Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Isra Verse 78

Mufti Taqi Usmani

(O Prophet,) establish Salāh between the decline of the sun and the darkness of the night, and (establish) the recital at dawn. Surely, the recital at dawn is well attended.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Observe the prayer from the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night and the dawn prayer, for certainly the dawn prayer is witnessed ˹by angels˺.[[ This verse gives the times of the five daily prayers: the decline of the sun refers to the afternoon and late afternoon prayers, the darkness of night refers to sunset and late evening prayers, then the dawn prayer. ]]

Ruwwad Translation Center

Establish prayer at the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night, and the recitation of dawn [prayer], for the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed [by the angles].

A. J. Arberry

Perform the prayer at the sinking of the sun to the darkening of the night and the recital of dawn; surely the recital of dawn is witnessed.

Abdul Haleem

So perform the regular prayers in the period from the time the sun is past its zenith till the darkness of the night, and [recite] the Quran at dawn- dawn recitation is always witnessed––

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Establish thou the prayer from the declination of the sun to the darkening of the night, and the Recitation at the dawn; verily the Recitation at the dawn is ever borne witness to.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Establish regular prayers - at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading; for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony.

Abul Ala Maududi

Establish Prayer from the declining of the sun to the darkness of the night; and hold fast to the recitation of the Qur'an at dawn, for the recitation of the Qur'an at dawn is witnessed.

Ahmed Ali

Observe the service of prayer from the sun's declining from the meridian to the darkening of the night, and the recitation at dawn. Indeed the Recitation at dawn is palpably evident.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Keep the prayer established, from the declining of the sun until darkness of the night, and the Qur’an at dawn; indeed the angels witness the reading of the Qur’an at dawn.

Ali Quli Qarai

Maintain the prayer [during the period] from the sun’s decline till the darkness of the night, and [observe particularly] the dawn recital. Indeed the dawn recital is attended [by angels].

Ali Ünal

Establish the Prayer in conformity with its conditions, from the declining of the sun to the darkness of the night, and (be ever observant of) the recitation of the Qur’an at dawn (the Dawn Prayer). Surely the recitation of the Qur’an at dawn is witnessed (by the angels and the whole creation awakening to a new day).

Amatul Rahman Omar

Observe Prayer at the declining and paling of the sun, on to the complete darkness (in diverse hours) of the night, and recite the Qur´ân at dawn. Verily, the regular recital (of the Qur´ân) at dawn is (specially) acceptable (to God) and witnessed (by the angels).

English Literal

Start/keep up the prayers to the sun`s nearing setting to the night`s darkness, and the dawn`s Koran, that the dawn`s Koran was/is being witnessed.

Faridul Haque

Keep the prayer established, from the declining of the sun until darkness of the night, and the Qur’an at dawn; indeed the angels witness the reading of the Qur’an at dawn.

Hamid S. Aziz

Be you steadfast in prayer from the declining of the sun until the dark of the night, and the recital of the Quran at dawn; verily, the recital of the dawn is especially witnessed (or effective).

Hilali & Khan

Perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) from mid-day till the darkness of the night (i.e. the Zuhr, 'Asr, Maghrib, and 'Isha' prayers), and recite the Quran in the early dawn (i.e. the morning prayer). Verily, the recitation of the Quran in the early dawn is ever witnessed (attended by the angels in charge of mankind of the day and the night).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

(This is Our) way with Our messengers whom We sent before thee, and thou wilt not find a change in Our course.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Keep up prayer from the declining of the sun till the darkness of the night and the morning recitation; surely the morning recitation is witnessed.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Establish worship at the going down of the sun until the dark of night, and (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn is ever witnessed.

Muhammad Sarwar

Say your prayer when the sun declines until the darkness of night and also at dawn. Dawn is certainly witnessed (by the angels of the night and day).

Qaribullah & Darwish

Establish the prayer at the decline of the sun till the darkening of the night and the Koran recital at dawn. Surely, the Koran recital at dawn is witnessed.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Perform the Salah from midday till the darkness of the night, and recite the Qur'an in the early dawn. Verily, the recitation of the Qur'an in the early dawn is ever witnessed.

Wahiduddin Khan

Say your prayers from the decline of the sun, until nightfall; and at dawn -- the recitation at dawn is indeed witnessed.

Talal Itani

Perform the prayer at the decline of the sun, until the darkness of the night; and the Quran at dawn. The Quran at dawn is witnessed.

Tafsir jalalayn

Establish prayer from the sun's decline, that is, from after midday, until the dark of night, [until] its darkness has fallen, in other words, [perform prayers] at noon, in the afternoon, at sunset and at night, and the recital [of the Qur'n] at dawn, the morning prayer. Verily the dawn recital is ever witnessed, it is witnessed by the angels of the night and the angels of the day.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Command to offer the Prayers at their appointed Times

Allah says, commanding His Messenger to offer the prescribed prayers at the appointed times;

أَقِمِ الصَّلَةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ

Perform the Salat from midday.

Hushaym narrated from Mughirah from Ash-Sha`bi from Ibn Abbas;

"Midday means when the sun is at its zenith."

This was also reported by Nafi` from Ibn Umar, and by Malik in his Tafsir from Az-Zuhri from Ibn Umar.

This was the opinion of Abu Barzah Al-Aslami and Mujahid, and of Al-Hasan, Ad-Dahhak, Abu Ja`far Al-Baqir and Qatadah.

It is also understood to (generally) refer to the times of the five prayers.

Allah said;

لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ

إِلَى غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ

from midday till the darkness of the night,

meaning darkness, or it was said, sunset.

This was understood to mean Zuhr `Asr, Maghrib and `Isha'.

وَقُرْانَ الْفَجْرِ

and recite the Qur'an in the early dawn.

meaning Salat Al-Fajr.

The details of the timings of the prayers were reported in the Mutawatir Sunnah from the words and deeds of the Prophet, and this is what the people of Islam have followed until the present day, passing it down from generation to generation, century after century, as we have stated in the appropriate place, praise be to Allah.
The Meeting of the Angels at the Times of Fajr and `Asr Prayers

Allah says,

إِنَّ قُرْانَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا



Verily the recitation of the Qur'an in the early down is ever witnessed.

Ibn Mas`ud reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet said concerning this Ayah ;

وَقُرْانَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْانَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا

and recite the Qur'an in the early dawn. Verily, the recitation of the Qur'an in the early dawn is ever witnessed.

تَشْهَدُهُ مَلَيِكَةُ اللَّيْلِ وَمَلَيِكَةُ النَّهَار

It is witnessed by the angels of the night and the angels of the day.

Al-Bukhari narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said;

فَضْلُ صَلَةِ الْجَمِيعِ عَلَى صَلَةِ الْوَاحِدِ خَمْسٌ وَعِشْرُونَ دَرَجَةً وَتَجْتَمِعُ مَلَيِكَةُ اللَّيْلِ وَمَلَيِكَةُ النَّهَارِ فِي صَلَةِ الْفَجْر

The prayer offered in congregation is twenty-five degrees better than the prayer offered individually, and the angels of the night and the angels of the day meet at Salat Al-Fajr.

Abu Hurayrah said;Recite, if you wish;

وَقُرْانَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْانَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا

and recite the Qur'an in the early dawn. Verily, the recitation of the Qur'an in the early dawn is ever witnessed.

Imam Ahmad recorded from Ibn Mas`ud and Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said, concerning the Ayah;

وَقُرْانَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْانَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا



and recite the Qur'an in the early dawn. Verily, the recitation of the Qur'an in the early dawn is ever witnessed.

تَشْهَدُهُ مَلَيِكَةُ اللَّيْلِ وَمَلَيِكَةُ النَّهَار

It is witnessed by the angels of the night and the angels of the day.

This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah.

At-Tirmidhi said, "It is Hasan Sahih."

According to the version recorded in the Two Sahihs from Abu Hurayrah, the Prophet said;

يَتَعَاقَبُونَ فِيكُمْ مَلَيِكَةٌ بِاللَّيْلِ وَمَلَيِكَةٌ بِالنَّهَارِ وَيَجْتَمِعُونَ فِي صَلَةِ الصُّبْحِ وَفِي صَلَةِ الْعَصْرِ فَيَعْرُجُ الَّذِينَ بَاتُوا فِيكُمْ فَيَسْأَلُهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ كَيْفَ تَرَكْتُمْ عِبَادِي فَيَقُولُونَ أَتَيْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ وَتَرَكْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّون

The angels of the night and the angels of the day come amongst you in successive groups (in shifts). They meet at the Morning prayer (Fajr) and at the Mid-afternoon prayer ('Asr). Those who stayed among you at ascend, and their Lord asks them, although He knows best about you, "How did you leave My servants!"

They say, "We came to them when they were praying and we left them when they were praying."

Abdullah bin Mas`ud said,

"The two guards meet at Salat Al-Fajr, and one group ascends while the other stays where it is."

These were the comments of Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Mujahid, Qatadah and others on the Tafsir of this Ayah.
The Command to pray Tahajjud

Allah says