Surah Al Isra ayat 110 Tafsir Quran 17:110

﴿قُلِ ادْعُوا اللَّهَ أَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمَٰنَ ۖ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُوا فَلَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَلَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا﴾
[ الإسراء: 110]

17:110 Say, "Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful. Whichever [name] you call - to Him belong the best names." And do not recite [too] loudly in your prayer or [too] quietly but seek between that an [intermediate] way.

The Prophet s would often say ‘O God O Compassionate One’. So they said ‘He Muhammad (s) forbids us to worship more than one god and yet he calls upon another god together with Him God’. The following was then revealed Say to them ‘Invoke God or invoke the Compassionate One that is to say invoke Him by either of these Names or call upon Him by saying ‘O God! O Compassionate One!’ whichever ayyan is conditional; mā is extra in other words whichever of these two Names you invoke is beautiful — this predicate ‘beautiful’ is indicated by the following statement to Him to the One called by these two Names belong the Most Beautiful Names’ these two Names being from among them; and they the other Names are the following as mentioned in hadīth God there is no god except Him the Compassionate the Merciful the King the Holy the Peace the Securer the Controller the Mighty the Compeller the Sublime the Creator the Maker out of nothing the Fashioner the ever Forgiving the Almighty the Bestower the Provider the Deliverer the Knower the Seizer the Extender the Lowerer the Raiser the Glorifier the Abaser the Hearer the Seer the Arbiter the Just the Subtle the Aware the Forbearing the Tremendous the Forgiver the Thankful the High the Great the Preserver the Conserver the Reckoner the Majestic the Generous the Watcher the Responsive the Embracing the Wise the Loving the Glorious the Resurrector the Witnessing the Truth the Guardian the Strong the Firm the Patron the Praiseworthy the Numberer the Initiator the Restorer the Life-giver the Death-maker the Living the Eternal Sustainer the Originator the Magnificent the One the Single the Everlasting Refuge the Powerful the Omnipotent the Advancer the Deferrer the First the Last the Outward the Inward the Ruler Exalted the Benign the Relenting the Avenger the Pardoning the Gentle Master of the Kingdom One of Majesty and Munificence the Equitable the Gatherer the Independent the Availing the Restrainer the Harming the Benefactor the Light the Guiding the Innovator the Enduring the Inheritor the Reasonable the Patient as reported by al-Tirmidhī. God exalted be He says And do not be loud in your prayer when you recite the Qur’ān therein lest the idolaters hear you and curse you as well as the Qur’ān and the One Who has revealed it; nor be silent do not murmur therein so that your companions might be able to hear it and benefit therefrom; but seek between that loudness and silence a middle way.

Say to the Pagans who reject the attribute AL- Rahman and think it is another god: Invoke Allah or invoke AL-Rahman whichever you choose, for to Him belong all the graceful Names which are the supreme appellations in which His unique qualities are ascribed. And to avoid -O Muhammad- their mockery and derision when you engage in the act of worship, you just entertain the profound reverence dutiful to Allah. And do not voice your prayer loudly nor pronounce it inaudibly or below your breath but hold a middle degree between the two extremes

To Allah belong the Most Beautiful Names Allah says: قُلْ ( Say ) O Muhammad, to these idolators who deny that Allah possesses the attribute of mercy and refuse to call Him Ar-Rahman, ادْعُواْ اللَّهَ أَوِ ادْعُواْ الرَّحْمَـنَ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُواْ فَلَهُ الاٌّسْمَآءَ الْحُسْنَى ( "Invoke Allah or invoke Ar-Rahman (the Most Gracious ), by whatever name you invoke Him ( it is the same ), for to Him belong the Best Names.) meaning, there is no difference between calling on Him as Allah or calling on Him as Ar-Rahman, because He has the Most Beautiful Names, as He says: هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِى لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَـدَةِ هُوَ الرَّحْمَـنُ الرَّحِيمُ ( He is Allah, beside Whom none has the right to be worshipped but He the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen.
He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. ) ( 59:22 ) Until His saying; لَهُ الاٌّسْمَآءُ الْحُسْنَى يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَا فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ ( To Him belong the Best Names.
All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. ) 59:24 Makhul reported that one of the idolators heard the Prophet saying when he was prostrating: "O Most Gracious, O Most Merciful." The idolator said, he claims to pray to One, but he is praying to two! Then Allah revealed this Ayah.
This was also narrated from Ibn `Abbas, and by Ibn Jarir. The Command to recite neither loudly nor softly وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاتِكَ ( And offer your Salah neither aloud ) Imam Ahmad reported that Ibn `Abbas said: "This Ayah was revealed when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was preaching underground in Makkah." وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاتِكَ وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا ( And offer your Salah neither aloud nor in a low voice, ) Ibn `Abbas said: "When he prayed with his Companions, he would recite Qur'an loudly, and when the idolators heard that, they insulted the Qur'an, and the One Who had revealed it and the one who had brought it.
So Allah said to His Prophet : وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاتِكَ ( And offer your Salah (prayer ) neither aloud) means, do not recite it aloud, lest the idolators hear you and insult the Qur'an, وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا ( nor in a low voice, ) means, nor recite it so quietly that your companions cannot hear the Qur'an and learn it from you. وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلاً ( but follow a way between.
)" This was also reported in the Two Sahihs.
Ad-Dahhak also narrated something similar from Ibn `Abbas, and added: "When he migrated to Al-Madinah, this no longer applied, and he recited as he wished." Muhammad bin Ishaq said that Ibn `Abbas said, "When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited Qur'an quietly while he was praying, the ( idolators ) would disperse and refuse to listen to him; if one of them wanted to hear some of what he was reciting in his prayer, he would try to listen without anyone seeing him, because he was afraid of them.
If he realized that anybody knew he was listening, he would go away lest they harm him, so he would stop listening.
If the Prophet lowered his voice, those who wanted to listen to his recitation could not hear anything, so Allah revealed, وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاتِكَ ( And offer your Salah neither aloud ) meaning, do not recite aloud, lest those who want to listen disperse for fear of attracting unwelcome attention, وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا ( nor in a low voice, ) but do not make your voice so soft that the one who is trying to listen without being seen cannot hear anything at all.
Perhaps he will pay attention to some of what he hears and benefit from it. وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلاً ( but follow a way between.
)" This was the view of `Ikrimah, Al-Hasan Al-Basri and Qatadah that this Ayah was revealed concerning recitation in prayer.
It was narrated from Ibn Mas`ud: "Do not make it so soft that no one can hear it except yourself." Declaration of Tawhid وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا ( And say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has not begotten a son..." ) because Allah has stated that the Most Beautiful Names belong to Him, and has declared Himself to be above having any faults or defects. وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَم يَكُنْ لَّهُ شَرِيكٌ فِى الْمُلْكِ ( And say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has not begotten a son, and Who has no partner in (His ) dominion...") indeed, He is Allah, ( the ) One, the Self-Sufficient Master, Who begets not, nor was He begotten, and there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him. وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ وَلِىٌّ مَّنَ الذُّلِّ ( nor He is low to have a supporter. ) means, He is not so humble or weak that He needs to have a helper or supporter or adviser, rather He Alone, with no partner or associate, may He be exalted, is the Creator of all things and is the One Who is running and controlling them by His will, with no partner or associate. وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ وَلِىٌّ مَّنَ الذُّلِّ ( nor He is low to have a supporter ).) Mujahid said: He does not form an alliance with anyone, nor does He seek the support or help of anyone. وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا ( And magnify Him with all magnificence. ) means, glorify and extol Him far above whatever the transgressors and aggressors say.
Ibn Jarir recorded that Al-Qurazi used to say about this Ayah, وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا ( And say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has not begotten a son..." ) that the Jews and Christians said that Allah has taken a son; the Arabs said, "At Your service, You have no partner except the partner You have, and You possess him and whatever he owns;" and the Sabians and Magians said, "If it were not for the supporters of Allah, He would be weak." Then Allah revealed this Ayah : وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَم يَكُنْ لَّهُ شَرِيكٌ فِى الْمُلْكِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ وَلِىٌّ مَّنَ الذُّلِّ وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا ( And say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has not begotten a son, and Who has no partner in (His ) dominion, nor is He low to have a supporter.
And magnify Him with all magnificence.") End of Tafsir Surah Subhan Surat Al-Isra'.
And to Allah be the praise and blessings.

(17:110) (O Prophet), say to them, "You may call Him by any name, Allah or Rahman, for it is all the same by whichsoever name you call Him because all His names are most excellent. *123 And do not raise your voice high in your Prayer nor make it very low but adopt the middle way *124 between these two

Say, "Call upon Allah or call upon meaning

*123) This is the answer to another objection of the disbelievers.
They said, " We have heard the name Allah for the Creator but where from have you brought the name Rahman ? " This was because the name " Rehman " was not used for Allah and they did not like it.

*124) This instruction was given at Makkah.
Ibn 'Abbas relates that when the Holy Prophet or his Companions offered their Prayers, they recited the Qur'an jn a loud voice.
At this the disbelievers would raise a hue and cry and often called them names.
Therefore, they wen enjoined that they should neither say their Prayers in such a loud voice as might incite the disbelievers nor should they say it in such a low voice that their own Companions might not hear it.
This instruction was discontinued under the changed conditions at Al-Madinah.
However, if the Muslims thay have to face the same conditions, at any place or at any time, they should observe the same instruction.

 

To Allah belong the Most Beautiful Names Allah says: قُلْ ( Say ) O Muhammad, to these idolators who deny that Allah possesses the attribute of mercy and refuse to call Him Ar-Rahman, ادْعُواْ اللَّهَ أَوِ ادْعُواْ الرَّحْمَـنَ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُواْ فَلَهُ الاٌّسْمَآءَ الْحُسْنَى ( "Invoke Allah or invoke Ar-Rahman (the Most Gracious ), by whatever name you invoke Him ( it is the same ), for to Him belong the Best Names.) meaning, there is no difference between calling on Him as Allah or calling on Him as Ar-Rahman, because He has the Most Beautiful Names, as He says: هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِى لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَـدَةِ هُوَ الرَّحْمَـنُ الرَّحِيمُ ( He is Allah, beside Whom none has the right to be worshipped but He the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen.
He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. ) ( 59:22 ) Until His saying; لَهُ الاٌّسْمَآءُ الْحُسْنَى يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَا فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ ( To Him belong the Best Names.
All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. ) 59:24 Makhul reported that one of the idolators heard the Prophet saying when he was prostrating: "O Most Gracious, O Most Merciful." The idolator said, he claims to pray to One, but he is praying to two! Then Allah revealed this Ayah.
This was also narrated from Ibn `Abbas, and by Ibn Jarir. The Command to recite neither loudly nor softly وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاتِكَ ( And offer your Salah neither aloud ) Imam Ahmad reported that Ibn `Abbas said: "This Ayah was revealed when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was preaching underground in Makkah." وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاتِكَ وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا ( And offer your Salah neither aloud nor in a low voice, ) Ibn `Abbas said: "When he prayed with his Companions, he would recite Qur'an loudly, and when the idolators heard that, they insulted the Qur'an, and the One Who had revealed it and the one who had brought it.
So Allah said to His Prophet : وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاتِكَ ( And offer your Salah (prayer ) neither aloud) means, do not recite it aloud, lest the idolators hear you and insult the Qur'an, وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا ( nor in a low voice, ) means, nor recite it so quietly that your companions cannot hear the Qur'an and learn it from you. وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلاً ( but follow a way between.
)" This was also reported in the Two Sahihs.
Ad-Dahhak also narrated something similar from Ibn `Abbas, and added: "When he migrated to Al-Madinah, this no longer applied, and he recited as he wished." Muhammad bin Ishaq said that Ibn `Abbas said, "When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited Qur'an quietly while he was praying, the ( idolators ) would disperse and refuse to listen to him; if one of them wanted to hear some of what he was reciting in his prayer, he would try to listen without anyone seeing him, because he was afraid of them.
If he realized that anybody knew he was listening, he would go away lest they harm him, so he would stop listening.
If the Prophet lowered his voice, those who wanted to listen to his recitation could not hear anything, so Allah revealed, وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاتِكَ ( And offer your Salah neither aloud ) meaning, do not recite aloud, lest those who want to listen disperse for fear of attracting unwelcome attention, وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا ( nor in a low voice, ) but do not make your voice so soft that the one who is trying to listen without being seen cannot hear anything at all.
Perhaps he will pay attention to some of what he hears and benefit from it. وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلاً ( but follow a way between.
)" This was the view of `Ikrimah, Al-Hasan Al-Basri and Qatadah that this Ayah was revealed concerning recitation in prayer.
It was narrated from Ibn Mas`ud: "Do not make it so soft that no one can hear it except yourself." Declaration of Tawhid وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا ( And say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has not begotten a son..." ) because Allah has stated that the Most Beautiful Names belong to Him, and has declared Himself to be above having any faults or defects. وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَم يَكُنْ لَّهُ شَرِيكٌ فِى الْمُلْكِ ( And say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has not begotten a son, and Who has no partner in (His ) dominion...") indeed, He is Allah, ( the ) One, the Self-Sufficient Master, Who begets not, nor was He begotten, and there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him. وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ وَلِىٌّ مَّنَ الذُّلِّ ( nor He is low to have a supporter. ) means, He is not so humble or weak that He needs to have a helper or supporter or adviser, rather He Alone, with no partner or associate, may He be exalted, is the Creator of all things and is the One Who is running and controlling them by His will, with no partner or associate. وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ وَلِىٌّ مَّنَ الذُّلِّ ( nor He is low to have a supporter ).) Mujahid said: He does not form an alliance with anyone, nor does He seek the support or help of anyone. وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا ( And magnify Him with all magnificence. ) means, glorify and extol Him far above whatever the transgressors and aggressors say.
Ibn Jarir recorded that Al-Qurazi used to say about this Ayah, وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا ( And say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has not begotten a son..." ) that the Jews and Christians said that Allah has taken a son; the Arabs said, "At Your service, You have no partner except the partner You have, and You possess him and whatever he owns;" and the Sabians and Magians said, "If it were not for the supporters of Allah, He would be weak." Then Allah revealed this Ayah : وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَم يَكُنْ لَّهُ شَرِيكٌ فِى الْمُلْكِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُ وَلِىٌّ مَّنَ الذُّلِّ وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا ( And say: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has not begotten a son, and Who has no partner in (His ) dominion, nor is He low to have a supporter.
And magnify Him with all magnificence.") End of Tafsir Surah Subhan Surat Al-Isra'.
And to Allah be the praise and blessings.

( Say ) to them, O Muhammad: ( Cry unto Allah, or cry unto the Beneficent, unto whichsoever ye cry (it is the same ). His are the most beautiful names) the most sublime attributes such as knowledge, power, hearing, sight; so call Him by using them. ( And thou (Muhammad ), be not loud voiced in thy worship) do not be too loud in your recitation of the Qur’an during prayer so that the idolaters do not harm you ( nor yet silent therein ) such that your Companions cannot hear you, ( but follow a way between ) a middle ground between loud and silent recitation.

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Invoke Allah or invoke the Most Beneficent (Allah), by whatever name you invoke Him (it is the same), for to Him belong the Best Names. And offer your Salat (prayer) neither aloud nor in a low voice, but follow a way between.

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