Tafsir of Ta-Ha 20:130

{بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ} It is in the position of a circumstantial qualifier (ḥāl), meaning: "while you are praising your Lord for granting you the success to perform tasbīḥ (glorification) and assisting you in it." The intended meaning of tasbīḥ here is prayer (ṣalāh).

The Timing The verb is placed before the times at the beginning, and the times are placed before the verb at the end. It is as if He said: "Pray to God before the rising of the sun," meaning the Dawn (Fajr) prayer, "and before its setting," meaning the Noon (Ẓuhr) and Afternoon (ʿAṣr) prayers, because they occur in the latter half of the day, between the sun’s meridian passage and its setting.

{وَآناءَ اللَّيْلِ وَأَطْرَافَ النَّهَارِ} Dedicate the hours of the night and the extremities of the day specifically to your prayer. The best form of remembrance is that which occurs at night, due to the gathering of the heart, the stillness of the body, and seclusion with the Lord. God Almighty said: “Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence and more suitable for words” (Al-Muzzammil: 6), and: “Is he who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing...” (Az-Zumar: 9). Because the night is a time of rest and tranquility, dedicating it to worship is more difficult and strenuous for the soul, and more tiring for the body; thus, it is more profound in the sense of obligation and more virtuous in the sight of God.

Tasbīḥ in the "hours of the night" encompasses the Night (ʿAtamah) prayer, and in the "extremities of the day" it encompasses the Sunset (Maghrib) and Dawn (Fajr) prayers, repeated to emphasize their exclusivity—just as they were singled out in His saying: “Maintain the prayers and the middle prayer” (Al-Baqarah: 238), according to some exegetes.

A Question and Answer Question: What is the reasoning behind using the plural {أَطْرَافَ النَّهَارِ} (extremities of the day) when there are only two extremities, as in His saying: “Establish prayer at the two ends of the day” (Hūd: 114)? Answer: The plural is used to avoid ambiguity, though the dual form provides greater clarity. The occurrence of both forms in the two verses is analogous to their occurrence in the poetic line: "Their backs are like the backs of two shields."

{لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضَىٰ} It is read as li-tardā (for you to be pleased), meaning: "Remember God at these times, hoping and anticipating that you will attain from God that which will satisfy your soul and gladden your heart." It is also read as turḍā (that you may be pleased), meaning: "that your Lord may please you."

{وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ ۚ وَرِزْقُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ}