Sūrat al-Layl is the ninety-second chapter of the Quran. In terms of the order of revelation, it is believed to be the ninth chapter revealed, after Sūrat al-Aʿlā (87) and before Sūrat al-Fajr (89). The name of the chapter is taken from the first verse where Allah swears by the night. In some exegetical works, the chapter is called Sūrat Wa al-Layl, while al-Bukhārī and al-Tirmidhī refer to it as Sūrat Wa al-Layli Idhā Yaghshā.
The chapter contains twenty-one verses, and while the content of the chapter would indicate that it was revealed in Mecca, the reports that mention its occasion of revelation seem to indicate that it was revealed in Medina. Another indication that suggests the chapter is likely to have been revealed in Medina is that it encourages generosity and giving from one’s wealth, and discourages miserliness in terms of the financial responsibilities of Muslims. These monetary duties of a Muslim seem more in line with the themes of chapters revealed in Medina, as Meccan chapters are seemingly more in line with discussions on theology, that being the main contention with the polytheists of that city.
Scholars such as Tabatabai have opined that the chapter’s contents could be attributed to either a Meccan or Medinan nature. However, most exegetes maintain that it is a Meccan chapter and only a minority have indicated reports that it was revealed in Medina.
The main theme of the chapter is rooted in man’s ability to choose; either a direction of charity and piety which ultimately leads to a positive and pleasant outcome, or a direction of greed and disbelief which ultimately leads to a negative and miserable outcome. It appears that this theme of man’s attachment to the things which hold monetary value is a recurring one as it appears in the previous two chapters (see 90:10 and 91:8).
There are several reports in both Sunni and Shia works of exegesis that link this chapter to a specific incident at the time of Prophet Muhammad (s). While they all concur on the general outline of the event, there are some discrepancies regarding the specific details such as the names of the people involved.
The more well-known version is linked to a companion by the name of Abū al-Daḥdāḥ al-Anṣārī. In the report by Ibn Abbas, a man owned a date palm in Medina, a branch of which hung over the house of a poor man. When the rich man would climb up the tree to collect his dates, some of them would fall onto the ground in the poor man’s house. The child of the poor man would begin to eat those dates and the rich man would forcibly remove the dates from the child’s mouth. The poor man complained to the Prophet who then offered the rich man a date palm in paradise in return for this date palm. The man responded by stating that he owned many date palms but none of them bore dates as sweet as this one and thus was not willing to give up his tree. Abū al-Daḥdāḥ heard the Prophet’s offer and asked the Prophet if he would be eligible for the date palm in paradise if he could convince the rich man to give up his tree. The Prophet replied in the affirmative. Abū al-Daḥdāḥ went to the man and traded forty of his own date palms for this date palm. He then gifted the tree to the Prophet who gifted it to the poor man, and thus this chapter was revealed, praising the actions of Abū al-Daḥdāḥ. Some Sunni works relate that the whole chapter was revealed about Abū al-Daḥdāḥ.
Shia sources also mention a similar version of this event. The same account is reported from Imam al-Riḍā (a) in Qurb al-Isnād with some minor discrepancies, such as that Abū al-Daḥdāḥ exchanged the date palm for only one of his own and not forty. However, in the narration of Imam al-Riḍā (a), the Imam states that verses 3-11 were revealed about Abū al-Daḥdāḥ and not the whole chapter. Qummī narrates in a mursal fashion the same incident but apparently that it was verses 5-17 that were in reference to Abū al-Daḥdāḥ.
In some hadith works, it is reported that upon the death of Abū al-Daḥdāḥ, the Prophet remarked after reciting his funeral prayer: ‘How many hanging trees are there in paradise for Abū al-Daḥdāḥ!’
[1] Ibn Ashur, 30/333.
[2] Munyah, 30/396.
[3] Manahij, 30/520.
[4] Mizan, 20/302.
[5] Muhit, 10/491; Ibn Ashur, 30/333.
[6] Munyah, 30/396; Mizan, 20/302.
[7] Suyuti, 6/357.
[8] Qurtubi, 20/90.
[9] Tabrisi, 10/759.
[10] Qurb, p. 156.
[11] Mizan, 20/307.
[12] Qummi, 5/677.
[13] Muslim, 11/116.