Verse display
وَءَایَةࣱ لَّهُمُ ٱلَّیۡلُ نَسۡلَخُ مِنۡهُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فَإِذَا هُم مُّظۡلِمُونَ ۝٣٧
waāyatun lahumu al-laylu naslakhu min'hu l-nahāra fa-idhā hum muẓ'limūn
Ya Sin, Ya-Seen / Ya Sin (36:37)
Connections 1 multi-source 6 single-source 4 commentators

Multi-source connections cited by 2+ commentators

Single-source mentions (6) cited by only one commentator
By commentator who cites how many verses on this ayah

Note: these connections are extracted from numeric S:A references inside the commentary text and are therefore biased toward mufassirun who use that notation. Prose-style references (e.g. "Surat al-Baqarah verse 30") will be added later, which should surface additional multi-source consensus.

Abdel Haleem

View translator profile →
The night is also a sign for them: We strip the daylight from it, and- lo and behold!- they are in darkness
waāyatun lahumu al-laylu naslakhu min'hu l-nahāra fa-idhā hum muẓ'limūn

Support the Author

As an Amazon Associate, ParallelQuran earns from qualifying purchases.

Qur'an Tools

Tafsir Commentary

Among the Signs of the Might and Power of Allah are the Night and Day, and the Sun and Moon يُغْشِى الَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا (He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly) (7:54). Allah says here: وَءَايَةٌ لَّهُمُ الَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ (And a sign for them is the night. We withdraw therefrom the day,) meaning, `We take it away from it, so it goes away and the night comes.' Allah says: فَإِذَا هُم مُّظْلِمُونَ (and behold, they are in darkness.) As it says in the Hadith: «إِذَا أَقْبَلَ اللَّيْلُ مِنْ ههُنَا، وَأَدْبَرَ النَّهَارُ مِنْ ههُنَا، وَغَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ، فَقَدْ أَفْطَرَ الصَّائِم» (When the night comes from here, and the day departs from here, and the sun has set, then the fasting person should break his fast.) This is the apparent meaning of the Ayah. Allah's saying: وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ (And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing) There are two views over the meaning of the phrase لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا (on its fixed course for a term (appointed). ) (The first view) is that it refers to its fixed course of location, which is beneath the Throne, beyond the earth in that direction. Wherever it goes, it is beneath the Throne, it and all of creation, because the Throne is the roof of creation and it is not a sphere as many astronomers claim. Rather it is a dome supported by legs or pillars, carried by the angels, and it is above the universe, above the heads of people. When the sun is at its zenith at noon, it is in its closest position to Throne, and when it runs in its fourth orbit at the opposite point to its zenith, at midnight, it is in its furthest position from the Throne. At that point it prostrates and asks for permission to rise, as mentioned in the Hadiths. Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "I was with the Prophet in the Masjid at sunset, and he said: : «يَا أَبَا ذَرَ، أَتَدْرِي أَيْنَ تَغْرُبُ الشَّمْسُ؟» (O Abu Dharr! Do you know where the sun sets) I said, `Allah and His Messenger know best.' He said: «فَإِنَّهَا تَذْهَبُ حَتْى تَسْجُدَ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ، فَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ » (It goes and prostrates beneath the Throne, and that is what Allah says: (And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term. That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.))" It was also reported that Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the Ayah: وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا (And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term. ) He said: «مُسْتَقَرُّهَا تَحْتَ الْعَرْش» (Its fixed course is beneath the Throne.)" (The second view) is that this refers to when the sun's appointed time comes to an end, which will be on the Day of Resurrection, when its fixed course will be abolished, it will come to a halt and it will be rolled up. This world will come to an end, and that will be the end of its appointed time. This is the fixed course of its time. Qatadah said: لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا (on its fixed course for a term (appointed).) means, "It has an appointed time and it will not go beyond that." It was also said that this means, it keeps moving in its summer orbit for a certain time, and it does not exceed that, then it moves to its winter orbit for a certain time, and it does not exceed that. This was narrated from `Abdullah bin `Amr, may Allah be pleased with him. Ibn Mas`ud and Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, recited this Ayah as: (وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لَامُسْتَقَرَّ لَهَا) (And the sun runs with no fixed course for a term,) meaning that it has no destination and it does not settle in one place, rather it keeps moving night and day, never slowing down or stopping, as in the Ayah: وَسَخَّر لَكُمُ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ دَآئِبَينَ (And He has made the sun and the moon, both constantly pursuing their courses, to be of service to you) (14:33). which means, they will never slow down or stop, until the Day of Resurrection. ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ (That is the decree of the Almighty, ) means, which none can oppose or prevent. الْعَلِيمُ (the All-Knowing.) Who knows every movement and every cessation of movement, Who has decreed that and Who has set it in motion following a pattern in which there are no differences or inversions, as Allah says: فَالِقُ الإِصْبَاحِ 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 Almighty, the All-Knowing.) (6:96) And this is how this Ayah ends: ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ (That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.) Then Allah says: وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَـهُ مَنَازِلَ (And the moon, We have decreed for it stages,) meaning, `We have caused it to run in a different orbit, from which passing of the months can be deduced, just as night and day are known from the sun.' This is like the Ayah: يَسْـَلُونَكَ عَنِ الأَهِلَّةِ 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 (Hajj). ") (2:189), هُوَ الَّذِى جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَآءً وَالْقَمَرَ نُوراً وَقَدَّرَهُ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُواْ عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ (It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light and measured out for it stages that you might know the number of years and the reckoning) (10:5), and وَجَعَلْنَا الَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ ءَايَتَيْنِ فَمَحَوْنَآ ءَايَةَ الَّيْلِ وَجَعَلْنَآ ءَايَةَ النَّهَارِ مُبْصِرَةً لِتَبْتَغُواْ فَضْلاً مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلِتَعْلَمُواْ عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ وَكُلَّ شَىْءٍ فَصَّلْنَاهُ تَفْصِيلاً (And We have appointed the night and the day as two Ayat (signs). Then, We have obliterated the sign of the night 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 the reckoning. And We have explained everything with full explanation.) (17:12) So, He has given the sun its own light, and the moon its (reflection of) light, and has given each its own orbit. So the sun rises each day and sets at the end of the day, giving one kind of light all the time, but it moves, rising and setting at different points in the summer and winter, thus making the days and nights longer or shorter alternatively according to the season. Its authority is in the daytime, for it is the heavenly body that dominates the day. As for the moon, Allah has decreed that it should pass through different phases. At the beginning of the month, the moon appears small when it rises. It gives off little light, then on the second night its light increases and it rises to a higher position, and the higher it rises the more light it gives -- even though it is reflected from the sun -- until it becomes full on the fourteenth night of the month. Then it starts to wane until the end of the month, until it appears like the old dried curved date stalk. Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "This is the original stem (which connects the bunch of dates to the tree)." The Arabs have a name for each set of three nights in a month, according to the phases of the moon. They call the first three nights Ghurar; the next three nights Nufal; the next three nights Tusa` (nine) -- because the last of them is the ninth. The next three nights are called `Ushar (ten) -- because the first of them is the tenth. The next three nights are called Al-Bid (white) -- because of the light of the moon which shines brightly throughout these three nights. The next three nights are called Dura`, the plural of Dar`a', because on the first of them the night is dark from the moon rising late. Dar`a' refers to the black sheep, i.e., the one whose head is black; the next three nights Zulam; then Hanadis, then Da'adi; then Mihaq, because of the absence of moonlight at the beginning of the month. Abu `Ubayd did not recognize the names Tusa` and `Ushar, in the book Gharib Al-Musannaf. لاَ الشَّمْسُ يَنبَغِى لَهَآ أَن تدْرِكَ القَمَرَ (It is not for the sun to overtake the moon,) Mujahid said, "Each of them has a limit which it does not transgress or fall short of. When the time of one comes, the other goes away, and when the time for one to prevail comes, the time of the other ceases." `Ikrimah said concerning the Ayah, لاَ الشَّمْسُ يَنبَغِى لَهَآ أَن تدْرِكَ القَمَرَ (It is not for the sun to overtake the moon,) this means that each of them has its time when it prevails. So it is not appropriate for the sun to rise at night. وَلاَ الَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ (nor does the night outstrip the day.) means, after night has passed, it is not right for another night to come until it has been day. The authority of the sun is during the day and the authority of the moon is at night. Ad-Dahhak said, "The night does not depart from here until the day comes from here -- and he pointed to the east." Mujahid said: وَلاَ الَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ (nor does the night outstrip the day.) "They seek one another rapidly." The meaning is that there is no gap between night and day; each of them follows the other with no interval, because they have been subjugated and are both constantly pursuing one another. وَكُلٌّ فِى فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ (They all float, each in an orbit.) means, night and day, the sun and the moon, all of them are floating, i.e., revolving, in their orbits in the heaven. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas, `Ikrimah, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan, Qatadah and `Ata' Al-Khurasani. Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and others among the Salaf said, "In an orbit like the arc of a spinning wheel."
And a sign for them of the tremendous power of God is the night from which We strip We separate the day and behold they find themselves in darkness passing into the darkness of the night.
A sign for them is the night; We strip from it the day. A great man was asked, “Is night more excellent, or day?” He answered, “Night is more excellent, because at night all is ease and comfort, and comfort belongs to paradise. In day all is trouble and difficulty in the seeking of livelihood, and suffering and difficulty belong to hell.” He also said, “Night is the portion of the self-purifiers, who worship with self-purification and without eye-service. Day is the portion of the duplicitous, who worship with eye-service and without self-purification. Night is the time of seclusion for friends, the time of meeting for seek- ers of peace, the solace of the yearners, the moment for the mystery of lovers.” Revelation came to one of the prophets, “He who claims to love Me is a liar if night comes, and he goes to sleep on Me. Does not every lover love to be secluded with his beloved? Here I am, aware of you, I hear and I see [20:46].” It has also been said that night and day are the mark of the contraction and expansion of the recognizers. The time of night is contraction for them and the time of day expansion. In the night of contraction, they see everything in lassitude and awe. In the day or expansion, they find all as gentleness and mercy. In the night of contraction the cold wind of severity comes, the marks bearing witness to majesty appear, and the servant weeps and enters into pleading. In the day of expansion the breeze of gentleness blows and brings the scent of union, the marks bearing witness to beauty appear, and the servant delights and enters into ease. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Sometimes I say that I am in constant contraction-there is so much covering! Sometimes a light shines, next to which mortal nature disappears. A light, and what a light! It is the mark of beginningless love, the title-page of the scroll of life. It is the ease of the spirit, the delight of the spirit, and the pain of the spirit.” You are the pain in my heart and the ease of my spirit. You stir up tumult and You make it still.
A sign for them is the night; We strip from it the day. A great man was asked, “Is night more excellent, or day?” He answered, “Night is more excellent, because at night all is ease and comfort, and comfort belongs to paradise. In day all is trouble and difficulty in the seeking of livelihood, and suffering and difficulty belong to hell.” He also said, “Night is the portion of the self-purifiers, who worship with self-purification and without eye-service. Day is the portion of the duplicitous, who worship with eye-service and without self-purification. Night is the time of seclusion for friends, the time of meeting for seek- ers of peace, the solace of the yearners, the moment for the mystery of lovers.” Revelation came to one of the prophets, “He who claims to love Me is a liar if night comes, and he goes to sleep on Me. Does not every lover love to be secluded with his beloved? Here I am, aware of you, I hear and I see [20:46].” It has also been said that night and day are the mark of the contraction and expansion of the recognizers. The time of night is contraction for them and the time of day expansion. In the night of contraction, they see everything in lassitude and awe. In the day or expansion, they find all as gentleness and mercy. In the night of contraction the cold wind of severity comes, the marks bearing witness to majesty appear, and the servant weeps and enters into pleading. In the day of expansion the breeze of gentleness blows and brings the scent of union, the marks bearing witness to beauty appear, and the servant delights and enters into ease. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Sometimes I say that I am in constant contraction-there is so much covering! Sometimes a light shines, next to which mortal nature disappears. A light, and what a light! It is the mark of beginningless love, the title-page of the scroll of life. It is the ease of the spirit, the delight of the spirit, and the pain of the spirit.” You are the pain in my heart and the ease of my spirit. You stir up tumult and You make it still.
A sign for them is the night; We strip from it the day. A great man was asked, “Is night more excellent, or day?” He answered, “Night is more excellent, because at night all is ease and comfort, and comfort belongs to paradise. In day all is trouble and difficulty in the seeking of livelihood, and suffering and difficulty belong to hell.” He also said, “Night is the portion of the self-purifiers, who worship with self-purification and without eye-service. Day is the portion of the duplicitous, who worship with eye-service and without self-purification. Night is the time of seclusion for friends, the time of meeting for seek- ers of peace, the solace of the yearners, the moment for the mystery of lovers.” Revelation came to one of the prophets, “He who claims to love Me is a liar if night comes, and he goes to sleep on Me. Does not every lover love to be secluded with his beloved? Here I am, aware of you, I hear and I see [20:46].” It has also been said that night and day are the mark of the contraction and expansion of the recognizers. The time of night is contraction for them and the time of day expansion. In the night of contraction, they see everything in lassitude and awe. In the day or expansion, they find all as gentleness and mercy. In the night of contraction the cold wind of severity comes, the marks bearing witness to majesty appear, and the servant weeps and enters into pleading. In the day of expansion the breeze of gentleness blows and brings the scent of union, the marks bearing witness to beauty appear, and the servant delights and enters into ease. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Sometimes I say that I am in constant contraction-there is so much covering! Sometimes a light shines, next to which mortal nature disappears. A light, and what a light! It is the mark of beginningless love, the title-page of the scroll of life. It is the ease of the spirit, the delight of the spirit, and the pain of the spirit.” You are the pain in my heart and the ease of my spirit. You stir up tumult and You make it still.
A sign for them is the night; We strip from it the day. A great man was asked, “Is night more excellent, or day?” He answered, “Night is more excellent, because at night all is ease and comfort, and comfort belongs to paradise. In day all is trouble and difficulty in the seeking of livelihood, and suffering and difficulty belong to hell.” He also said, “Night is the portion of the self-purifiers, who worship with self-purification and without eye-service. Day is the portion of the duplicitous, who worship with eye-service and without self-purification. Night is the time of seclusion for friends, the time of meeting for seek- ers of peace, the solace of the yearners, the moment for the mystery of lovers.” Revelation came to one of the prophets, “He who claims to love Me is a liar if night comes, and he goes to sleep on Me. Does not every lover love to be secluded with his beloved? Here I am, aware of you, I hear and I see [20:46].” It has also been said that night and day are the mark of the contraction and expansion of the recognizers. The time of night is contraction for them and the time of day expansion. In the night of contraction, they see everything in lassitude and awe. In the day or expansion, they find all as gentleness and mercy. In the night of contraction the cold wind of severity comes, the marks bearing witness to majesty appear, and the servant weeps and enters into pleading. In the day of expansion the breeze of gentleness blows and brings the scent of union, the marks bearing witness to beauty appear, and the servant delights and enters into ease. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Sometimes I say that I am in constant contraction-there is so much covering! Sometimes a light shines, next to which mortal nature disappears. A light, and what a light! It is the mark of beginningless love, the title-page of the scroll of life. It is the ease of the spirit, the delight of the spirit, and the pain of the spirit.” You are the pain in my heart and the ease of my spirit. You stir up tumult and You make it still.
A sign for them is the night; We strip from it the day.A great man was asked, �Is night more excellent, or day?�He answered, �Night is more excellent, because at night all is ease and comfort, and comfort belongs to paradise. In day all is trouble and difficulty in the seeking of livelihood, and suffering and difficulty belong to hell.� He also said, �Night is the portion of the self-purifiers, who worship with self-purification and without eye-service. Day is the portion of the duplicitous, who worship with eye-service and without self-purification. Night is the time of seclusion for friends, the time of meeting for seek- ers of peace, the solace of the yearners, the moment for the mystery of lovers.� Revelation came to one of the prophets, �He who claims to love Me is a liar if night comes, and he goes to sleep onMe. Does not every lover love to be secluded with his beloved? Here I am, aware of you, I hear and I see [20:46].�It has also been said that night and day are the mark of the contraction and expansion of the recognizers. The time of night is contraction for them and the time of day expansion. In the night of contraction, they see everything in lassitude and awe. In the day or expansion, they find all as gentleness and mercy. In the night of contraction the cold wind of severity comes, the marks bearing witness to majesty appear, and the servant weeps and enters into pleading. In the day of expansion the breeze of gentleness blows and brings the scent of union, the marks bearing witness to beauty appear, and the servant delights and enters into ease.The Pir of the Tariqah said, �Sometimes I say that I am in constant contraction-there is so much covering! Sometimes a light shines, next to which mortal nature disappears. A light, and what a light! It is the mark of beginningless love, the title-page of the scroll of life. It is the ease of the spirit, the delight of the spirit, and the pain of the spirit.�You are the pain in my heart and the ease of my spirit.You stir up tumult and You make it still.
وعلامة لهم دالة على توحيد الله وكمال قدرته: هذا الليل ننزع منه النهار، فإذا الناس مظلمون.
يقول تعالى ومن الدلالة لهم على قدرته تبارك وتعالى العظيمة خلق الليل والنهار هذا بظلامه وهذا بضيائه وجعلهما يتعاقبان يجيء هذا فيذهب هذا ويذهب هذا فيجيء هذا كما قال تعالى: "يغشي الليل النهار يطلبه حثيثا" ولهذا قال عز وجل ههنا "وآية لهم الليل نسلخ منه النهار" أي نصرمه منه فيذهب فيقبل الليل ولهذا قال تبارك وتعالى "فإذا هم مظلمون" كما جاء في الحديث "إذا أقبل الليل من ههنا وأدبر النهار من ههنا وغربت الشمس فقد أفطر الصائم" هذا هو الظاهر من الآية وزعم قتادة أنها كقوله تعالى: "يولج الليل في النهار ويولج النهار في الليل" وقد ضعف ابن جرير قول قتادة ههنا وقال إنما معنى الإيلاج الأخذ من هذا في هذا وليس هذا مرادا في هذه الآية وهذا الذي قاله ابن جرير حق.
وبعد أن بين - سبحانه - مظاهر قدرته عن طريق التأمل فى الأرض التى نعيش عليها ، عقب ذلك ببيان مظاهر قدرته عن طريق التأمل فى تقلب الليل والنهار ، وتعاقب الشمس والقمر ، فقال - تعالى - : ( وَآيَةٌ لَّهُمُ الليل نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النهار فَإِذَا هُم مُّظْلِمُونَ ) .وقوله ( نسلخ ) من السلخ بمعنى الكشط والإِزالة ، يقال : سلخ فلان جلد الشاة ، إذا أزاله عنها .والمراد هنا : إزلة ضوء النهار عن الليل ، ليبقى لليل ظلمته .قال صاحب الكشاف : سلخ جلد الشاة ، إذا كشطه عنها وأزاله .ومنه : سَلْخُ الحيةِ لِخرْشَها - أى : لجلدها - فاستعير ذلك لإِزالة الضوء وكشفه عن مكان الليل ، وملقى ظله .أى : ومن البراهين والعلامات الواضحة ، الدالة على وحدانية الله ، وقدرته على إحياء الموتى ، وجود الليل والنهار بهذه الطريقة التى نشاهدها ، حيث ينزع - سبحانه - عن الليل النهار ، فيبقى لليل ظلامه ، ويصير الناس فى ليل مظلم ، بعد أن كانوا فى نهار مضئ .فمعنى : ( فَإِذَا هُم مُّظْلِمُونَ ) : فإذا هم داخلون فى الظلام ، بعد أن كانوا بعيدين عنه . يقال : أظلم القوم . إذا دخلوا فى الظلام . وأصبحوا ، إذا دخلوا فى وقت الصباح .
القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : وَآيَةٌ لَهُمُ اللَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ فَإِذَا هُمْ مُظْلِمُونَ (37)يقول تعالى ذكره: ودليل لهم أيضًا على قدرة الله على فعل كل ما شاء ( اللَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ ) يقول: ننـزع عنه النهار. ومعنى " منه " في هذا الموضع: عنه، كأنه قيل: نسلخ عنه النهار، فنأتي بالظلمة ونذهب بالنهار. ومنه قوله وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ الَّذِي آتَيْنَاهُ آيَاتِنَا فَانْسَلَخَ مِنْهَا أي: خرج منها وتركها، فكذلك انسلاخ الليل من النهار. وقوله ( فَإِذَا هُمْ مُظْلِمُونَ ) يقول: فإذا هم قد صاروا في ظلمة بمجيء الليل.وقال قتادة في ذلك ماحدثنا بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة، قوله ( وَآيَةٌ لَهُمُ اللَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ فَإِذَا هُمْ مُظْلِمُونَ ) قال: يولج الليل في النهار، ويولج النهار في الليل ، وهذا الذي قاله قتادة في ذلك عندي، من معنى سلخ النهار من الليل، بعيد ، وذلك أن إيلاج الليل في النهار، إنما هو زيادة ما نقص من ساعات هذا في ساعات الآخر، وليس السلْخ من ذلك في شيء، لأن النهار يسلخ من الليل كله، وكذلك الليل من النهار كله، وليس يولج كلّ الليل في كلّ النهار، ولا كلّ النهار في كلّ الليل.
( وآية لهم ) تدل على قدرتنا ، ) ( الليل نسلخ ) ننزع ونكشط ( منه النهار فإذا هم مظلمون ) داخلون في الظلمة ، ومعناه : نذهب النهار ونجيء بالليل ، وذلك أن الأصل هي الظلمة والنهار داخل عليها فإذا غربت الشمس سلخ النهار من الليل فتظهر الظلمة .
وَآَيَةٌ لَهُمُ اللَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ فَإِذَا هُمْ مُظْلِمُونَ (37)انتقال إلى دلالة مظاهر العوالم العلوية على دقيق نظام الخالق فيها مما تؤذن به المشاهدة مع التبصر . وابتدىء منها بنظام الليل والنهار لتكرر وقوعه أمام المشاهدة لكل راءٍ . وجملة { نسلخ منه النهار } تحتمل جميع الوجوه التي ذكرناها في جملة { أحْيَيناهَا } [ يس : 33 ] آنفاً .والسلخ : إزالة الجلد عن حيوانه ، وفعله يتعدّى إلى الجلد المزال بنفسه على المفعولية ، ولذلك يقال للجلد المزال من جسم الحيوان : سِلخ ( بكسر السين وسكون اللام ) بمعنى مسلوخ ، ولا يقال للجسم الذي أزيل جلده : سلخ . ويتعدّى فعل سلَخ إلى الجسم الذي أزيل جلده بحرف الجر ، والأكثر أنه ( مِن ) الابتدائية ، ويتعدى بحرف ( عن ) أيضاً لما في السلخ من معنى المباعدة والمجاوزة بعد الاتصال . فمفعول { نَسْلَخُ } هنا هو { النَّهَارَ } بلا ريب ، وعدي السلخ إلى ضمير { اللَّيْلُ ب ( من ) فصار المعنى : الليل آية لهم في حال إزالةِ غشاء نور النهار عنه فيبقى عليهم الليل ، فشبه النهار بجلد الشاة ونحوها يغطي ما تحته منها كما يغطي النهار ظلمةَ الليل في الصباح . وشبه كشف النهار وإزالته بسلخ الجلد عن نحو الشاة فصار الليل بمنزلة جسم الحيوان المسلوخ منه جلده ، وليس الليل بمقصود بالتشبيه وإنما المقصود تشبيه زوال النهار عنه فاستتبع ذلك أن الليل يبقى شبه الجسم المسلوخ عنه جلده . ووجه ذلك أن الظلمة هي الحالة السابقة للعوالم قبل خلق النور في الأجسام النيّرة لأن الظلمة عدم والنور وجود ، وكانت الموجودات في ظلمة قبل أن يخلق الله الكواكب النيّرة ويُوصِل نورها إلى الأجسام التي تستقبلها كالأرض والقمر .وإذا كانت الظلمة هي الحالة الأصلية للموجودات فليس يلزم أن تكون أصلية للأرض لأن الظاهر أن الأرض انفصلت عن الشمس نيرة وإنما ظلمة نصف الكرة الأرضية إذا غشيها نور الشمس معتبرة كالجسم الذي غشيه جلده فإذا أزيل النور عادت الظلمة فشبه ذلك بسلخ الجلد عن الحيوان كما قال تعالى في مقابله في سورة الرعد ( 3 ) : { يغشي الليل النهار } فليس في الآية دليل على أن أصل أحوال العالم الأرضي هو الظلمة ولكنها ساقت للناس اعتباراً ودلالة بحالةٍ مشاهدة لديهم ففرع عليه فإذا هم مُظلمونَ } بناء على ما هو متعارف . وقد اعتبر أيمة البلاغة الاستعارة في الآية أصلية تبعية ولم يجعلوها تمثيلية لما قدمناه من أن المقصود بالتشبيه هو حالة زوال نور النهار عن الأفق فتخلفها ظلمة الليل لقوله : { فَإذَا هُم مُظلمونَ } .وإسناد { مُظْلِمُونَ } إلى الناس من إسناد إفعال الذي الهمزة فيه للدخول في الشيء مثل أصبح وأمسى .
قوله تعالى : وآية لهم الليل نسلخ منه النهار فإذا هم مظلمون والشمس تجري لمستقر لها ذلك تقدير العزيز العليم قوله تعالى : وآية لهم الليل نسلخ منه النهار أي : وعلامة دالة على توحيد الله وقدرته ووجوب إلهيته . والسلخ : الكشط والنزع ، يقال : سلخه الله من دينه ، ثم تستعمل بمعنى الإخراج . وقد جعل ذهاب الضوء ومجيء الظلمة كالسلخ من الشيء وظهور المسلوخ ، فهي استعارة . و " مظلمون " داخلون في الظلام ، يقال : أظلمنا أي : دخلنا في ظلام الليل ، وأظهرنا دخلنا في وقت الظهر ، وكذلك أصبحنا وأضحينا وأمسينا . وقيل : " منه " بمعنى عنه ، والمعنى : نسلخ عنه ضياء النهار . " فإذا هم مظلمون " أي : في ظلمة ; لأن ضوء النهار يتداخل في الهواء فيضيء ، فإذا خرج منه أظلم .
The earth, the moon and the sun have their fixed orbits, in which they move with the utmost precision, and due to which different celestial phenomena take place: for instance, the occurrence of day and night on the earth and the waxing and waning of the moon, serve as a heavenly calendar. This system has been in existence for millions of years now, and there is still no deviation of any kind in it. This observation is purely an introduction to the fathomless and unlimited powers of God. If man learns lessons from these phenomena, the majesty of the One God will prevail over his mind to such an extent that all other impressions of greatness will be automatically erased from it.
In verse 37, it was said: وَآيَةٌ لَّهُمُ اللَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ‌ (And a sign for them is the night. We strip the [ cover on day from it, and they are suddenly in darkness.). After having described the signs of Divine power in what was created on the earth, the text mentions cosmic creations. The word: سَلخ (salkh) literally means to skin. If the skin from an animal or the cover from things is removed, the thing inside becomes obvious. Allah Ta’ ala has, in this similitude, pointed out that the real element in this world is darkness. Light is transitory, for it spreads over the earth through planets and stars. In a predetermined system, at a fixed time, this light that is spread over the darkness of the world is removed from on top. What remains is darkness. This, in common parlance, is called night.
(A token) a lesson and sign (unto them) to the people of Mecca (is night) the dark night. (We strip it) We clear it (of the day, and lo! they are in darkness) at night.