O^-SW’ the one wrapped in blanket! This is an expression of tender affection. Allaah^-SWT asks the Holy Prophet^-SW to wake up in the nights and stand in worship before Him^-SWT . He^-SW may rest for a portion of the night, may stand for a little less or more than half of the night, and recite the Quran in these hours of vigil in the most exquisite manner.

 

Tahajjud

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These Ayat were revealed in the earlier days of Islam and enjoined Tahajjud upon the Holy Prophet^-SW and the believers. And they were commanded to stand in worship for a major portion of the night, wherein to recite the Quran in a measured, proper and beautiful manner. So the Holy Prophet^-SW and the Companions^-RAU offered Tahajjud regularly and this continued for a year. His^-SW feet used to swell as a result because of prolonged standing. Then, five times Salat was enjoined on the Night of Ascension, and the obligation of Tahajjud annulled. However, the Holy Prophet^-SW kept offering Tahajjud for the rest of his life and, therefore, it is counted among his^-SW Sunnah.

 

Tartil-e-Quran

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This word Tartil means that the words of the Quran be pronounced correctly and with ease. It includes a melodious voice. The Holy Prophet^-SW deeply appreciated the recitation of the Quran in a beautiful voice. Allaah^-SWT informs him^-SW of the heavy responsibility He^-SWT was about to lay on his shoulders-the duty to reform mankind, to call them towards truth and to battle against disbelief. Although it is cumbersome to wake up at night, yet it does usher in concentration and aligns ones words with his heart.

 

Strength of Qalb is Required for Fighting Disbelief

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In other words, the Holy Prophet^-SW is being put through a strenuous exercise because the real force required to fight disbelief is the strength of Qalb, and the spiritual states of faith, acquired through Tahajjud. The Quran acknowledges that he has a rough time during the day, preaching and teaching Allah^-SWT's Word besides the economic problems and above all a fierce resistance from the infidels. To counter all odds, he^-SW is commanded to do Zikr Allaah^-SWT to an extent that all temporal distractions are set aside and only Allah^-SWT‘s Name endures in his heart and mind.

 

Zikr Allah^-SWT

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This Ayah enjoins a particular form of worship. Though no time of day or night is fixed, yet it must be continued at all times, under all conditions. Tafsir-e-Mazhari terms it perpetual Zikr and Mu'arif-ul-Quran asserts that it must persist day and night and must never be neglected. This meaning extends to-Allah^-SWT's Zikr in general, be it oral, practical or Qalbi. It further adds that the Holy Prophet^-SW never did oral Zikr in the toilets, so it is only Zikr-e-Qalbi that can continue at all times.

 

Zikr of His^-SWT Name, that is, Repetition of Allah^-SWT's Name-a Prescribed Worship

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Tafsir-e-Mazhari explains that this Ayah specifies Zikr of His^-SWT Personal Name. This implies that repetition of Allah^-SWT's Name is desired as well as enjoined. Mufti Muhammad Shafi'^-RUA in his Mu'arif-ul-Quran writes that this Ayah negates the stand of certain scholars, who hold that doing Zikr by repeating ‘Allah^-SWT , Allah^-SWT ' is an innovation. The fact is that the Holy Prophet^-SW was commanded to engage in Zikr-e-Qalbi, indeed Allah^-SWT's reward for each man and woman of the Ummah. Each and every body cell of a Prophet^-SW is always engaged in Zikr. Even the dress he^-SW wears or the part of land he^-SW steps on engages in Zikr. A single glance by the Holy Prophet^-SW made each tree and stone, each particle of sand and the air it scanned through, engaged into His^-SWT Zikr. If a believer initiates his heart by acquiring these Barakah from the Holy Prophet^-SW, he gets the courage to oppose infidelity else his whole life is obsessed with compromises. Allaah^-SWT is the Sustainer of East and the West, that is, the entire universe. None save Him deserves to be worshipped. So the Holy Prophet^-SW is asked to rely only on Him^-SWT , braving patiently the virulent taunts of the infidels and when so required to separate from them in a dignified manner.

 

High Morals

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A believer must, thereafter, display highest degree of manners in facing absurdities. He should be patient and when it is hard to bear such behaviour, he should separate from the perpetrators gracefully, without even complaining.

 

Allah^-SWT asks the Holy Prophet^-SW to let Him^-SWT take care of those choosing to deny and disbelieve. They have but little respite. Finally the infidels were humbled and Islam rose to power. And in the Akhirah too, the manacles of Hell await them and the food that will choke their throats. This earth will one day jolt and shudder and the mountains will be pulverized. The world will then see its end.

 

O' people! We^-SWT have sent to you Our^-SWT Prophet^-SW, who will be a witness over you on the Day of Judgement with regard to the extent you obeyed him. A Prophet^-AS was similarly sent to the Pharaoh but he refused to listen and Allah^-SWT's Wrath quickly seized him. If you do not accede then be prepared to meet a like end. What shall be your stance on the Day of Judgement, if you do not believe, a Day which by its length and gravity will cause little kids to age. The sky will explode and Allah^-SWT ’s Promise of Reckoning will be fulfilled. These arguments are manifest enough for those who choose the way enjoined by their Rabb^-SWT .