Tafseer of The Dawn · Al-Fajr · 89:1
By the dawn
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the saying of the Exalted: وَالْفَجْرِ ("By the dawn") (89:1)
This is an oath. Our Lord — exalted be His praise — swore by the dawn, and that is the morning dawn.
The exegetes of the text differed concerning what is intended by this. Some of them said: by this the day is intended.
* Mention of who said that:
Ibn Ḥumayd related to us, saying: Mihrān related to us, on the authority of Sufyān, on the authority of al-Agharr al-Minqarī, on the authority of Khalīfa ibn al-Ḥuṣayn, on the authority of Abū Naṣr, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His word: وَالْفَجْرِ ("By the dawn"), he said: the day.
Others said: by this the morning prayer is intended.
* Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me, saying: my father related to me, saying: my uncle related to me, saying: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His word: وَالْفَجْرِ ("By the dawn"), namely: the morning prayer (ṣalāt al-fajr).
Others said: it is the morning dawn.
* Mention of who said that:
Yaʿqūb related to me, saying: Ibn ʿUlayya related to us, saying: ʿĀṣim al-Aḥwal informed us, on the authority of ʿIkrima, concerning His word: وَالْفَجْرِ ("By the dawn"), he said: the dawn is the morning dawn.
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: ʿUmar ibn Qays informed me, on the authority of Muḥammad ibn al-Murtafiʿ, on the authority of ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Zubayr, that he said concerning وَالْفَجْرِ ("By the dawn"): the dawn is an oath by which Allah has sworn.
