سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 44
تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ ٱلسَّبْعُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا ﴿44﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him and there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise. But you understand not their glorification. Truly, He is Ever Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
تُسَبِّحُ
tusabbiḥu
Glorify
لَهُ
lahu
[to] Him
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ
l-samāwātu
the seven heavens
ٱلسَّبْعُ
l-sabʿu
the seven heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضُ
wal-arḍu
and the earth
وَمَن
waman
and whatever
فِيهِنَّ ۚ
fīhinna
(is) in them
وَإِن
wa-in
And (there is) not
مِّن
min
any
شَىْءٍ
shayin
thing
إِلَّا
illā
except
يُسَبِّحُ
yusabbiḥu
glorifies
بِحَمْدِهِۦ
biḥamdihi
His Praise
وَلَـٰكِن
walākin
but
لَّا
lā
not
تَفْقَهُونَ
tafqahūna
you understand
تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ
tasbīḥahum
their glorification
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, He
كَانَ
kāna
is
حَلِيمًا
ḥalīman
Ever-Forbearing
غَفُورًۭا
ghafūran
Oft-Forgiving
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.
44. The seven heavens and the earth and all that is in them glorify Him [54]; and there is nothing that does not glorify Him with His praise. But you do not understand their glorification. He is Most Forbearing, Most Forgiving.
[54]
The Literal Meaning of ﴿سَبَحَ﴾:
The literal meaning of ﴿سَبَحَ﴾ is for something to float in air or water and to pass swiftly (Mufradat al-Quran). Then, this word began to be used for performing any task with speed, as in the Divine statement: ﴿اِنَّ لَكَ فِي النَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيْلًا﴾ [7: 72] (During the day, you have many occupations). The word "Subhan" is the verbal noun (masdar) of "sabh," just as "ghufran" is from "ghafara," and it contains an element of emphasis. In this universe, millions and billions of planets are revolving in space with great speed, in which there is neither any slip, nor sway, nor collision or clash, which makes it clear that the Being controlling them must be extremely firm in decree, planning, and management, and completely free from any kind of mismanagement, defect, or flaw. The action of all things in the universe, under which they are actively engaged according to the prescribed laws of the Managing Being, is called their tasbih, obedience, or worship. In other words, all things in the universe, by their state or action, testify that the Being managing them is free from all kinds of defects and shortcomings. And that can only be one Being. This is the practical tasbih of everything.
The Meaning of the Tasbih of Everything in the Universe:
And the form of verbal tasbih is that the tasbih of humans, jinn, or angels is, in proportion to the level of life, the highest, most effective, and most understandable. The tasbih of animals is less than this, and that of inanimate objects is even less. Since the tasbih of jinn and humans is voluntary, it occurs from time to time, whereas all other things are constantly engaged in tasbih. And when something declares the tasbih of Allah, Allah's mercy descends upon it. The clearer the tasbih of a creature, the greater the descent of mercy will be. This explanation is supported by the hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ once broke a branch into two twigs and placed them on a grave and said that as long as these do not dry out, it is hoped that the punishment will be lessened for them. [بخاری، کتاب الوضوء، باب من الکبائر، ان لایستتر من بولہ]
That is, the tasbih of a fresh twig is more effective and understandable than that of a dry twig, and accordingly, the descent of mercy upon it will be greater than upon a dry twig. The benefit of this mercy for the deceased will be that the punishment of the grave will be reduced.
[54]
The Literal Meaning of ﴿سَبَحَ﴾:
The literal meaning of ﴿سَبَحَ﴾ is for something to float in air or water and to pass swiftly (Mufradat al-Quran). Then, this word began to be used for performing any task with speed, as in the Divine statement: ﴿اِنَّ لَكَ فِي النَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيْلًا﴾ [7: 72] (During the day, you have many occupations). The word "Subhan" is the verbal noun (masdar) of "sabh," just as "ghufran" is from "ghafara," and it contains an element of emphasis. In this universe, millions and billions of planets are revolving in space with great speed, in which there is neither any slip, nor sway, nor collision or clash, which makes it clear that the Being controlling them must be extremely firm in decree, planning, and management, and completely free from any kind of mismanagement, defect, or flaw. The action of all things in the universe, under which they are actively engaged according to the prescribed laws of the Managing Being, is called their tasbih, obedience, or worship. In other words, all things in the universe, by their state or action, testify that the Being managing them is free from all kinds of defects and shortcomings. And that can only be one Being. This is the practical tasbih of everything.
The Meaning of the Tasbih of Everything in the Universe:
And the form of verbal tasbih is that the tasbih of humans, jinn, or angels is, in proportion to the level of life, the highest, most effective, and most understandable. The tasbih of animals is less than this, and that of inanimate objects is even less. Since the tasbih of jinn and humans is voluntary, it occurs from time to time, whereas all other things are constantly engaged in tasbih. And when something declares the tasbih of Allah, Allah's mercy descends upon it. The clearer the tasbih of a creature, the greater the descent of mercy will be. This explanation is supported by the hadith in which the Prophet ﷺ once broke a branch into two twigs and placed them on a grave and said that as long as these do not dry out, it is hoped that the punishment will be lessened for them. [بخاری، کتاب الوضوء، باب من الکبائر، ان لایستتر من بولہ]
That is, the tasbih of a fresh twig is more effective and understandable than that of a dry twig, and accordingly, the descent of mercy upon it will be greater than upon a dry twig. The benefit of this mercy for the deceased will be that the punishment of the grave will be reduced.
