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 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.
