Question

I have a question in my mind that I have not been able to figure out. A verse of the Holy Quran reads:

Say: “Call upon Allah, or call upon Rahman: by whatever name ye call upon Him, (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Neither speak thy Prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between.” (Al Isra’ 17:110)

What is the verse referring to and what is the context? There are various explanations but I would like to get your opinion on this issue.

Answer

We believe that the part of the verse refers to the tahajjud prayer (see 17:78) that was made obligatory for the Holy Prophet (swS) alone. If we study last part of the Surah we find that the Holy Prophet (swS) is very frequently addressed. After the mention of the calling to the Almighty in any of the good names it is said that the Prophet (Sws) should recite the Holy Qur’ān during his specific prayer in the prescribed tone. Sometimes the Holy Qur’ān refers to the previous passage and it is not a rare incident in the Qur’ānic style.

The specific address to the Holy Prophet (swS) with the pronoun ك ‘ka’ is an obvious indication to this specification. This I say as the same surah (17:78) tahajjud was obligatory for the Prophet and it is totally optional for his ummah. That is why this accusative pronoun is such a decisive factor.

Answered by: Tariq Mahmood Hashmi

Date: 2015-01-26