Tafseer of The Sun · Ash-Shams · 91:1
By the sun and its brightness
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 statement concerning the explanation of His word, exalted is His praise and hallowed are His names: وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا ("By the sun and its morning brightness") (91:1).
His word: وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا is an oath. Our Lord, exalted is His mention, swore by the sun and its morning brightness (ḍuḥā). The meaning of the statement is: I swear by the sun and by the morning brightness of the sun.
The exegetes differed concerning the meaning of His word: وَضُحَاهَا . Some of them say: its meaning is: by the sun and the day. And he used to say: the ḍuḥā is the entire day.
* Mention of who said that:
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا — he said: this is the day.
Others said: its meaning is: and its light.
* Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us; and al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us, both on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning the word of Allah: وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا — he said: its light.
The correct view concerning this is to say: He, exalted is His praise, swore by the sun and its day; for the light of the visible sun is the day.
