50. Qaf [45 verses]
Mecca Period 34
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
فَاصْبِرْ
عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ
وَسَبِّحْ
بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ
قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ
الشَّمْسِ
وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ
﴿٣٩﴾
50: 39. Bear, then with patience, all that they say, and celebrate the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting,
C4978. Allah should be remembered at all times. But the best time for individual adoration is:
early in the morning before sunrise,
late in the day before sunset, and
a portion of the night, when there is stillness in the air, and man's spirit loves to commune with things spiritual.
Those who would connect this with the five canonical prayers, instituted at a later stage in Madinah, would take:
the Fair for the prayer before sunrise,
the Zuhr and, the Asr for the afternoon prayers before sunset and
the Magrib and the Ishaa for the night prayers.
وَمِنَ
اللَّيْلِ
فَسَبِّحْهُ
وَأَدْبَارَ
السُّجُودِ
﴿٤٠﴾
50: 40. And during part of the night, (also,) celebrate His praises, and (so likewise) after the postures of adoration.
C4979. The general meaning of "after the postures of adoration" would be the contemplation and remembrance of Allah after prayers.
Those who would connect this passage with the five canonical prayers understand these further prayers "following the sujud or prostration to mean the extra or supernumerary prayers known as nafl, also the use of the Rosary or the fingers in remembering the Names of Allah.
Asad’s Version:
50:39 HENCE, [O believe,] bear thou with patience whatever they may say, 30 and extol thy Sustainer's limitless glory and praise before the rising of the sun and before its setting; 31
(50:40) and in the night, too, extol His glory, and at every prayer's end. 32
Yuksel’s Version:
50:39 So be patient to what they are saying, and glorify the grace of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before the setting.
50:40 From the night glorify Him, and after prostrating.
[[Asad’s notes - 30 Sc, "regarding the alleged 'impossibility' of resurrection" .
31 Le., "remember His almightiness at all times of day".
32 Lit., "at the ends (adbar) of prostration". ]]