17. [al-Israa, Mecca 50 ]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
قُلِ ادْعُواْ
اللّهَ أَوِ
ادْعُواْ
الرَّحْمَـنَ...
17: 110. Say:
"Call upon Allah, or call upon Rahman:
C2321. Cf. 7:180.
Rahman describes one of the attributes of Allah, -His grace and Mercy which come to the sinner even before he feels conscious of the need of it,- the preventive Grace which saves Allah's servants from sin. See n. 19 to 1:1.
Allah can be invoked, either by His simple name, which includes all attributes, or by one of the names implying the attributes by which we try to explain His nature to our limited understanding. The attribute of Mercy in Rahman was particularly repugnant to the Pagan Arabs (see 25:60, and 21:36): that is why special stress is laid on it in the Quran. (R).
...أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُواْ فَلَهُ الأَسْمَاء الْحُسْنَى ...
by whatever name ye call upon Him, (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names.
C2322. These Beautiful Names of Allah are many. The Hadith related by Tirmizi, accepted by some as authentic, mentions 99 names of Allah.
Qadhi Muhammad Sulaiman has published an Urdu monograph on the subject, published by the Daftar Rahmatun-lil-'Alamin Patiala, 1930. Those who wish to see a poetic Commentary on the names in the form of stories in English may consult Sir Edwin Arnold's Pearls of the Faith.
Sir Edwin's stories are of unequal merit, but a fine example is furnished by No. 4, al-Malik. "The King". (R).
...وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاَتِكَ وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلاً ﴿١١٠﴾
Neither speak thy Prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between."
C2323. Cf. 7:205.
All prayer should be pronounced with earnestness and humility, whether it is congregational prayer or the private outpouring of one's own soul.
Such an attitude is not consistent with an over-loud pronunciation of the words, though in public prayers the standard of permissible loudness is naturally higher than in the case of private prayer.
In public prayers, of course, the Azan or call to prayer will be in a loud voice to be heard near and far, but the chants from the Sacred Book should be neither so loud as to attract the hostile notice of those who do not believe not so low in tone as not to be heard by the whole congregation.
17: 110
Pickthall Say (unto mankind): Cry unto Allah, or cry unto the Beneficent, unto whichsoever ye cry (it is the same). His are the most beautiful names. And thou (Muhammad), be not loud voiced in thy worship nor yet silent therein, but follow a way between.
Yuksel 17:110 Say, "Call on God or call on the Gracious. Whichever it is you call on, to Him are the best names." Do not be loud/public in your contact prayer, nor quiet/private; but seek a path in between.*
Transliteration Qul-id'ulla_ha aw-id'ur rahma_n(a), ayyam ma_ tad'u_ falahul asma_'ul husna_, wa la_ tajhar bi sala_tika wa la_ tukha_fit biha_ wa-btagi baina za_lika sabila_(n).
[[ Yuksel’s note - 017:110 The word ism comes from the root SMY and means "attribute, quality." Regardless of the language, all beautiful attributes may be used for God (the god). Divine attributes do not necessarily define or describe God in an objective sense, but define and describe our relationship with our Creator and the mutual expectations. The word allah (the god) is a contraction of al (the) and elah (god). The Quran uses the word elah (god) in many verses for allah (the god) in the proper context. For instance, in the last chapter of the Quran, God is referred to as "lord of the people." The famous Quranic declaration la ilaha illa allah, therefore, can be translated into English as "there is no god but the god". See 7:180, 26:198; 41:44.
The Quran is correcting the tone of the recitation and manner of the sala prayer performed by Meccan polytheists. Despite this verse reminding us of a moderate tone of voice and moderate display of prayer, the followers of hadith and sunna, like their ancestors, either pray loudly (night time) or quietly (day time). Some even use prayer as political demonstration. This verse simply reminds us not to be ashamed of our prostration before ]]