SUNSET
Verily, We made the mountains to glorify Our Praises with him (Dawood) in the Ashi (i.e. after the mid-day till sunset) and Ishraq (i.e. after the sunrise till mid-day). (Sad 38:18)
And the lofty mountains would respond to Dawud alaihis Sallam and echo his glorification of Allah, along with the birds. SubhanAllah!
Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi in Ma’ariful Qur’an comments on this verse, posing the question: "how did this become a blessing for Sayyidna Dawud, alaihis Sallam, and what particular benefit accrued from the Tasbih of mountains and birds? One answer is that it unravels a miracle at the hands of Sayyidna Dawud aliahis Sallam, and it goes without saying that it is a great reward and blessing. In addition to that Maulana Thanawi has given a subtle explanation about it. (Masa’ilu-s-Suluk) He says that the Tasbih, performed by mountains and birds had created in him a special taste for the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala, something that generates initiative, courage and verve in acts of worship. Collective Dhikr has another benefit that the Barakah that issues forth from it reflects on each other from the participants. There is a particular method of Dhikr and spiritual engagement (shughl) recognized among noble Sufis in which the participant imagines the whole universe is making Dhikr. This method has an unusual efficacy of its own in correcting and purifying one’s inner state as well as in his enthusiasm for Ibadah. The basis of this method of Dhikr is also deduced from this verse."
How sublime….resonating with the mountains, and all that they contain, during this charismatic time of sunset! The rocks, minerals, dust, gems, elements, flora and fauna, all singing the praises of our Lord in unison! This intimacy with these lofty sentinels, the pegs of the earth, is felt deeply as one takes in the vista south of this Radiant City, the awe transferred from the eyes to the heart, filling it with the tranquility of His Words mirrowing back our humble words of Dhikr.
Sunset, a time when conditions visibly change, the beginning of night, and hence darkness. The harbinger of the constancy of change, in the natural world, and in the human condition. From lightness to darkness, and if it is the Will of Allah Ta’ala, then the darkness will be dispelled with the dawn. Symbolic of the waves and patterns of tests, conditions and situations we are all an integral part of. Darkness to light, light to darkness. Struggles and hurdles, ease and comfort, unexpected phases, dancing in a state of flux.
Allah Ta’ala swore by many phenomena in His Book, the sunset being one.
So I swear by the afterglow of sunset. (Al-Inshiqaq 84:16)
So I swear by the Lord of all (the three hundred and sixty points) of sunrise and sunset that surely We are Able. (Al-Maarij 70:40)
While other verses draw out attention to the importance placed at this time:
So be patient (O Muhammad). Verily, the Promise of Allah is true, and seek forgiveness for your sins, and glorify the praises of your Lord in the Ashi and in the Ibkar. (Ghafir 40:55)
(He is) the Lord of the two Easts (places of sunrise during early summer and early winter) and the Lord of the two Wests (places of sunset during early summer and early winter). (Al-Rahman 55:17)
Numerous Ahadith reveal various aspects related to sunset.
Narrated Abu Dharr RadhiAllahu anhu: The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wassalam asked me at sunset, "Do you know where the sun goes (at the time of sunset)?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He said, "It goes (i.e. travels) till it prostrates itself underneath the Throne and takes the permission to rise again, and it is permitted and then (a time will come when) it will be about to prostrate itself but its prostration will not be accepted, and it will ask permission to go on its course but it will not be permitted, but it will be ordered to return whence it has come and so it will rise in the west. And that is the interpretation of the Statement of Allah:
And the sun runs its fixed course for a term decreed. That is The Decree of (Allah) The Exalted in Might, The All-Knowing. (36.38)
Narrated Qais RadhiAllahu anhu: Jarir RadhiAllahu anhu said, "We were with the Prophet and he looked at the moon–full-moon–and said, ‘Certainly you will see your Lord as you see this moon and you will have no trouble in seeing Him. So if you can avoid missing a prayer before the sun-rise and a prayer before sunset, you must do so.’ He then recited Allah’s Statement:
And celebrate the praises of your Lord before The rising of the sun and before (its) setting. (50.39)
Narrated Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu’minin RadhiAllahu anha: The Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wassalam taught me to say when the adhan for the sunset prayer was called; "O Allah, this is the time when Thy night comes on, Thy day retires, and the voices of Thy summoners are heard, so forgive me."
Narrated Ibn Umar RadhiAllahu anhu: Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wassalam said, "When the upper edge of the sun appears in the morning, don’t perform a prayer till the sun appears in full, and when the lower edge of the sun sets, don’t perform a prayer till it sets completely. And you should not seek to pray at sunrise or sunset for the sun rises between two sides of the head of the Shaytan."
Narrated Salim bin ‘Abdullah RadhiAllahu anhu: My father RadhiAllahu anhu said, "I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, ‘The period of your stay as compared to the previous nations is like the period equal to the time between the ‘Asr prayer and sunset. The people of the Torah were given the Torah and they acted (upon it) till mid-day then they were exhausted and were given one Qirat (of gold) each. And then the people of the Gospel were given the Gospel and they acted (upon it) till the ‘Asr prayer then they were exhausted and were given one Qirat each. And then we were given the Qur’an and we acted (upon it) till sunset and we were given two Qirats each. On that the people of both the scriptures said, ‘O our Lord! You have given them two Qirats and given us one Qirat, though we have worked more than they.’ Allah said, ‘Have I usurped some of your right?’ They said, ‘No.’ Allah said: "That is my blessing I bestow upon whomsoever I wish."
Narrated Abi Aiyub RadhiAllahu anhu: Once the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wassalam went out after sunset and heard a dreadful voice, and said, "The Jews are being punished in their graves."
Narrated Muslim at-Tamimi RadhiAllahu anhu: The Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wassalam told him secretly: When you finish the sunset prayer, say: ‘O Allah, protect me from Hell" seven times; for if you say that and die that night, protection from it would be recorded for you; and when you finish the dawn prayer, say it in a similar way, for if you die that day, protection from it would be recorded for you. Abu Sa’id RadhiAllahu anhu told me that al-Harith RadhiAllahu anhu said: The Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wassalam said this to us secretly, so we confine it to our brethren.
O Allah, O You of Whom it is true,
that there is no sunset in the skies,
and no mountains rising high,
and no trees bending in the breeze,
and no movement in the clouds,
and no appearance of the stars,
and no emotions in people’s hearts,
and no actions from their limbs,
and no sounds from their lips,
and no gazing from their eyes,
unless all is bearing witness to You.
may the Shahadah shine
from every setting and rising sun
and every heart You made from clay.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen.
[AHHHH…the joys of this blog….I have just given up the struggle of why it has stubbornly decided to go all BOLD on me, Allah Ta’ala testing my written words about the constancy of change, I surrender, like the light at sunset to the darkness of the "unknown" PHENOMENA indeed!]
Muslims need the clarity of the objective of their life to be able to comprehend the magnificence of the creation of Allah Ta’ala. Without this clarity sunset will seem to them in a different light that will take them further away from Allah TA’ALA. May Allah Help us all to comprehend our objective of life.
Comment by nq — March 6, 2007 @ 10:24 pm
Assalamualaikum sister, once again a beautiful post. Jazakiallah Khair!
Comment by ikramuddin — March 6, 2007 @ 11:15 pm
Assalamu alaikum,
Aishah RadhiAllahu anha said that one night the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wassalam spent the entire night crying, whereupon in the morning she asked why he wept so much, he replied: Should I not be a grateful slave of my Allah, why should I not pray and weep when these verses have been revealed to me today: “Lo, in the creation of heaven and earth, and in the difference of night and day, are signs (of His sovereignty) for men of understanding such as remember Allah standing, sitting and reclining…” Then he added: “Destruction is for the person who, in spite of reading these verses, does not ponder over His creation.”
And Aamir bin Abdul Qais Rahmatullah alaih said: “I heard from Sahabah, not from one or two or three, but from many of them, that the light and radiance of faith lies in contemplation and meditation.” Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu narrated from Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasalam that a person lying on his roof was looking at the sky and stars for some time, and then said: “I swear by Allah and I believe there is some body who has created you all; O Allah! Forgive me for my sins.” Thereupon Allah Ta’ala’s mercy turned towards him and he was forgiven.”
There are many narrations saying that to ponder on the creation of Allah Ta’ala is equivalent to 60, 70, and another narration 80 years of worship!!!
There is one Persian couplet that says:
Between the lover and the Beloved, there is a code of communication that is not known even to the recording Angels!
So many narrations and stories to inspire us to contemplate the greatness of Allah Ta’ala through His creation. Alhumdulillah. Yes, nq, may we all be able to comprehend the objective of this life, Ameen.
And brother Ikramuddin, ‘once again’ to you for making the time to comment, pleasant to connect with those who stop by, Insha’Allah, all good deeds cementing ties between us, the Ummah of our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wassalam.
Wassalamu alaikum
almiskeenah
Comment by almiskeenah — March 7, 2007 @ 8:08 pm