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 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.
41. Do you not see that all that is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah, and (so do) the birds with wings outspread [68]? Each one knows its own (way of) prayer and glorification [69], and Allah is fully aware of what they do.
[68] After mentioning two examples of the disbelievers, now Allah Almighty has described some of His signs from the universe. By reflecting upon these, a person can attain the recognition of Allah or the light of guidance. One of these signs is that Allah Almighty has naturally taught birds such a way that they fly in the air between the earth and the sky with their wings spread out, flying in rows like a caravan. And they do not fall to the ground. Then sometimes, while flying, they even fold their wings. Yet still, they do not fall. After all, who taught these birds this method? Why does the force of gravity, which pulls even a light piece of paper towards itself, not pull them?
[69]
The Prayer and Tasbih of Everything in the Universe:
Everything in the universe is submissive to the command and law of Allah Almighty. Whatever task Allah has assigned to it, it performs without any objection. And the natural laws that Allah Almighty has made for them, they do not deviate from them in the slightest. Such obedience can also be called their prayer and tasbih. However, the prayer and tasbih of these things is something else altogether, which we humans or jinn, who are accountable beings, cannot comprehend. And the things that do tasbih are well aware of their prayer, tasbih, and its method. As Allah Almighty Himself has stated in Surah Bani Isra'il, verse number 44, that you cannot understand their tasbih.
[68] After mentioning two examples of the disbelievers, now Allah Almighty has described some of His signs from the universe. By reflecting upon these, a person can attain the recognition of Allah or the light of guidance. One of these signs is that Allah Almighty has naturally taught birds such a way that they fly in the air between the earth and the sky with their wings spread out, flying in rows like a caravan. And they do not fall to the ground. Then sometimes, while flying, they even fold their wings. Yet still, they do not fall. After all, who taught these birds this method? Why does the force of gravity, which pulls even a light piece of paper towards itself, not pull them?
[69]
The Prayer and Tasbih of Everything in the Universe:
Everything in the universe is submissive to the command and law of Allah Almighty. Whatever task Allah has assigned to it, it performs without any objection. And the natural laws that Allah Almighty has made for them, they do not deviate from them in the slightest. Such obedience can also be called their prayer and tasbih. However, the prayer and tasbih of these things is something else altogether, which we humans or jinn, who are accountable beings, cannot comprehend. And the things that do tasbih are well aware of their prayer, tasbih, and its method. As Allah Almighty Himself has stated in Surah Bani Isra'il, verse number 44, that you cannot understand their tasbih.
