The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930)/The Morning Hours
SÛRAH XCIII
Ad-Ḍuḥâ, "The Morning Hours," takes its name from the first verse. There was an interval during which the Prophet received no revelation and the idolaters mocked him, saying: "Allah, of whom we used to hear so much, has forsaken poor Muhammad and now hates him." Then came this revelation. The Prophet had been a leading citizen of Mecca until he received his call. Now he was regarded as a madman. He was a man near fifty, and the prophecy in this Sûrah that "the latter portion would be better for him than the former" must have seemed absurd to those who heard it. Yet the latter portion of the Prophet’s life, the last ten years, is the most wonderful record of success in human history.
An early Meccan Sûrah.
THE MORNING HOURS
Revealed at Mecca
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
1 By the morning hours
2 And by the night when it is stillest,
3 Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee nor doth He hate thee,
4 And verily the latter portion will be better for thee than the former,
5 And verily thy Lord will give unto thee so that thou wilt be content.
6 Did He not find thee an orphan and protect (thee)?
7 Did He not find thee wandering and direct (thee)?
8 Did He not find thee destitute and enrich (thee)?
9 Therefor the orphan oppress not,
10 Therefor the beggar drive not away,
11 Therefor of the bounty of thy Lord be thy discourse.