i.e., "Do you not know?" As He said: { اَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِاَصْحٰبِ الْفِيْلِ } [ الفیل : ۱ ] If the addressee here is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then he was born after this event, so the question of him seeing it does not arise. And if every person is the addressee, then it is not possible for every person to have seen this event, so there too the meaning is {’’أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ‘‘}. In fact, the purpose of this word is not to ask, but to inform: "Do you not know this? If you do not know, then now know it." And the word {’’ اَلَمْ تَرَ ‘‘} is used because the knowledge gained from Allah’s information is as certain as, or even more certain than, the knowledge gained from seeing with one’s own eyes. (Sha’rawi)
➌ That is, do you not know that whatever exists in the heavens and the earth—jinn, humans, angels, animals, flying birds, even plants and inanimate objects—all bear witness that the One who created us and who runs the entire universe with utmost perfection and without any flaw is free from every defect and every partner. So when everything glorifies Allah, then it is most incumbent upon humans to glorify Him and bear witness to His Oneness. The glorification of every thing in the universe is not only by their state but also verbally, i.e., by speaking. For details, see Surah Bani Isra’il (17:44) and Surah Ra’d (13).
➍ { وَ الطَّيْرُ صٰٓفّٰتٍ:} After mentioning the glorification of everything in the heavens and the earth, the glorification of birds is mentioned separately, because when they fly, they are neither on the earth nor in the sky, but are suspended between them. These birds too are bearing witness to Allah’s freedom from every defect. See also Surah Mulk (67:19).
➎ { كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهٗ وَ تَسْبِيْحَهٗ :} From this it is known that their glorification is not accidental or thoughtless, but rather with understanding and based on knowledge, which Allah has taught them and inspired in them.
➏ { وَ اللّٰهُ عَلِيْمٌۢ بِمَا يَفْعَلُوْنَ :} That is, Allah is fully aware of their glorification, worship, and every action.
➋ { اَلَمْ تَرَ :} It is quite clear that no one except Allah has seen everything in the heavens and the earth glorifying Allah, so here {’’ اَلَمْ تَرَ ‘‘} does not mean "Have you not seen," but rather it means {’’أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ‘‘} i.e., "Do you not know?" As He said: { اَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِاَصْحٰبِ الْفِيْلِ } [ الفیل : ۱ ] If the addressee here is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then he was born after this event, so the question of him seeing it does not arise. And if every person is the addressee, then it is not possible for every person to have seen this event, so there too the meaning is {’’أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ‘‘}. In fact, the purpose of this word is not to ask, but to inform: "Do you not know this? If you do not know, then now know it." And the word {’’ اَلَمْ تَرَ ‘‘} is used because the knowledge gained from Allah’s information is as certain as, or even more certain than, the knowledge gained from seeing with one’s own eyes. (Sha’rawi)
➌ That is, do you not know that whatever exists in the heavens and the earth—jinn, humans, angels, animals, flying birds, even plants and inanimate objects—all bear witness that the One who created us and who runs the entire universe with utmost perfection and without any flaw is free from every defect and every partner. So when everything glorifies Allah, then it is most incumbent upon humans to glorify Him and bear witness to His Oneness. The glorification of every thing in the universe is not only by their state but also verbally, i.e., by speaking. For details, see Surah Bani Isra’il (17:44) and Surah Ra’d (13).
➍ { وَ الطَّيْرُ صٰٓفّٰتٍ:} After mentioning the glorification of everything in the heavens and the earth, the glorification of birds is mentioned separately, because when they fly, they are neither on the earth nor in the sky, but are suspended between them. These birds too are bearing witness to Allah’s freedom from every defect. See also Surah Mulk (67:19).
➎ { كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهٗ وَ تَسْبِيْحَهٗ :} From this it is known that their glorification is not accidental or thoughtless, but rather with understanding and based on knowledge, which Allah has taught them and inspired in them.
➏ { وَ اللّٰهُ عَلِيْمٌۢ بِمَا يَفْعَلُوْنَ :} That is, Allah is fully aware of their glorification, worship, and every action.
