The Sun — Verse 2

and by the moon when it follows her rising after she has set

أقسم الله بالشمس ونهارها وإشراقها ضحى، وبالقمر إذا تبعها في الطلوع والأفول، وبالنهار إذا جلَّى الظلمة وكشفها، وبالليل عندما يغطي الأرض فيكون ما عليها مظلمًا، وبالسماء وبنائها المحكم، وبالأرض وبَسْطها، وبكل نفس وإكمال الله خلقها لأداء مهمتها، فبيَّن لها طريق الشر وطريق الخير، قد فاز مَن طهَّرها ونمَّاها بالخير، وقد خسر مَن أخفى نفسه في المعاصي.

"والقمر إذا تلاها" قال مجاهد تبعها. وقال العوفي عن ابن عباس "والقمر إذا تلاها" قال يتلو النهار وقال قتادة إذا تلاها ليلة الهلال إذا سقطت الشمس رئي الهلال وقال ابن زيد هو يتلوها في النصف الأول من الشهر ثم هي تتلوه وهو يتقدمها في النصف الأخير من الشهر. وقال مالك عن زيد بن أسلم إذا تلاها ليلة القدر.

وقوله - تعالى - : ( والقمر إِذَا تَلاَهَا ) أى : تبعها ، تقول : فلان تلا فلانا يتلوه ، إذا تبعه ، قال بعض العلماء : فأما أن القمر تابع للشمس فيحتمل معنيين : أحدهما : أنه تال لها فى ارتباط مصالح الناس ، وتعلق منافع هذا العالم بحركته ، وقد دل علم الهيئة على أن بين الشمس والقمر من المناسبة ما ليس بين غيرهما من الكواكب . وثانيهما : أن القمر يأخذ نوره ويستمده من نور الشمس . وهذا قول الفراء قديما ، وقد قامت الأدلة عند علماء الهيئة والنجوم ، على أن القمر يستمد ضوءه من الشمس . .وقال الشيخ ابن عاشور : وفى الآية إشارة إلى أن نور القمر ، مستفاد من نور الشمس ، أى : من توجه أشعة الشمس إلى ما يقابل الأرض من القمر ، وليس نيرا بذاته ، وهذا إعجاز علمى من إعجاز القرآن . .

وقوله: ( وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلاهَا ) يقول تعالى ذكره: والقمر إذا تبع الشمس، وذلك في النصف الأوّل من الشهر، إذا غُربت الشمس، تلاها القمر طالعا.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثني محمد بن سعد، قال: ثني أبي، قال: ثني عمي، قال: ثني أبي، عن أبيه، عن ابن عباس ( وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلاهَا ) قال: يتلو النهار.حدثني يعقوب، قال: ثنا هشيم، قال: أخبرنا عبد الملك، عن قيس بن سعد، عن مجاهد، قوله: ( وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلاهَا ) يعني: الشمس إذا تبعها القمر.حدثني محمد بن عمرو، قال: ثنا أبو عاصم، قال: ثنا عيسى؛ وحدثني الحارث، قال: ثنا الحسن، قال: ثنا ورقاء، جميعا عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد ( وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلاهَا ) قال: تبعها.حدثنا بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة ( وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلاهَا ) يتلوها صبيحة الهلال فإذا سقطت الشمس رُؤي الهلال.حدثنا ابن عبد الأعلى، قال: ثنا ابن ثور، عن معمر، عن قتادة، في قوله: ( وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلاهَا ) قال: إذا تلاها ليلة الهلال.حدثني يونس، قال: أخبرنا ابن وهب، قال: قال ابن زيد، في قول الله: (وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا * وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلاهَا) قال: هذا قسم، والقمر يتلو الشمس نصف الشهر الأوّل، و تتلوه النصف الآخر، فأما النصف الأوّل فهو يتلوها، وتكون أمامه وهو وراءها، فإذا كان النصف الآخر كان هو أمامها يقدمها، وتليه هي.

( والقمر إذا تلاها ) تبعها ، وذلك في النصف الأول من الشهر ، إذا غربت الشمس تلاها القمر في الإضاءة وخلفها في النور . وقال الزجاج : وذلك حين استدار ، يعني كمل ضوءه تابعا للشمس في الإنارة وذلك في الليالي البيض .

وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلَاهَا (2) ، فحصل القسم بذات القمر وبتلوه الشمس .وفي الآية إشارة إلى أن نور القمر مستفاد من نور الشمس ، أي من توجه أشعة الشمس إلى ما يقابل الأرض من القمر ، وليس نيّراً بذاته ، وهذا إعجاز علمي من إعجاز القرآن وهو مما أشرت إليه في المقدمة العاشرة .وابتدىء بالشمس لمناسبة المقام إيماء للتنويه بالإِسلام لأن هديه كنور الشمس لا يترك للضلال مسلكاً ، وفيه إشارة إلى الوعد بانتشاره في العالم كانتشار نور الشمس في الأفق ، واتبع بالقمر لأنه ينير في الظلام كما أنار الإِسلام في ابتداء ظهوره في ظلمة الشرك ، ثم ذكر النهار والليل معه لأنهما مثل لوضوح الإسلام بعد ضلالة الشرك وذلك عكس ما في سورة الليل لما يأتي .ومناسبة استحضار السماء عقب ذكر الشمس والقمر ، واستحضار الأرض عقب ذكر النهار والليل ، واضحة ، ثم ذكرت النفس الإنسانية لأنها مظهر الهدى والضلال وهو المقصود .

{ وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلَاهَا } أي: تبعها في المنازل والنور.

قوله تعالى : والقمر إذا تلاهاأي تبعها : وذلك إذا سقطت ريء الهلال . يقال : تلوت فلانا : إذا تبعته . قال قتادة : إنما ذلك ليلة الهلال ، إذا سقطت الشمس رئي الهلال . وقال ابن زيد : إذا غربت الشمس في النصف الأول من الشهر ، تلاها القمر بالطلوع ، وفي آخر الشهر يتلوها بالغروب . الفراء : تلاها : أخذ منها ، يذهب إلى أن القمر يأخذ من ضوء الشمس . وقال قوم : والقمر إذا تلاها حين استوى واستدار ، فكان مثلها في الضياء والنور وقاله الزجاج .

Almighty God has made threefold arrangements for the guidance of man. On the one hand, the universe has been so constructed that it has become the practical manifestation of God’s will. On the other hand, the human psyche has been infused with an intuitive consciousness of good and bad. Thereafter, it was arranged that Truth and falsehood, justice and injustice be revealed clearly through the prophets in a language understandable to the people. Even after this, if people do not adopt the right path, they are undoubtedly transgressors.

The second oath is taken by: وَالْقَمَرِ‌ إِذَا تَلَاهَا (and by the moon when she follows him,...91:2). This signifies one of two things: [ 1] The moon following the sun is seen clearly during the middle of the lunar months when the full moon rises to dominate the sky with its radiance after sunset. [ 2] The phrase 'when she follows him' could signify just as the sun is seen in full in broad light, so does the moon, following the sun, becomes full. The third oath is taken by:

(And the moon when she followeth him) when it follows the sun, on the first night when the new moon is seen,

Which was revealed in Makkah Recitation of Surah Ash-Shams wa Duhaha in the `Isha' Prayer The Hadith of Jabir which was recorded in the Two Sahihs has already been mentioned. In it the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Mu`adh, «هَلَّا صَلَّيْتَ بِــ سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الاّعْلَى وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَـهَا وَالَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى » (Why didn't you pray with (the recitation of) (Glorify the Name of your Lord the Most High) (87), (By the sun and Duhaha) (91), and (By the night as it envelops) (92)) بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Allah swears by His Creation that the Person Who purifies Himself will be Successful and the Person Who corrupts Himself will fail Mujahid said, وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَـهَا (By the sun and Duhaha.) "This means, by its light." Qatadah said, وَضُحَـهَا (wa Duhaha.) "The whole day." Ibn Jarir said, "The correct view is what has been said, `Allah swears by the sun and its daytime, because the clear light of the sun is daytime."' وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلـهَا (By the moon as it Talaha.) Mujahid said, "It follows it (the sun)." Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلـهَا (By the moon as it Talaha.) "It follows the day." Qatadah said, "`as it Talaha (follows it)' is referring to the night of the Hilal (the new crescent moon). When the sun goes down, the Hilal is visible." Concerning Allah's statement, وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا جَلَّـهَا (By the day as it Jallaha.) Mujahid said, "When it illuminates." Thus, Mujahid said, وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا جَلَّـهَا (By the day as it Jallaha.) "This is similar to Allah's statement, وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّى (By the day as it Tajalla.) (92:2)" And they have said concerning Allah's statement, وَالَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَـهَا (By the night as it Yaghshaha.) meaning, when it covers the sun, which takes place when sun disappears and the horizons become dark. Concerning Allah's statement, وَالسَّمَآءِ وَمَا بَنَـهَا (By the heaven and Ma Banaha.) The meaning here could be for descriptive purposes, meaning "By the heaven and its construction." This was said by Qatadah. It could also mean "By the heaven and its Constructor." This was stated by Mujahid. Both views are interrelated, and construction means raising. This is as Allah says, وَالسَّمَآءَ بَنَيْنَـهَا بِأَيْدٍ (With Hands did We construct the heaven.) (51:47) meaning, with strength. وَالسَّمَآءَ بَنَيْنَـهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ - وَالاٌّرْضَ فَرَشْنَـهَا فَنِعْمَ الْمَـهِدُونَ (Verily, We are able to extend the vastness of space thereof. And We have spread out the earth: how excellent a spreader are We!) (51:47-48) This is also similar to Allah's statement, وَالاٌّرْضِ وَمَا طَحَـهَا (By the earth and Ma Tahaha.) Mujahid said, "Tahaha means He spread it out." Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, وَمَا طَحَـهَا (and Ma Tahaha.) "This means what He created in it." `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, "Tahaha means that He proportioned it." Mujahid, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi, Ath-Thawri, Abu Salih and Ibn Zayd all said that طَحَـهَا (Tahaha) means, He spread it out. Allah then says, وَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّاهَا (By Nafs, and Ma Sawwaha (Who apportioned it).) meaning, He created it sound and well-proportioned upon the correct nature (Al-Fitrah). This is as Allah says, فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفاً فِطْرَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِى فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لاَ تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ (So set you your face towards the religion, Hanif. Allah's Fitrah with which He has created mankind. No change let there be in the Khalqillah.) (30:30) The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «كُلُّ مَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ عَلى الْفِطْرَةِ فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ أَوْ يُنَصِّرَانِهِ أَوْ يُمَجِّسَانِهِ، كَمَا تُولَدُ الْبَهِيمَةُ بَهِيمَةً جَمْعَاءَ، هَلْ تُحِسُّونَ فِيهَا مِنْ جَدْعَاءَ؟» (Every child that is born, is born upon the Fitrah, but his parents make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Zoroastrian. This is just as the animal is born, complete with all of its parts. Do you notice any mutilation in it) Both Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded this Hadith from Abu Hurayrah. In Sahih Muslim, it has been narrated from `Iyad bin Himar Al-Mujashi`i that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «يَقُولُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: إِنِّي خَلَقْتُ عِبَادِي حُنَفَاءَ فَجَاءَتْهُمُ الشَّيَاطِينُ فَاجْتَالَتْهُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِم» (Allah the Mighty and Majestic says, "Verily I created My servants Hunafa' (as monotheists), but then the devils came to them and distracted them from their religion.)" Then Allah says, فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَاهَا (Then He showed it its Fujur and its Taqwa.) meaning, He showed him to his transgression and his Taqwa. This means that He clarified that for it and He guided it to what has been ordained for him. Ibn `Abbas said, فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَاهَا (Then He showed it its Fujur and its Taqwa.) "He explained the good and the evil to it (the soul)." Mujahid, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and Ath-Thawri all said the same. Sa`id bin Jubayr said, "He gave him inspiration (to see what was) good and evil." Ibn Zayd said, "He made its Fujur and its Taqwa inside of it." Ibn Jarir recorded from Abul-Aswad Ad-Dili that he said, "`Imran bin Husayn said to me, `Do you think that what the people do, and what they strive for is a thing that is pre-ordained and predestined for them, or is it a thing which is only written after the Message comes to them from the Prophet , when there will be an evidence against them' I said, `Rather it is something preordained upon them.' Then he said, `Is that an injustice' Then I became extremely frightened of him (due to what he was saying), and I said to him, `There is nothing except that He (Allah) created it and possesses it in His Hand. He is not asked about what He does, while they (His creation) will be asked.' He (`Imran) then said, `May Allah guide you! I only asked you about that in order to inform you that a man from Muzaynah or Juhaynah tribe came to the Allah's Messenger ﷺ and asked him: "O Messenger of Allah! Do you consider the actions of mankind and their struggles to be preordained for them and written for them from Qadr, or something written for them only after the Message came to them from their Prophet, when there will be an evidence against them" He (the Prophet ) replied: «بَلْ شَيْءٌ قَدْ قُضِيَ عَلَيْهِم» (Rather it is something preordained for them.) So the man said, "Then what is the point of our actions" The Prophet replied, «مَنْ كَانَ اللهُ خَلَقَهُ لإِحْدَى الْمَنْزِلَتَيْنِ يُهَيِّئُهُ لَهَا، وَتَصْدِيقُ ذَلِكَ فِي كِتَابِ اللهِ تَعَالَى: وَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّاهَا - فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَاهَا » (Whoever Allah created for one of the two positions (Paradise or Hell), He makes it easy for him (to attain). The proof of that is in the Book of Allah (By Nafs, and Ma Sawwaha (Who apportioned it). Then He showed it its Fujur and its Taqwa).)" Ahmad and Muslim both recorded this Hadith. Allah then says, قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّـهَا - وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّـهَا (Indeed he succeeds who purifies it. And indeed he fails who Dassaha.) This could mean that whoever purifies himself by obedience to Allah, then he will be successful. This is as Qatadah said, "He cleanses it from the lowly and despicable characteristics." Similar to this has been reported from Mujahid, `Ikrimah and Sa`id bin Jubayr. وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّـهَا (And indeed he fails who Dassaha.) meaning, to conceal it. This means that he makes it dull, and he disregards it by neglecting to allow it to receive guidance. He treats it in this manner until he performs acts of disobedience and he abandons obedience of Allah. It also could mean that he is indeed successful whose soul Allah purifies, and he has failed whose soul Allah corrupts. This is like what was reported by Al-`Awfi and `Ali bin Abi Talhah from Ibn `Abbas. At-Tabarani recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to stop whenever he recited this Ayah, وَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّاهَا - فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَاهَا (By Nafs, and Ma Sawwaha (Who apportioned it). Then He showed it its Fujur and its Taqwa.) Then he would say, «اللْهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا، أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلَاهَا، وَخَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا» (O Allah! Give my soul its good. You are its Guardian and Master, and the best to purify it.)" Another Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded that Zayd bin Arqam said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «اللْهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْز وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْهَرَمِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ. اللْهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا، وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا، أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلَاهَا. اللْهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ قَلْبٍ لَا يَخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لَا تَشْبَعُ، وَعِلْمٍ لَا يَنْفَعُ، وَدَعْوَةٍ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا» (O Allah! Verily, I seek refuge with You from weakness, laziness, senility (of old age), cowardliness, stinginess and the torment of the grave. O Allah! Give my soul its good and purify it, for You are the best to purify it. You are its Guardian and Master. O Allah! Verily, I seek refuge with You from a heart that is not humble, a soul that is not satisfied, knowledge that does not benefit and a supplication that is not answered.) Zayd then said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach us these (words) and we now teach them to you." Muslim also recorded this Hadith.