Trying to understand "zulafan min al layl"
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Peace everyone.
I am continuing to analyze salat, and am finding a lot of translations and interpretations of 11114 extremely confusing. I have consulted Lane's lexicon to try to decipher the different meanings of the root "ZLF" and still cannot see how people have come to understand it in the different ways they do.
Here are some of the theories/interpretations regarding 11114 that I have heard and read, followed by my concerns
- "zulafan min al layl" means "early parts of the night" and refers to a salat to be observed after the sun sets.
I have found the word "zulaf" to mean near/close/approaching, but not "early" so this seems to be a bit of a stretch and may indicate confirmation bias on the part of the individual(s) who chose this translation.
- "zulafan min al layl" is a description of the second "tarafayi al nahar" i.e. after the sun sets.
From my study of the Qur'an, I understand that "layl" begins at sunset. If "zulafan" means near/close/approaching, then wouldn't "zulafan min al layl" refer to a time that comes before the sun sets, not after?
- "zulafan min al layl" is a description of both "tarafayi al nahar" and explains that the edges of the day are "near/close to the night"
"Near/close to the night" is still not within the night.
Of these three prominent understandings, I lean more towards number 3, but I feel like I am missing something because I can't exactly get it clear in my "English mind". Perhaps "min" is the word that makes the time(s) in question "of/from" the night. I have read people explain the the "parts of the night are near to the two edges of the day", which makes sense if 'Arabic sometimes has to be translated backwards into English, as is the case with other languages.
I'm hoping to fully understand this statement soon, if God wills. I have only recently really analyzed my understanding of this verse; I previously believed it referred to a late night prayer i.e the sunni "salat al 'isha" which I realized is totally impossible based on any of the many meanings of "zulafan".
Any clarification would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure the answer is very simple and clear, but I am having a bit of a mental block.
May God guide us all.
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Salam jtc
We note a reference to 11114 in which there is an instruction to read prayer at the two ends of the day- if we see this two ends/edges of the day as (Fajr (as an end to the night) and Isha (as an end to the day) then will be zulafan al layl the period after sunset.
This conclusion works only, if you define the start of the night (but not as completly dark night) by sunset and the complet night when there is no light in the sky, i.e. complet night=complet darkness.011114
?And establish regular prayers at the two ends (Arabic Salata Tarafa) of the day and at the approaches of the night (Arabic wa-zulafan mina al-layl) For those things, that are good remove those that are evil Be that the word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord)?zulafan= near from the night, in this interpretation near from the complet darkness.
this is one interpretation. if we change the definition from 'the two ends of the day' , we will arrive to an other conclusion...
Salam peace -
I would believe that Zulfa is describing the "parts" of the day.
Note that, i would say, that there are 3+ parts of the day. Arabic is more pin point.
If it said 2 parts it would have been something like "zulfayn", but it is wazulufaaan (plural 3+).So it is parts of the day, that are closer/approaching to the night.
To tell you the truth, I'm not sure either to tell you the truth, and i myself i'm having trouble with this too. May God make things clear and understandable to us soon.
Also ponder over the salat of the day of jum3a 629, which could/would mean daylight salats.
In any case From 2238, there should/would be 3+ salats, because the word salawaat is plural 3+ (i.e not dual)
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Salam jtc
sorry, my english
the interpretation what i gave it points to three prayers
two edges from the day=- Fajr (as an end to the night) and
2.Isha (as an end to the day) then will be - zulafan al layl the period after sunset. (traditionell maghreb) Because the night starts after sunset direct and is complet (without any light in the sky) in the Isha (end of the day)
i don't know, if its now clear??
fajr as beginning to the day = complet dark - twilight- Duha as nd to the night (complet light) ----sunset as beginning to the night (complet light) --zulafan min al layl= twilight = maghreb -- Isha as end of the day (complet dark)--- nightprayers or meditation....so this was the traditional interpretation.
but there is an other conclusions that the
wa zulafan al layl is the precision/ the explanation from the two edges from the day- means we should hold prayer (Salat) in the two edges from the day which they are more near from the night , i.e. fajr (twilight) and after sunset (traditional maghreb also in twilight). i write an article but it is in German, but maybe you can translate it with google?
http//diebotschaftdeskoran.blogspot.com/2012/06/zeiten-des-al-salat.htmlMy conclusion
there are two SALAT but different times in the day to praise (SABIH) and remember (ZIKR) ALLAH- personal prayers, not official -
SALAT how i understand it, is more a common prayer, worship, which is held together with others in a masjid (place of Sujuds) one by Sunrise and one after Sunset.
I hope that you can understand my CLEAR English Sorry... ;D
Salam peace
. - Fajr (as an end to the night) and
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God Sends His Teachings to us Through His Messengers
If they fail to respond to you, then know that they follow only their own opinions.
Who is farther astray than those who follow their own opinions, without guidance from GOD?
GOD does not guide such wicked people.all one should know about Salat
http//www.masjidtucson.org/submission/practices/salat/
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Peace GODsubmitter.
Once again spot on. Well done.
Unfortunately we commit the same mistake the last generations have done.
Some will not believe in a human messenger until it is too late.
Or they say" we believe in some and reject others". Let them, they will go in circles trying to work out how many salat, when , where.....God knows our innermost thoughts, those who say " we hear and we obey" THEY WILL RECOGNISE THE TRUTH FROM THEIR LORD and will be guided.
Peace.
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Peace GODsubmitter.
Once again spot on. Well done.
Unfortunately we commit the same mistake the last generations have done.
Some will not believe in a human messenger until it is too late.
Or they say" we believe in some and reject others". Let them, they will go in circles trying to work out how many salat, when , where.....God knows our innermost thoughts, those who say " we hear and we obey" THEY WILL RECOGNISE THE TRUTH FROM THEIR LORD and will be guided.
Peace.
Thank you @goodlogic,
I agree with you completely, and thank you for recognition.
Let us just pray that God guides us and protect us from "distractions".
All the best
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Salaam,
Let me try sharing my understanding by my theCreator's permission.
• Salaat has been written on alMu'mineena on time. 4103
• These Salaat times are mentioned as Salaat alFajr and Salaat alEshaan . 2458
• Duration of Salaat alFajr was given as 'establish Salaat on two parts/edges of Day'. 11114, 1778
• Duration of Salaat alEshaan was given as 'from sunset to nearness of dark night/after dusk'. 1778, 11114
• Time to start Salaat, time of Fajr. 2187
• Time to start Salaat, time of Eshaan. 1778, 11114, 3830-31
To me, 11114 is defining the duration of Salaat alFajr as 1778 defines the duration of Salaat alEshaan.
11114
11114 And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.Please note , singular Salaat is mentioned, exactly same as in 1778.
Established Salaat at the two ends of the day = Salaat alFajr
AND
Established Salaat at the approach of the night = Salaat alEshaanFor the word or zulafan, please check 393.
May Allah increase us in knowledge and guide us to His only path pr
mmKhan -
salaam,
I recommend the following thread http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9598319.0
"zulafan* min al layl" literally means "proximal/adjacent/near parts of/from the night"
*plural (i.e. more than 2)One should ask
- "proximal/adjacent/near" to what?
- how many parts does the night have, or, how would one determine parts?
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Salaam Wakas,
Thanks for the link. I have read it several times. I think people are missing my question completely.
It seems as though you and others are taking the two phrases and switching them around. Let me try to explain.
Below is the closest literal translation I can think of.
Two edges/ends of the day, and proximal/near/adjacent parts of/from the night.
When you ask "proximal/adjacent/near" to what? I know that you are suggesting "near the day", BUT what happened to "parts"? In 'Arabic is are these phrases "backwards"? I am not an expert on 'Arabic grammar, but it seems like you and many others are suggesting that what the verse is actually saying is "parts of the night that are near to the edges of the day". Is this correct or am I not understanding you? If "zulafan" is translated as "near parts" then isn't this proximity relating to the night, not the day?
I found in Lane's Lexicon that "zulafan" can also mean "portions". Perhaps this might be a more fitting translation because "near parts of the night" (to me at least) means times that are NEAR but not actually DURING the night.
Any thoughts on this?
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If "zulafan" is translated as "near parts" then isn't this proximity relating to the night, not the day?
Peace jtc,
Please allow me to clarify my part.
Yes, zulafan is relating to the night in 11114 because of mina before al-layli.
I found in Lane's Lexicon that "zulafan" can also mean "portions". Perhaps this might be a more fitting translation because "near parts of the night" (to me at least) means times that are NEAR but not actually DURING the night.
If you take zulafan as portions, how will you translate zulfaa in 393?
Red It is not referring to the parts or portions of night, hence cannot be during the night, but "nearness to night".
If you understand what I am saying here, you can go and take a look at my previous reply and now you may understand what I am saying, inshaAllah. Take a look at part where I relate this zulafan mina al-layli with salaat aleshaan. If you know the time of salaat aleshaan, you will understand what zulafan is referring to, inshaAllah.
May Allah increase us in knowledge and guide us to His only path pr
mmKhan -
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peace jtc, all,
...it seems like you and many others are suggesting that what the verse is actually saying is "parts of the night that are near to the edges of the day". Is this correct or am I not understanding you?
Correct.
Please ask yourself the two questions I posted, and if you happen to have multiple options that's fine, simply note them down then eliminate the options using logic, cross-reference etc.
Let me clarify the first question
near/proximal/adjacent parts to WHAT?
Using a word such as "near" requires a reference point. This is basic logic, thus what is the reference point? To me, there are only three possible options one can consider
- two edges of the day
- one edge of the day (which one? some commonly state the latter edge)
- the night
Re 1) The verse clearly talks about two edges of the day, so that would seem like the most obvious reference point.
Re 2) if one chooses one edge, and some commonly choose the latter edge, it should be noted that the verse does not use one edge as a reference point, choosing the latter is partly arbitrary, and is unevidenced.
Re 3) choosing "near/proximal/adjacent parts of/from the night" firstly doesn't even make sense, hence some people say "early hours/parts", now whilst this meaning may exist in Classical Arabic dictionaries, Quran does not use ZLF to mean early. Secondly, "min" is a partitive, thus not all of the night, only part of it. Knowing this, I find it impossible to determine a time-range for such a salat. And so do others it seems, hence there is variance on how one interprets the other verses, e.g. 7320 (note this verse does not talk about early night), 1778-79 - resulting in overlapping times and/or very long continuous salat periods and/or variance over what quran-al-fajr and 1779 refer to, i.e. are they part of salat or separate, when are they done etc etc. Why are some time-ranges defined and not others etc.
If you, or others, can resolve the issues of choosing (3) then feel free to try, and let us know what you come up with. AFAIK, there is one resolution, and that is to say salat-al-fajr is the same as quran-al-fajr, and that the regular/timed salat is two daily and the one during the night is additional/extra , but this still results in two-daily being the command. So, whatever way you slice it, AFAICS, it would be two salat-daily for the mumineen.
You can read more here
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=7532.0
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=8797.0
which are from the original link I referenced above. -
Peace Wakas,
Thanks for your response; I appreciate you taking the time to explain things. I actually came to understand this last night at work before I cam home and read your reply.
The statement that makes the most sense to me is "and adjacent parts of the night" as this actually makes sense grammatically in English and points out that the "parts of the night" are "adjacent" to the "edges of the day".
Sometimes when translating the Qur'an literally, it won't be grammatically correct in English, but using a bit of common sense can make things clear.
I can see so clearly now, thank God, that 11114 is only referring to "salat al fajr" and "salat al 'isha".
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Peace Wakas,
Thanks for your response; I appreciate you taking the time to explain things. I actually came to understand this last night at work before I cam home and read your reply.
The statement that makes the most sense to me is "and adjacent parts of the night" as this actually makes sense grammatically in English and points out that the "parts of the night" are "adjacent" to the "edges of the day".
Sometimes when translating the Qur'an literally, it won't be grammatically correct in English, but using a bit of common sense can make things clear.
I can see so clearly now, thank God, that 11114 is only referring to "salat al fajr" and "salat al 'isha".
Peace jtc,
Al Hamdulilah that you came to this conclusion. I have trouble using Lane's Lexicon due to English being my first language, so I appreciate that you were able to put words on it finally. And from what I have read of the thread, it makes complete sense.
-Amina
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Peace jtc, all,
Currently, my accepted meaning of "zulaf" is that which is listed as an entry in most classical lexicons, namely, "the hours when night and day meet".
There are a number of issues with this understanding, indeed, there are a number of issues with most understandings, being owed inevitably, in my view, to the plurality of the word, as opposed to its duality.
I can't say much more than this.
My studies are on-going.
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Well according to my understanding - it isn't a physical nearness it is a nearness in degree and in all the places refers to people getting nearer to Allah or Janna and not to any morning or evening. confused
http//www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume3/00000411.pdf
2690
"To the righteous, the Garden will be brought near"34.37
It is not your wealth nor your sons, that will bring you nearer to Us in degree but only .....e.t.c
peace
