Surah At-Tur (The Mount): Verse 48

We have previously mentioned this in the exegesis of the Almighty’s saying: {So be patient with what they say, and glorify [Allah] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun} (Taha: 130). We will briefly touch upon some of it here, as a long interval causes forgetfulness.

When Allah Almighty said: {So leave them} (At-Tur: 45), it indicated that there was no longer any benefit in advising them, especially since it was preceded by His saying: {And if they see a piece of the heaven falling down} (At-Tur: 44). This situation might have prompted the Prophet (peace be upon him) to supplicate for their destruction, just as Noah (peace be upon him) said: {My Lord, leave not upon the earth from among the disbelievers a single inhabitant} (Nuh: 26), and just as Jonah (peace be upon him) supplicated.

Therefore, Allah commanded: {And be patient} and substituted cursing with glorification: {and glorify [Allah] with praise of your Lord} instead of saying, "O Allah, destroy them." Do you not see His saying: {So be patient for the judgment of your Lord and do not be like the companion of the fish [Jonah]} (Al-Qalam: 48)?

And His saying, {for indeed, you are under Our eyes}:

1. First meaning: Since Allah mentioned that they were plotting against him, this situation customarily demands the immediate destruction of the plotters so that their scheme does not succeed. Thus, He said: "Be patient and do not fear, for you are guarded under Our eyes."
2. Second meaning: Allah said, "Be patient and do not curse them, for you are in Our sight." This state requires you to be in the best possible condition, and being one who glorifies Us is better than being one who curses Our created servants. So, choose the best, for you are in Our sight.
3. Third meaning: When one complains about their situation to another, it implies that the one being complained to is unaware of the complainer's state. Thus, Allah said: "Be patient and do not complain about your state, for you are under Our eyes; We see you. So, your complaint is needless."

There are matters specific to this verse that are not present in the verse {So be patient with what they say} (Taha: 130).

The Lām in {لِحُكْمِ} (for the judgment) admits several interpretations:

1. It means "until" (ilā), i.e., be patient until Allah passes judgment.
2. Patience implies steadfastness. It is as if He is saying: "Be steadfast concerning the judgment of your Lord." It is said, "So-and-so stood firm (thabata) for the challenge of his opponent."
3. It is the Lām used to indicate cause. If someone asks, "Why did you go out?" the answer might be, "Because of So-and-so's judgment against me to go out." Thus, He said: {And be patient}, making the reason for patience the fulfillment of the command—that you are patient for this judgment upon you, and not for anything else.

Here, He said {بِأَعْيُنِنَا} (with/under Our eyes—plural), whereas in other places He said: {وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَى عَيْنِي} (and that you may be brought up under My eye) (Taha: 39).

We say: When the singular pronoun (the Yā’ of the first person) was used there, the noun ‘ayn (eye) was singular. When the plural pronoun (the Nūn of the first person plural) is used here, the noun ‘ayn is pluralized as {بِأَعْيُنِنَا}.

From a linguistic perspective, this is the difference. However, from a semantic perspective, the protection here is more complete (atamm). This is because patience is the vehicle for mercy towards the Prophet (peace be upon him), especially when the people gathered against him, conspired in their plots, and consulted about his affair. Similarly, when he was commanded regarding the Ark, and when commanded to build it when water was scarce, and when he was saved from drowning while all lands were submerged—all these required immense protection in the eyes of creation. Therefore, He said {بِأَعْيُنِنَا}.

We have clarified the meaning through all interpretations.

If we say it means protection, the meaning is: "Protected under Our eyes." If we say it means knowledge, the meaning is: "In Our sight" (bi-mar’an minnā), meaning in a place where We see you. The structure then becomes: "Indeed, you are seen under Our eyes." This is like the saying, "I saw him with my eye," just as one says, "It was written with a pen" (where the pen is the instrument), even though Allah’s sight is not an instrument.

If one asks: What is the difference between the two places? Why did He say in Taha {عَلَى عَيْنِي} (upon My eye) and here {بِأَعْيُنِنَا} (under/with Our eyes)? And what is the difference between ‘alā (upon) and bā’ (with/under)?

We reply: The meaning of ‘alā there is that he is being nurtured in a way that pleases Allah Almighty, as one says, "I do it ‘alā ‘aynī" (upon my eye), meaning according to my satisfaction. It implies: "In a manner that enters my eye and that I pay attention to." For whoever does something for another without approving of it, he does not look at it or turn his eye toward it.

As for the Bā’ in {وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ} (and glorify [Allah] with praise of your Lord), we have already mentioned it.

This phrase admits several interpretations:

1. When you rise from your sitting place. This implies the time just before rising, when you resolve to stand, and at the moment of rising. It is narrated in a tradition that whoever says, "(Glory be to Allah) before rising from his sitting place, it is recorded as expiation for any idle talk or vain speech uttered in that gathering."
2. When you wake up from sleep. A tradition is also narrated indicating that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to glorify Allah after waking up.
3. When you stand up for prayer. A tradition is narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to say at the opening of the prayer: "(Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You, blessed is Your Name, exalted is Your Majesty, and there is no god but You)."
4. When you stand up for any matter, especially when you stand upright to strive against your people, oppose them, and supplicate against them. {فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ}—Instead of your standing up for hostility and rising for vengeance, let your standing be for the remembrance of Allah and His glorification.
5. {حِينَ تَقُومُ} means during the day, as the night is the time of stillness, and the day is the time of seeking provision, which is more fitting for standing up. This is similar to His saying: {And during the night, glorify Him}, indicating the remaining time, as well as {and at the setting of the stars} (At-Tur: 49), which is the early morning.

| الطور : ( 49 ) ومن الليل فسبحه وإدبار النجوم . . . . .

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وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَإِدْبَارَ النُّجُومِ

And [glorify Him] during a part of the night and at the retreat of the stars.