The Creation of Night and Day
Selections from the Book The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (41)
Allah created the night and the day, and they are among His most astonishing signs and marvelous creations. This is why He frequently mentions them in the Holy Quran. Allah Almighty said: {And of His signs are the night and day} [Fussilat: 37]. He also said: {And it is He who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all [heavenly bodies] in an orbit are swimming.} [Al-Anbya: 33]. Additionally, He stated: {It is He who made for you the night to rest therein and the day, giving sight. Indeed in that are signs for a people who listen.} [Yunus: 67]. Such mentions are numerous throughout the Holy Quran.
Look at these two verses and what they contain of lessons and indications of Allah's Lordship and wisdom. He made the night a place of rest and a garment that covers the world, allowing movements to settle, with animals returning to their homes and birds to their nests. Souls find solace and rest from the toil and exhaustion of striving. Once the souls have taken their rest and slumber and yearn for their livelihoods and affairs, the Creator of the dawn, the Exalted, brings forth the day. The herald of dawn leads forth the army of daylight, defeating the darkness and tearing it apart, unveiling the world so that they can see. Animals roam and engage in their livelihoods, while birds emerge from their nests.
What a profound evidence it is of Allah's power over the greater resurrection! Its repetition and the constant witnessing of souls to it have made it a habit and a familiarity that prevents them from reflecting upon it and drawing conclusions about the second creation and the revival of beings after their death. There is no weakness in the ability of The All-Powerful, nor is there any deficiency in His wisdom or knowledge that would lead to the failure of this. Rather, Allah guides whom He wills and leads astray whom He wills. This is also one of His striking signs, that He blinds from these clear and evident signs whom He wills among His creation, so they do not find guidance through them nor perceive them; like someone who is standing in water up to his neck, yet cries out from thirst and denies the existence of water.
In the succession of night and day, there is a call for reflection and consideration of the passing of days and the changing of circumstances. How many have risen in the morning as the wealthy and gone to sleep as the poor? And how many have gone to bed in honor and awakened in humiliation? Allah has distinguished between some nights and some days, assigning the night for prayer and the day for fasting. He has made certain nights special with characteristics and significant matters that He did not designate for the day.
And the night is of great significance; Allah commanded His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to pray at night, saying: {And from [part of] the night, pray with it [i.e., recitation of the Qur’ān] as additional [worship] for you;} [Al-Isra: 79]. He also said: {Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little –} [Al-Muzzammil: 2]. He praised the believers for their night prayers, saying: {Their sides part [i.e., they arise] from [their] beds;} [As-Sajdah: 16]. Allah Almighty also said: {Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words. (6) Indeed, for you by day is prolonged occupation. (7)} [Al-Muzzammil: 6-7]. The purpose is that the night prayer is the most effective means of alignment between the heart and the tongue, and it is the most concentrated for recitation. Therefore, Allah Almighty said: {Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words.} meaning it gathers the thoughts in performing the recitation and understanding it better than during the day, as daytime is a time for people to disperse, noise to prevail, and for daily affairs.
Allah has also honored the night by making it the Night of Decree, which is better than a thousand months. As He Almighty said: {Indeed, We sent it [i.e., the Qur’ān] down during the Night of Decree. (1) And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? (2) The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. (3) The angels and the Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. (4) Peace it is until the emergence of dawn. (5)} [Al-Qadr: 1-5]. It is the blessed night in which every wise matter is distinguished, as Allah Almighty said: {Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind]. (3) Therein [i.e., on that night] is made distinct every precise matter – (4)} [Ad-Dukhan: 3-4]; meaning, on the Night of Decree, from the Preserved Tablet to the writers, the decree of the year and what will occur in it of lifespans and provisions, and what will happen until its end, {precise matter} meaning: precise, unchangeable, and unalterable.
Just as the night is a time for believers to be alone with their Lord, laying themselves before Him and supplicating to Him, it was also a time for the believers to seek refuge from the punishment of Allah that He would send upon the disbelieving people, as seen in the story of Lot and the story of Moses, peace be upon them. Allah Almighty said about Lot: {So set out with your family during a portion of the night and follow behind them and let not anyone among you look back and continue on to where you are commanded."} [Al-Hijr: 65]. Likewise, He said about Moses, peace be upon him: {[Allah said], "Then set out with My servants by night. Indeed, you are to be pursued.} [Ad-Dukhan: 23].
It is also the time of the great meeting and the blessed journey of the Master of the first and the last, Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. This great journey in which the earth and the heavens were folded for him, where he witnessed some of his Lord's greatest signs; it is the journey of Isra and Mi'raj (The Night Journey). Allah Almighty said: {Exalted is He who took His Servant [i.e., Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)] by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.} [Al-Isra: 1]. Thus, there is a profound connection between this universe, with its earth and sky, night and day, and the believers among the servants of Allah. It is a relationship that binds them to The One Creator and The Great God, who created and shaped, perfecting His creation and innovating it. Exalted is He, the Great Creator and Generous Lord.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 283-284.
- The Key to the Abode of Happiness, Ibn al-Qayyim, 1/203-204.
- The Story of Creation, Al-Kharaan, p. 176.
- Interpretation of the Great Qur’an, Ibn Kathir, 4/435.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
