Surah Sad — Verse 18

Word Meanings:

• Sakhkharna (سَخَّرْنَا): We subjugated, subjected, or made subservient.
• Yusabbihna (يُسَبِّحْنَ): They glorify, declare the perfection of Allah, and exalt Him above any imperfection.
• Al-‘Ashiyy (الْعَشِيّ): The late afternoon and evening time, extending until nightfall.
• Al-Ishraq (الْإِشْرَاق): The time when the sun rises and its light spreads fully, i.e., the early morning.

Explanation of the Verse:

In this noble verse, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) reminds us of a magnificent favor He bestowed upon His Prophet and Messenger, Dawud (David, peace be upon him). Allah says: "Indeed, We subjected the mountains to glorify [Allah] with him at evening and at sunrise."

This means that Allah, by His infinite power and wisdom, made the mighty, solid mountains—despite their immense size and stillness—join Prophet Dawud in glorifying and praising Allah. When Dawud (peace be upon him) would recite the praises of his Lord, the mountains would echo his glorification, as if they were speaking and chanting with him. This occurred at two specific times: al-‘ashiyy (the evening, when the day comes to an end) and al-ishraq (the morning, when the sun rises and its light spreads over the horizon).

This was not a mere metaphor or poetic imagery; it was a real, tangible miracle granted to Dawud (peace be upon him). The mountains were created by Allah, and they are not lifeless in the absolute sense—they possess a form of consciousness and obedience that Allah alone knows. They glorify Allah constantly, as mentioned in other verses, but in this case, they were specially commanded to synchronize their glorification with Dawud’s, making his devotion even more awe-inspiring.

A Call to Reflection and Action:

Dear believer, ponder this scene: the towering mountains, with their silent majesty, are moved by the remembrance of Allah. They join a human prophet in declaring the perfection of the Creator. If mountains—these massive, unyielding creations—humble themselves in glorification, how much more should we, as human beings endowed with intellect and free will, hasten to remember Allah and praise Him?

This verse teaches us several profound lessons:

1. The Power of Allah: Nothing is beyond His command. Mountains, which seem eternal and immovable, are utterly submissive to His will. He can make them speak, sing, or move as He pleases. This should strengthen our faith and trust in Allah’s absolute authority.
2. The Honor of Remembrance: Allah chose to honor Dawud (peace be upon him) by making all of creation accompany him in worship. This shows the immense value of remembering Allah, especially at the beginning and end of the day. When you wake up and when you sleep, let your tongue be moist with the remembrance of Allah, and let your heart be connected to Him.
3. The Universality of Worship: All creation—mountains, trees, birds, and animals—glorifies Allah in its own way. When you see a mountain or a sunrise, let it remind you of your Lord. Let nature be a book that leads you to the Creator, not a distraction from Him.
4. Consistency in Worship: The verse mentions two specific times—morning and evening. This encourages us to establish regular, consistent acts of worship at these times, such as the Fajr and Asr prayers, morning and evening adhkar (remembrances), and recitation of the Qur’an. Consistency, even if small, is beloved to Allah.

Finally, let this verse inspire you to be like the mountains: firm in your faith, unshaken by trials, yet soft and humble in your glorification of Allah. When you praise your Lord, let it come from the depths of your heart, and know that the entire universe is your companion in this sacred act. May Allah make us among those who remember Him much, at all times, and may He grant us the company of the righteous in the highest gardens. Ameen.