Tafsir of Ta-Ha 20:33-34

( So that we may glorify You much (33) and remember You much (34) ).

This is the ultimate purpose for the last three supplications. The act of performing each of them—glorification (tasbih) and remembrance (dhikr)—while being a factor that increases the other and doubles it due to their combination, also increases it in itself due to the strengthening and support [each provides the other]. This is because what is intended by "glorification" and "remembrance" is not that which occurs in the heart or in solitude—where the state would not differ between plurality and singularity—but rather that which occurs amidst the performance of the message and the calling of the rebellious tyrants to the Truth. There is no doubt that the state of these acts differs between the conditions of plurality and singularity; for from each of them, by the support of the other, there emanates an exposition of the Truth that could scarcely emanate in a similar way during singularity.

"Much" (kathiran) in both instances is an adjective for an omitted verbal noun or an omitted time. That is: "We declare You free from attributes and deeds that do not befit You—among which is what the tyrant Pharaoh claims and what his insolent faction accepts regarding partnership in divinity—and we describe You with the attributes of perfection and the descriptions of beauty and majesty that befit You, a frequent declaring of freedom and a frequent describing." Or, it implies "a frequent time," from which is the time of calling Pharaoh and the season of arguing with him. This is stated in Irshad al-'Aql al-Salim.

Abu Hayyan permitted it to be in the accusative case as a state (hal); that is, "We glorify You, performing glorification in a state of its abundance," and the same is said for the latter. Yet, this is not strong.

The precedence of glorification over remembrance is a case of prioritizing "emptying" (takhliya—clearing away of faults) before "adorning" (tahliya—embellishing with attributes). It is also said that glorification is declaring freedom from what does not befit [the Divine], and its locus is the heart, whereas remembrance is praise of what befits [the Divine], and its locus is the tongue; and the heart precedes the tongue. It is also said that the meaning is "so that we may pray to You much, and praise You, and laud You much for the favor You have bestowed upon us and the grace You have conferred upon us by entrusting us with Your message." It is not hidden that the context does not support this.