17.Surah Al Isra

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَجَعَلْنَا اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ آيَتَيْنِ...   

17: 12.  We have made the Night and the Day as two (of Our) Signs:

C2185. If we were to cry when it is night, we shall look foolish when it is day; for the night is but a preparation for the day: perhaps, as the last verse says, we pray for the day when we want rest for the night.

Both are Signs from Allah.

Darkness and light stand for

-         ignorance and

-         knowledge.

"Where ignorance is bliss, its folly to be wise."

Darkness and light may also stand for

-         shadow and sunshine,

-         sorrow and joy:

both may be for our development.

...فَمَحَوْنَا آيَةَ اللَّيْلِ وَجَعَلْنَا آيَةَ النَّهَارِ مُبْصِرَةً...

the Sign of the Night have We obscured, while the Sign of the day We have made to enlighten you;

...لِتَبْتَغُواْ فَضْلاً مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلِتَعْلَمُواْ عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ...

that ye may seek Bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the number and count of the years:

C2186. By the physical light we see physical facts. And this physical gift of Allah is good for us in two ways:

1.     we can arrange for our livelihood, or we can attain the knowledge of the physical sciences and gain some control over the physical forces of nature; and

2.     the daily rising and setting of the sun gives us the computation of days and years, for the physical natural year is the solar year. But there is spiritual light even more precious; by it we can similarly attain two objects, viz,

-         our spiritual livelihood and knowledge, and

-         our computation of the stages we reach in our spiritual years.

Let us be patient and seek everything as from Allah - in joy and in sorrow, in knowledge and in want of knowledge of those things which are above us.

Let us rejoice in what Allah has given us, and not be impatient about those things which He in His wisdom has thought fit to withhold from us. But all things should be sought and striven for under the guidance of the All-Knowing Allah.

...وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَصَّلْنَاهُ تَفْصِيلاً ﴿١٢﴾

all things have We explained in detail.

وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي هَـذَا الْقُرْآنِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ...   

17: 89.  And We have explained to man, in this Qur'án, every kind of similitude:

C2290. In the Quran everything is explained in detail from various points of view, by commands, similitudes, examples, stories, parables, etc.

It does not merely narrate stories or lay down vague abstract propositions. It gives every detailed help in outward and inner life.

...فَأَبَى أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ إِلاَّ كُفُورًا ﴿٨٩﴾

yet the greater part of men refuse (to receive it) except with ingratitude!

C2291. One form in which it can be received with ingratitude is to pay verbal tributes to it but not study it as it ought to be studied (2:121, haqqa tilawatihi), or to disobey its precepts or standards.

Other versions:

17: 12

Pickthall And we appoint the night and the day two portents. Then We make dark the portent of the night, and We make the portent of the day sight- giving, that ye may seek bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the computation of the years, and the reckoning; and everything have We expounded with a clear expounding.

Yuksel We made the night and the day as two signs, so We erased the sign of night and We made the sign of day manifest, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and the count. Everything We have detailed meticulously.

Transliteration Wa ja'alnal laila wan naha_ra a_yataini fa mahauna_ a_yatal laili wa ja'alna_a a_yatan naha_ri mubsiratal li tabtagu_ fadlam mir rabbikum wa lita'lamu_ 'adadas sinina wal hisa_b(a), wa kulla syai'in fassalna_hu tafsila_(n).

[[ Ali’s notes - 2186 By the physical light we see physical facts. And this physical gift of Allah is good for us in two ways: (1) we can arrange for our livelihood, or we can attain the knowledge of the physical sciences and gain some control over the physical forces of nature; and (2) the daily rising and setting of the sun gives us the computation of days and years, for the physical natural year is the solar year. (17.12)]]

[[ Ruby’s note – This verse may have both allegorical and straight meanings: the metaphor of night-day for hidden and manifest or ignorance and enlightenment is there as well as the straight forward meaning of computation of time, understanding the universe etc are also there.]]

17: 89

Pickthall And verily We have displayed for mankind in this Qur'an all kinds of similitudes, but most of mankind refuse aught save disbelief.

Transliteration Wa laqad sarrafna_ lin na_si fi ha_zal qur'a_ni min kulli masal(in), fa aba_ aksarun na_si illa_ kufu_ra_(n).

[[ Ali’s notes - 2288 For the meaning of "Jinns", see n. 929 to vi. 100. (17.88)

2289 The proof of the Qur-an is in its own beauty and nature, and the circumstances in which it was promulgated. The world is challenged to produce a Book like it and has not produced one. It is the only revealed Book whose text stands pure and uncorrupted today. Cf., for a similar challenge, ii. 23, x. 38, and xi. 13. (17.88)

2290 In the Qur-an everything is explained in detail from various points of view, by commands, similitudes, examples, stories, parables, etc. It does not merely narrate stories or lay down vague abstract propositions. It gives every detailed help in outward and inner life. (17.89)

2291 One form in which it can be received with ingratitude is to pay verbal tributes to it but not study it as it ought to be studied (ii. 121, haqqa tilawatihi), or to disobey its precepts or standards. (17.89) ]]