And glorify Him morning and evening

"And glorify Him" (Wa sabbihu-hu): meaning, declare Him free, glorified be He, of that which does not befit Him.

"Morning and evening" (Bukratan wa asila): that is, at the beginning of the day and at its end. Specifying these two times is not because glorification is restricted to them to the exclusion of other times, but rather because of the superiority of their virtue over other times, as the angels of the night and the day are present during them and meet therein. This is like the specifying of glorification (Tasbih) among the various forms of remembrance (Adhkar), while it is included among them, because it is the primary pillar among them.

It is said: both matters are directed toward them, similar to your saying, "Fast and pray on Friday." By interpreting "abundant remembrance" as encompassing most times, there remains no need for these two to be dependent upon the former.

It is reported from Ibn Abbas that what is meant by glorification is prayer, applying the part to signify the whole; thus, "glorifying in the morning" is the dawn prayer (Fajr), and "glorifying in the evening" is the night prayer (Isha). Qatadah reported something similar to what was narrated from Ibn Abbas, except he said: "He indicated by these two times the morning prayer and the afternoon prayer (Asr)," which is more apparent than what was narrated from the master (Ibn Abbas). This narration from them has been criticized on the basis that it involves figurative speech (Majaz) without necessity. It may be said, however, that glorification is kept to its literal meaning, but that glorification in the morning is performed through prayer at that time, and glorification in the evening is performed through prayer at that time. So contemplate this.

It is permitted that the "remembrance" commanded refers to increasing acts of obedience and devoting oneself to them, for every act of obedience is part of remembrance. Then, glorification in the morning and evening was specified from that—meaning prayer at all its times, or the dawn and afternoon prayers, or the dawn and night prayers—due to the superiority of prayer over other bodily acts of worship. Its distance from the literal meaning is not hidden.