Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Isra Verse 12

Mufti Taqi Usmani

We have made the night and the day two signs, then We made the sign of night marked by darkness and the sign of day bright, so that you may seek grace from your Lord, and that you may know how to number the years and how to compute, and We have expounded everything in detail.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

We made the day and night as two signs. So We made the sign of the night devoid of light, and We made the sign of the day ˹perfectly˺ bright, so that you may seek the bounty of your Lord and know the number of years and calculation ˹of time˺. And We have explained everything in detail.

Ruwwad Translation Center

We have made the day and night as two signs. We darkened the night and made the day bright, so that you may seek your Lord’s bounty and know the number of years and calculation [of time]. And We have expounded everything in detail.

A. J. Arberry

We have appointed the night and the day as two signs; then We have blotted out the sign of the night, and made the sign of the day to see, and that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years, and the reckoning; and everything We have distinguished very distinctly.

Abdul Haleem

We made the night and the day as two signs, then darkened the night and made the daylight for seeing, for you to seek your Lord’s bounty and to know how to count the years and calculate. We have explained everything in detail.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And We have appointed the night and the day as two signs; then We blurred the sign of the night and made the sign of the day illuminating that ye may seek grace from Your Lord, and that ye may know the number of the years and the reckoning; and everything We have detailed in full details.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

We have made the Night and the Day as two (of Our) Signs; the Sign of the Night have We obscured, while the Sign of the Day We have made to enlighten you; that ye may seek bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the number and count of the years; all things have We explained in detail.

Abul Ala Maududi

We have made night and day as two signs. We made the sign of the night devoid of light, and made the sign of the day radiant that you may seek the bounty of your Lord and know the computation of years and numbers. Thus We have expounded everything in detail to keep everything distinct from the other.

Ahmed Ali

We have created night and day as two signs, then We efface the sign of the night, and make the sign of the day resplendent that you may seek the bounty of your Lord, and know the computation of years and numbers. We have expounded most distinctly everything.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And We created the night and the day as two signs – We therefore kept the sign of the night indistinct, and the sign of the day visible – so that you may seek the munificence of your Lord, and know the calculation of the years, and the accounting; and We have explained all things in detail, distinctively.

Ali Quli Qarai

We made the night and the day two signs. Then We faded out the sign of the night, and made the sign of the day lightsome, so that you may seek from your Lord’s bounty and that you may know the number of years and calculation [of time], and We have elaborated everything in detail.

Ali Ünal

(As in the life of humankind, "days" and "nights" alternate in the world also.) We have made the night and the day two signs (manifesting the truth of God’s Power, Knowledge, and absolute sovereignty, and His grace on you). We have obscured the sign of the night (made it dark) and We have made the sign of the day illuminating (therefore a means for you) to see, that you may seek bounty from your Lord and that you may know the computation of (time) the years and the reckoning; We set out all things in clear detail.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And We have made the night and the day (such as they became) two signs, (in a way that) We obliterated the sign of the night (- darkness of ignorance and disbelief) and We displayed the sign of the day as sight - giving that you may seek the bounty of your Lord and that you may learn (from the alternation of night and day) the computation of years and (the science of) all sorts of counting and measuring. We have clearly explained every thing in detail.

English Literal

And We made/put the night and the daytime (as) two signs/evidences , so We wiped out/erased/eliminated the night`s sign/evidence , and We made/put the daytime`s sign/evidence manifest/clearly visible to the eye and understanding , to wish/desire grace/favour from your Lord, and to know the years` number, and the counting/calculating, and every thing We detailed/explained it detailing/explaining .

Faridul Haque

And We created the night and the day as two signs - We therefore kept the sign of the night indistinct, and the sign of the day visible - so that you may seek the munificence of your Lord, and know the calculation of the years, and the accounting; and We have explained all things in detail, distinctively.

Hamid S. Aziz

We made the night and the day two signs; and We make dark the sign of the night and make the sign of the day sight-giving, that you may seek the bounty of your Lord, and that you may calculate the years and the reckoning; and We have expounded everything in detail.

Hilali & Khan

And We have appointed the night and the day as two Ayat (signs etc.). Then, We have made dark the sign of the night while We have made the sign of day illuminating, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and the reckoning. And We have explained everything (in detail) with full explanation.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And man prays for evil as he ought to pray for good; and man is ever hasty.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And We have made the night and the day two signs, then We have made the sign of the night to pass away and We have made the sign of the day manifest, so that you may seek grace from your Lord, and that you might know the numbering of years and the reckoning; and We have explained everything with distinctness.

Mohammed Marmaduke William 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.

Muhammad Sarwar

We have made the day and night each as evidence (of Our existence). The night is invisible and the day is visible so that you may seek favors from your Lord and determine the number of years and mark the passing of time. For everything We have given a detailed explanation.

Qaribullah & Darwish

We appointed the night and the day as two signs. Then, We blotted out the sign of the night and made the sign of the day to see, so that you seek the bounty of your Lord and that you know the number of years and the reckoning. And We have clearly distinguished everything.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And We have appointed the night and the day as two Ayat (signs). Then, We have obliterated the sign of the night (with darkness) while We have made the sign of the day illuminating, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and to count (periods of time). And We have explained everything (in detail) with full explanation.

Wahiduddin Khan

We have made the night and the day as two signs. We blotted out the sign of night and made the sign of the day illuminating, so that you may seek the bounty of your Lord and learn to compute the seasons and the years. We have set everything forth in detail.

Talal Itani

We have made the night and the day two wonders. We erased the wonder of the night, and made the wonder of the day revealing, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and know the number of years, and the calculation. We have explained all things in detail.

Tafsir jalalayn

And We made the night and the day two signs, [both] indicators of Our power. Then We effaced the sign of the night, extinguishing its light with darkness, so that you might repose therein (the annexation [yata'layli, `the sign of the night', is explicative), and made the sign of the day sight-giving, in other words, one in which it is possible to see because of the light; that you may seek, therein, bounty from your Lord, by earning [your livelihood], and that you may know, by both [day and night], the number of years and the reckoning, of the times [of the day], and everything, that might be needed, We have detailed very distinctly, We have explained clearly.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Night and Day are Signs of the Great Power of Allah

Allah says;

وَجَعَلْنَا اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ ايَتَيْنِ فَمَحَوْنَا ايَةَ اللَّيْلِ وَجَعَلْنَا ايَةَ النَّهَارِ مُبْصِرَةً



And We have appointed the night and the day as two Ayat (signs). Then, We have obliterated the sign of the night (with darkness) while We have made the sign of the day illuminating,

Allah reminds us of the great signs that He created, including the alternation of the night and day, so that people may rest at night, and go out and earn a living, do their work, and travel during the day, and so that they may know the number of days, weeks, months and years, so they will know the appointed times for paying debts, doing acts of worship, dealing with transactions, paying rents and so on.

Allah says;

لِتَبْتَغُواْ فَضْلً مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ

that you may seek bounty from your Lord,

meaning, in your living and travels etc.

وَلِتَعْلَمُواْ عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ

and that you may know the number of the years and to count.

If time stood still and never changed, we would not know any of these things, as Allah says;

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِن جَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ الَّيْلَ سَرْمَداً إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَـمَةِ مَنْ إِلَـهٌ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُمْ بِضِيَأءٍ أَفَلَ تَسْمَعُونَ

قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن جَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ النَّهَارَ سَرْمَداً إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَـمَةِ مَنْ إِلَـهٌ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُمْ بِلَيْلٍ تَسْكُنُونَ فِيهِ أَفلَ تُبْصِرُونَ

وَمِن رَّحْمَتِهِ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لِتَسْكُنُواْ فِيهِ وَلِتَبتَغُواْ مِن فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Say;"Tell me! If Allah made the night continuous for you till the Day of Resurrection, which god besides Allah could bring you light! Will you not then hear!"

Say;"Tell me! If Allah made the day continuous for you till the Day of Resurrection, which god besides Allah could bring you night wherein you rest! Will you not then see!"

It is out of His mercy that He has made for you the night and the day that you may rest therein and that you may seek of His bounty - and in order that you may be grateful. (28;71-73)

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِى جَعَلَ فِى السَّمَأءِ بُرُوجاً وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا سِرَاجاً وَقَمَراً مُّنِيراً

وَهُوَ الَّذِى جَعَلَ الَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ خِلْفَةً لِّمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يَذَّكَّرَ أَوْ أَرَادَ شُكُوراً

Blessed be He Who has placed the big stars in the heaven, and has placed therein a great lamp (sun), and a moon giving light.

And He it is Who has put the night and the day in succession, for such who desires to remember or desires to show his gratitude. (25;61-62)

وَلَهُ اخْتِلَـفُ الَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ

and His is the alternation of night and day. (23;80)

يُكَوِّرُ الَّيْـلَ عَلَى النَّهَـارِ وَيُكَوِّرُ النَّـهَارَ عَلَى الَّيْلِ وَسَخَّـرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُـلٌّ يَجْرِى لاًّجَـلٍ مُّسَـمًّى أَلا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفَّارُ

He makes the night to go in the day and makes the day to go in the night. And He has subjected the sun and the moon. Each running (on a fixed course) for an appointed term. Verily, He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving. (39;5)

فَالِقُ الاِصْبَاحِ وَجَعَلَ الَّيْلَ سَكَناً وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ حُسْبَاناً ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ

(He is the) Cleaver of the daybreak. He has appointed the night for resting, and the sun and the moon for reckoning. Such is the measuring of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing. (6;96)

وَءَايَةٌ لَّهُمُ الَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ فَإِذَا هُم مُّظْلِمُونَ

وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ

And a sign for them is the night. We withdraw therefrom the day, and behold, they are in darkness.

And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing. (36;37-38)

Allah has made the night a sign having distinguishing features by which it is known. These features include the darkness and the appearance of the moon. The day also has distinguishing features by which it is known; the light and the appearance of the shining sun. He made a distinction between the light of the moon and the light of the sun, so that they may be distinguished from one another, as Allah says;

هُوَ الَّذِى جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَأءً وَالْقَمَرَ نُوراً وَقَدَّرَهُ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُواْ عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ ذَلِكَ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ

It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon a light and measured out for it stages that you might know the number of years and to count (periods of time). Allah did not create this but in truth. (10;5) until,
لاايَـتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَّقُونَ
(Ayat for those people who keep their duty to Allah, and fear Him much). (10;6)

يَسْـَلُونَكَ عَنِ الَاهِلَّةِ قُلْ هِىَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ

They ask you about the crescent moons.

Say;"These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and for the pilgrimage." (2;189)

فَمَحَوْنَا ايَةَ اللَّيْلِ وَجَعَلْنَا ايَةَ النَّهَارِ مُبْصِرَةً


Then, We have obliterated the sign of the night (with darkness) while We have made the sign of the day illuminating,

Ibn Jurayj reported that Abdullah bin Kathir commented on this Ayah;

"(It means) the darkness of the night and the twilight of the day."

Ibn Jurayj reported that Mujahid said;

"The sun is the sign of the day and the moon is the sign of the night.
فَمَحَوْنَا ايَةَ اللَّيْل
(We have obliterated the sign of the night), this refers to the moon's blackness, which is how Allah has created it."

وَجَعَلْنَا اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ ايَتَيْنِ


And We have appointed the night and the day as two Ayat.

Ibn Abi Najih reported that Ibn Abbas said;

"By night and day, this is how Allah created them, may He be glorified."

وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَصَّلْنَاهُ تَفْصِيلً



And We have explained everything (in detail) with full explanation.