سُوْرَةُ الذَّارِياتِ
Surah Adh-Dhaariyat (51) — Ayah 17
كَانُوا۟ قَلِيلًا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ ﴿17﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They used to sleep but little by night [invoking their Lord (Allâh) and praying, with fear and hope].
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
كَانُوا۟
kānū
They used to
قَلِيلًۭا
qalīlan
little
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلَّيْلِ
al-layli
the night
مَا
mā
[what]
يَهْجَعُونَ
yahjaʿūna
sleep
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.
They used to sleep but little at night [10].
[10]
The Qualities of the Muhsineen:
Staying awake at night, meaning they used to spend most of the night awake in worship and remembrance of Allah. And in Surah Muzzammil, its explanation is given as follows: if the nights and days are equal, then half of the night; if the nights are short, then a little more than half the night; and if the nights are long, then a little less than half the night. And some scholars have also interpreted it to mean that worship of Allah should be done in the first part of the night, the middle part, or the last part. And this was the case during the Makkan period. Later, in Surah Bani Isra'il, the determination of Tahajjud was made.
Literal Meaning of ﴿هجع﴾:
The meaning of ﴿هجع﴾ is actually to sleep in heedlessness, or to sleep soundly, or to sleep being completely unaware of the world and whatever is in it. And the meaning of Tahajjud (Hujood) is both to sleep at night and to wake up. Sometimes sleeping, sometimes waking. (a word of opposites) And apparently, what is understood from this verse is that they used to sleep only a little part of the night, so its meaning is that they were not heedless of Allah's remembrance nor did they sleep soundly. Rather, whether sleeping or awake, they remained mindful of Allah.
[10]
The Qualities of the Muhsineen:
Staying awake at night, meaning they used to spend most of the night awake in worship and remembrance of Allah. And in Surah Muzzammil, its explanation is given as follows: if the nights and days are equal, then half of the night; if the nights are short, then a little more than half the night; and if the nights are long, then a little less than half the night. And some scholars have also interpreted it to mean that worship of Allah should be done in the first part of the night, the middle part, or the last part. And this was the case during the Makkan period. Later, in Surah Bani Isra'il, the determination of Tahajjud was made.
Literal Meaning of ﴿هجع﴾:
The meaning of ﴿هجع﴾ is actually to sleep in heedlessness, or to sleep soundly, or to sleep being completely unaware of the world and whatever is in it. And the meaning of Tahajjud (Hujood) is both to sleep at night and to wake up. Sometimes sleeping, sometimes waking. (a word of opposites) And apparently, what is understood from this verse is that they used to sleep only a little part of the night, so its meaning is that they were not heedless of Allah's remembrance nor did they sleep soundly. Rather, whether sleeping or awake, they remained mindful of Allah.
