11. [Hud, Mecca 52]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَأَقِمِ
الصَّلاَةَ
طَرَفَيِ
النَّهَارِ ...
11: 114. And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day
C1616. The two ends of the day: Morning and afternoon.
- The morning prayer is the Fajr, after the light is up but before sunrise: we thus get up betimes and begin the day with the remembrance of Allah and of our duty to Him.
- The early afternoon prayer, Zuhr, is immediately after noon: we are in the midst of our daily life, and again we remember Allah. (R).
... وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ...
and at the approaches of the night:
C1617. Approaches of the night: Zulafun, plural of Zulfatun, an approach, something near at hand.
As Arabic has, like Greek, a dual number distinct from the plural, and the plural number is used here, and not the dual, it is reasonable to argue that at least three "approaches of the night" are meant.
- The late afternoon prayer, 'Asr, can be one of these three, and
- the evening prayer, Magrib, just after sunset, can be the second.
- The early night prayer, 'Isha, at supper time-when the glow of sunset is disappearing, would be the third of the "approaches of the night", when we commit ourselves to Allah before sleep.
These are the five canonical prayers of Islam.
...إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّـيِّئَاتِ...
for those things that are good remove those that are evil:
C1618. "Those things that are good": in this context the words refer primarily to prayers, but they include all good thoughts, good words, and good deeds.
It is by them that we keep away everything that is evil, whether referring to the past, the present, or the future.
...ذَلِكَ ذِكْرَى لِلذَّاكِرِينَ ﴿١١٤﴾
be that the word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord):
11: 115. And be steadfast in patience;
...فَإِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١١٥﴾
for verily Allah will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.
11: 114
Pickthall Establish worship at the two ends of the day and in some watches of the night. Lo! good deeds annul ill deeds. This is a reminder for the mindful.
Yuksel You shall hold the contact prayer at both ends of the day and the near part of the night. The good deeds take away the bad. This is a reminder for those who remember.*
Transliteration Wa aqimis sala_ta tarafayin naha_ri wa zulafam minal lail(i), innal hasana_ti yuzhibnas sayyi'a_t(i), za_lika zikra_ liz za_kirin(a).
[[ Ruby’s comment 11:114 – If ‘two ends’ or ‘both ends’ of a day are mentioned here then the next expression ‘approaches of night’ or ‘near part of night’ [plural] is confusing. There could be two possible meanings of two ends of a day: the first end is clear that it is Fajr. But the problem is with the other end: it could be either Asr [if sunrise to sunset is a day] or Isha [if 24 hours is a day]. The former is not applicable because then Fajr falls into the night before sunrise. Then the only valid definition of a day here is the entire 24 hours and the two proximities of that day is Fajr and Isha.
Then the next expression includes ‘night’ [‘near part of night’ or ‘some watches of night’ or ‘approaches of night’]. If Maghrib is considered then we have 3 prayers. However, as Ali points out that plural form is used to denote ‘night’s prayers. However if the Isha is already mentioned previously then Isha cannot be implied twice here. Only left is Maghrib. And the approach or near part or some watches all are valid.]
On the other hand Yuksel’s understanding of the word ‘layl’ is not applicable here because Fajr prayer is then part of a night as it is within sunset to sunrise period. And that would conflict with the definition of a day of which Fajr is supposed to be one end. And still Ali’s concept of ‘plurality’ meant by ZULAFAM is not resolved here about the night prayer. If Maghrib is one of two prayers meant here then the definition of a day of sunrise to sunset is taken as a day. But that definition is inconsistent with the definition of a day in the first clause of the verse. The meaning of plurality of ZULFAM and meaning of LAYL are conflicting here. ]]
[[Yuksel’s notes - 011:114 In the Quranic Arabic, the word layl denotes the period from sunset to sunrise (2:187). The times of the evening and dawn prayers extend from the proximate edges of night to both ends of the day. The Quran provides detailed information about sala prayer. This verse refers to three sala prayers. Some students of the Quran understand five times rather than three times for contact prayers. However, as the detected and undetected influence of sectarian teachings and practices wanes with time, the disagreement on this issue may lead to a better understanding. See the Appendix: Sala Prayer According to the Quran.
[[ Ali’s notes:- 1616 The two ends of the day: Morning and afternoon. The morning prayer is the Fajr, after the light is up but before sunrise: …………..There is no disagreement among scholars regarding which prayer is meant by one of these two ends of the day. They agree that it is Fajr prayer which may be performed from dawn until a little before sunrise. There is disagreement, however, regarding the prayer which ought to be performed at the other end of the day. It is said variously that the reference is to Asr or Maghrib prayer. (11.114)
1617 Approaches of the night: Zulafun, plural of Zulfatun, an approach, something near at hand. As Arabic has, like Greek, a dual number distinct from the plural, and the plural number is used here, and not the dual, it is reasonable to argue that at least three "approaches of the night" are meant. The late afternoon prayer, 'Asr, can be one of these three, and the evening prayer, Magrib, just after sunset, can be the second. The early night prayer, 'Isha, at supper time-when the glow of sunset is disappearing, would be the third of the "approaches of the night", when we commit ourselves to Allah before sleep. These are the five canonical prayers of Islam. (11.114)
1618 "Those things that are good": in this context the words refer primarily to prayers, but they include all good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. It is by them that we keep away everything that is evil, whether referring to the past, the present, or the future. (11.114)
11: 115
Pickthall And have patience, (O Muhammad), for lo! Allah loseth not the wages of the good.
Yuksel Be patient, for God does not waste the reward of the good doers.
Transliteration Wa-sbir fa innalla_ha la_ yudi'u ajral muhsinin(a).
[[ Ali’s notes -.
011:119 God has given us a second chance to redeem ourselves in this world. Those who enter the hell are those who choose it on their own will.