Taha · Makki · ayah 130 of 135

Taha 20:130

فَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا ۖ وَمِنْ ءَانَآئِ ٱلَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْ وَأَطْرَافَ ٱلنَّهَارِ لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضَىٰ

“So be patient over what they say and exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and during periods of the night [exalt Him] and at the ends of the day, that you may be satisfied.”

Saheeh International

Essence

When their words wound, answer with prayer that frames the whole day, from before sunrise into the night, so you may be content.

A reflection

‘That you may be content’

A similar ayah appears in Surah Qaf. This one ends with words found only here: laʿallaka tarḍā, so that you may be content.

The commentaries explain: content with the reward you will be given. One links it to the promise in Surah al-Ḍuḥā: your Lord will give you, and you will be content (93:5). The lexicons describe riḍā as a face turning towards you, and yours turning back.

Notice who benefits. Allah does not say 'so that I may be pleased'. He needs none of these prayers. The contentment is for the one who prays.

Picture a woman who has made the five prayer times the only alarms on her phone. She expected them to interrupt her day. Instead, the day stopped feeling like one long rush. Five times it was cut into pieces she could breathe in.

A world that sells calm by subscription has missed this. The day was always meant to have windows.

The full entry has 2 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.