Al-Furqaan (The Criterion)

47. “And He it is Who appointed the night for you to be a covering, and sleep as a rest, and He appointed the day a rising.”

Alternation of day and night, calmness in the night and working in the day are the signs of Allah’s lordship. Therefore, after mentioning the blessing of shades, the holy Qur’an brings up two other blessings that are very appropriate with it. In this way, a little of the secrets of the universe, which indicates the existence of the Essence of Allah, is mentioned.

It says:

“And He it is Who appointed the night for you to be a covering...”

What a beautiful and interesting sentence ‘appointed the night for you to be a covering’! This dark curtain covers not only men but also all creatures of the earth. Like garment it protects them. It wraps man like a cover that he uses at the time of sleep for creating darkness and rest.

Then, it refers to the blessing of sleep when it continues saying:

“...and sleep as a rest...”

The Arabic word /subat/ is derived from the word /sabt/ that means ‘to terminate’. Then it was used to mean to stop working for taking rest. That Saturday is called in Arabic language /yaum-us-sabt/ is because its appellation is taken from schedule of the Jews who set Saturday their holiday.

In fact, this word refers to the termination of all physical activities at the time of sleep, for we know that at the time of sleep most of the activities of body are terminated, and some other parts, such as heart and lung, lessen their usual work and continue more slowly so that tiredness will be removed and power will be back.

Well-timed and measured sleep revives all powers of body and it brings happiness and might. It is the best means for calming the nerves. On the contrary, termination of sleep for a long time is very harmful and even fatal. Therefore, one of the main tortures that torturers use is to terminate the sleep program and so to break man’s resistance very soon.

In the end of the verse, the blessing of day is mentioned.

It says:

“...and He appointed the day a rising.”

The Qur’anic word /nušūr/ is derived from the word /našr/ that means: ‘to spread’, which is the opposite of folding. This may refer to spreading of soul throughout the body when man awakes. It is like reviving after death. It may refer to men’s participation in social activities and movement for various works of life on the earth.

It is narrated that the Prophet (S) used to state this sentence every morning:

“Praise belongs to Allah Who brings us to life after death and (finally) we will return to Him.”1

Verily, the brightness of day causes movement in man bodily and spiritually, as darkness brings sleep and calmness.

In nature, the first ray of the sun brings great movement and ferment in all creatures. A resurrection happens among them and each of them follows its own program. Even plants grow when light is cast on them. When the sun sets and night comes, reveille is warbled throughout the entire universe: birds return to their nests and living creatures sleep and take rest.

Even plants go to some kind of sleep.

In the end, in the holy Qur’an, there are several things that are mentioned as garment:

Night:

“...appointed the night for you to be a covering... ”2

Spouse:

“...They are a garment for you and you are a garment for them... ”3

Piety:

“...and the raiment of piety, that is the best... ”4