Al-Ḍuḥā – Verse 1

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

وَٱلضُّحَىٰ

By the morning brightness.

EXEGESIS

According to Lisān al-ʿArab, ḍuḥā is the early hours of the day, specifically the period of the day when the sun rises until the point when it becomes white or very clear.[1]

REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE

A number of exegetes have taken verse 1 to be referring to the entire day.[2] However, there is more evidence to support the understanding of ḍuḥā as a specific time of the day as explained in the Exegesis section.

Some have connected the divine oath By the morning brightness to the times during which Prophet Moses (a) spoke directly to God and during which Pharaoh’s magicians fell in prostration.[3]

[1] Lisan, 14/475.
[2] Baydawi, 5/319; Daqaiq, 14/316; Zubdah, 7/452.
[3] Baydawi, 5/319; Daqaiq, 14/316; Zubdah, 7/452.