'layl' : what is it?

[Joe_Betik]

salaam,

in this thread (Question for Edip and Layth), sikki (http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9598317.msg201209#msg201209) wrote

peace progressive,

I would like to clarify one of your statement here,

After a long and thorough research , I am of the opinion that the usual understanding of quranic layal starting from sun set, is wrong.

The quranic layal starts with the darkness of the night which one could take any time 15 mins to 1 hours 30 mins( depends where you are on the globe) and definitely not at sun set. If you or any body wants, I can refer a thread for detailed understanding.

The overlapping periods (first light to sun rise and sun set to last light) are referred as fajr and esha respectively, in quran

peace
siki

so, we have differing opinions regarding 'layl'. but we need to have some pointers regarding 'layl', since this word is used quite frequently in the qur'an.

lets look at hans wehr's entry (one of the dictionaries i used)

?(usually M) nighttime, night (as opposed to 'nahar' or daytime).?

but interestingly, the qur'an has some explanations regarding 'layl'. some samples

7433
Waallayli ith adbara
And by the Night as it retreateth,
As it is the night, when it slips away/slowly vanishes.

8117
Waallayli itha AAasAAasa
And the Night as it dissipates;
And it is the night, when it darkens/grows dark.

894
Waallayli itha yasri
And by the Night when it passeth away;-
And it is the night, when it is easy/the circumstances is pleasant.

921
Waallayli itha yaghsha
By the Night as it conceals (the light);
And it is the night, when it covers/envelopes/conceals/veils.

932
Waallayli itha saja
And by the Night when it is still,-
And it is the night, when it is calm/tranquil.

in my personal comprehension, 'layl' does not merely/solely mean 'night or nighttime' (the opposite of 'nahar' or daytime), but its effective meaning is related to or depending on the subjects/matters that which the word 'layl' is employed.

as such, the 'layl' for 'shams' is different from the 'layl' for 'qamar', or the 'layl' for 'saum', or the 'layl' for 'trials & tribulations', etc. the meaning of 'layl' must appreciate the subjects/matters in which the word 'layl' is employed, indeed.

as such, there is no one absolute meaning for the word 'layl', and so too are many other words used in the qur'an. but this is just my personal comprehension, and everyone is right in whatever opinion one makes.

may God guide us on the correct/honorable path. insha-Allah.

peace
mohammed noh

[Wakas]

peace,

e.g.
Examine all occurrences here http//www.studyquran.co.uk/PRLonline.htm

Lam-Ya-Lam = night, evening.

layl n.m. (f. laylah, pl. layali) 251, 2164, 2187, 2187, 2274, 327, 327, 3113, 3190, 613, 660, 676, 696, 754, 7142, 7142, 106, 1024, 1027, 1067, 1181, 11114, 133, 1310, 1433, 1565, 1612, 171, 1712, 1712, 1778, 1779, 1910, 20130, 2120, 2133, 2142, 2261, 2261, 2380, 2444, 2547, 2562, 2786, 2871, 2872, 2873, 3023, 3129, 3129, 3418, 3433, 3513, 3513, 3637, 3640, 37138, 395, 395, 399, 4061, 4137, 4138, 443, 4423, 455, 5040, 5117, 5249, 576, 576, 697, 715, 732, 736, 7320, 7320, 7433, 7626, 7626, 7810, 7929, 8117, 8417, 892, 894, 914, 921, 932, 971, 972, 973

[herbman]

Salam,

is this the definition of LAYL as per the Quran

3637

Yusuf Ali

And a Sign for them is the Night We withdraw therefrom the Day, and behold they are plunged in darkness;

Siin-Lam-Kha = to flay, pluck off, withdraw, strip off.

Peace

[Ex-"Quranist"]

3513 He (God) merges the night into the day, and merges the day into the night. He has committed the sun and the moon, each runs for a predetermined period. Such is God your Lord; to Him is the sovereignty. As for those whom you call on besides Him, they do not possess a seed's shell.

The merging is at sunrise and sunset. Since the day gets merged into the night and vice verse, both sunrise and sunset are simultaneously part of the "layl" and the "nahar".

[Rami]

Peace,

What is also puzzling is that Day and Night are mentioned separately from the Sun and the Moon. It is very similar to Genesis where God creates the Day and Night then creates the Sun and Moon. Another puzzle is that the Quran states that everything has a shadow but the Sun is the one that exposes it. There is something in physics regarding light that we don't understand.

Peace,

Rami

[Wakas]

peace herbman,

Yes, the verse you bring up is key and has been discussed before. Night must have some light to strip away, thus this excludes pitch black as "layl", leaving only one possibility pitch black + the two twilight periods. This simple deductive reasoning exposes quite easily what "layl" is.