Tafseer of The Morning Hours · Ad-Dhuhaa · 93:1
By the morning 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 interpretation of His word, mighty is His majesty and holy are His names: وَالضُّحَى (1) ("By the morning brightness").
Our Lord, whose praise is exalted, swore by the morning brightness (al-ḍuḥā), and that is the entire day. And I hold that it is derived from their expression: ḍaḥiya fulān li-l-shams ("so-and-so exposed himself to the sun") — when he is exposed to it. To this also belongs His word: وَأَنَّكَ لا تَظْمَأُ فِيهَا وَلا تَضْحَى ("and that therein you shall neither suffer thirst nor be exposed to the sun"), that is to say: the sun does not strike you therein.
And I have already mentioned the disagreement of the scholars concerning its meaning in connection with His word: وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا ("By the sun and its morning brightness"), together with the mention of our preference therein. And it was said: by it is meant the time of the forenoon.
* Mention of who said that:
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: وَالضُّحَى — an hour of the hours of the day.
