Surah Al-Insan — Verse 26

Key Words and Phrases:

• "Wa minal-layli" — "And during the night" or "And part of the night."
• "Fasjud lahu" — "So prostrate to Him" — meaning to perform acts of worship, especially prayer, in humility and submission.
• "Wa sabbihhu" — "And glorify Him" — meaning to declare His perfection, praise Him, and engage in remembrance (dhikr) and prayer.
• "Laylan tawilan" — "A long portion of the night" — referring to extended worship during the night hours.

Explanation of the Verse:

This noble verse calls upon the believer to dedicate a significant portion of the night to the worship of Allah alone. After mentioning the remembrance of Allah’s name in the morning and evening, Allah now directs His servant to turn to Him during the night as well. The command to "prostrate" here signifies the performance of prayer — particularly the obligatory prayers of Maghrib (sunset) and Isha (night), and beyond that, the voluntary night prayer (Tahajjud). The phrase "glorify Him" encompasses both the verbal praise of Allah — saying SubhanAllah (Glory be to Allah) — and the deeper act of standing in prayer, bowing, and prostrating, all of which are forms of glorification.

The instruction to do so for "a long portion of the night" emphasizes the virtue of extended worship in the stillness of the night, when the heart is most focused and the distractions of the world are at their minimum. This is a time when the believer draws closer to Allah, seeking His forgiveness, mercy, and guidance. The night prayer is a means of purifying the soul, strengthening one’s faith, and attaining a profound sense of peace and connection with the Creator.

A Call to the Believer:

Dear Muslim, this verse is a beautiful invitation from your Lord to spend time with Him in the quiet hours of the night. Imagine the serenity of the night, when the world sleeps, and you stand before Allah — the Most Merciful — pouring out your heart to Him. This is not a burden; it is a gift. It is an opportunity to leave behind the worries of the day and find true rest in His remembrance. Even if you cannot pray for a long time, begin with a few rak’ahs, or simply make dhikr and supplication. Allah loves the consistent deed, even if it is small. The night prayer is a source of light for your heart, a means of elevating your rank, and a shield against sin. Let this verse inspire you to carve out a special time each night to connect with your Creator — for in that connection lies true success, both in this life and the Hereafter.