Surah Duhā is the 93rd surah of the Qur’an. It consists of 11 verses and was revealed in Mecca. The surah is named after the word duhā which appears in verse 1. This word has multiple meanings, including daybreak, morning light, and luminosity. As such, Surah Duhā is also known as the “Surah of Daybreak” or the “Surah of Morning Light”.
The Benefits of Reciting Surah Duhā
There are many benefits to reciting Surah Duhā. Some of these benefits include:
– Protection from the Evil Eye:
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated that reciting Surah Duhā three times in the morning protects one from the evil eye throughout the day.
– Provision of Sustenance:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also said that reciting Surah Duhā three times in the morning ensures Allah’s provision for that day.
– Guidance and Light:
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that reciting Surah Duhā three times in the morning ensures Allah’s guidance and grants His light on the Day of Judgment.
Commentary
The occasion of Revelation Of Surah Duha
Bukhari, Muslim, and Tirmidhi have narrated
from Sayyidna Jundub () that once a finger of the Holy Prophet was wounded and started bleeding, he said:
(رض) Sayyidna Jundub narrated this incident and said that the revelation of the Quran
to the Holy Prophet came to a halt and Jibrail AS stopped coming to him for a while. The unbelievers taunted, saying:
“Muhammad’s Lord has forsaken him, and is displeased with him.”
Surah Ad-Duha was revealed on this occasion.
According to the narration in Bukhari by Sayyidna Jundub, the Holy Prophet was unable to wake up for a few nights for tahajjud prayer owing to illness. In this narration, there is no mention of a delay in revelation.
In Timidhis narration, there is mention of the delay in revelation but no mention of his inability to wake up for tahajjud prayer. These reports are not conflicting. The narrator might have narrated one incident at one time and reported another incident at another time.
The lady who taunted the Holy Prophet was Umm Jamil, the wife of Abu Lahab, as other reports indicate.
Delay in revelation took place twice.
AYAH 1-3
During the early stages of revelation, a significant period known as *fatrah al-wahy*, or the “temporary break in revelations,” occurred. This pause, one of the longest recorded by tradition, happened after the pagans questioned Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about the soul. He promised to answer the next day but did not say *insha’Allah* (if Allah wills). As a result, the revelation paused for several days, giving adversaries a chance to mock him, claiming God had abandoned and was displeased with him. It was during this time that a Surah was revealed.
AYAH 4
Allah urges the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) not to worry about the unbelievers and their false accusations. They will soon realize their error. Allah promises greater rewards in the afterlife for those who remain steadfast. These rewards surpass anything imaginable on Earth. Even during his life, the Prophet’s moments were filled with increasing wisdom, closeness to God, and successes, leading to a blessed journey in the hereafter.
AYAH 5 of Surah Duha
Allah promises the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ limitless abundance, ensuring that all his desires will be fulfilled. This includes personal success and victory over adversaries, as well as the global spread and progress of Islam.
When this verse was revealed, the Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
In a narration by Sayyidna ` Ali ؓ ، the Holy Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah will accept my intercession for my Ummah [ community ]. Allah will ask: رضیتَ یا محمد ‘0 Muhammad, are you pleased?’ He will reply: یا رَبِّ رَضِیتُ “My Lord, I am pleased.” Muslim records from Sayyidna ` Amr Ibn-ul-` As to the effect that the Holy Prophet ﷺ recited a verse concerning the Prophet Ibrahim : (علیہ السلام)
فَمَن تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
‘…So, one who follows me is surely mine, and the one who
disobeys me, then You are Most Forgiving, Very Merciful. [ 14:36] ‘
Then he recited a verse that contains the words of Sayyidna ` Isa (علیہ السلام)
إِن تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ
‘If You punish them, then, they are Your slaves [ 5:118] ‘
Then he raised his hands, wept and prayed:
اَللّٰھُمَّ اُمَّتِی اُمَّتِی
‘0 Allah, my ummah, my ummah!’
In an act of immense mercy, Allah sent Jibra’il (علیه السلام) to the Holy Prophet ﷺ to enquire why he was weeping when Allah already well knew the reason. In response, Muhammad ﷺ revealed his sincere plea for forgiveness on behalf of His ummah and in turn, God reassured him that He would bestow endless grace upon them and will not displease our beloved prophet Muhammad PBUH
AYAH 6 of Surah Duha
The Holy Prophet ﷺ was gifted with numerous blessings from Allah, and the Surah illuminates three of these special favors in response to those who questioned their divinity.
أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَآوَىٰ (Did He not find you an orphan, and give you shelter?…93:6)
From an early age, the Holy Prophet ﷺ witnessed tremendous love and compassion from his grand-father ‘Abd-ul Muttalib’ as well as uncle Abu Talib who provided him with a safe haven after losing both of his parents. Despite not leaving any wealth or property to provide for him, they embraced him like one of their own children.
AYAH 7 of Surah Duha
There are two ways to use the word dall: 1] stray; and [2] uninformed. Here, it refers to the second sense. The verse signifies that before his ascent to Prophethood, Muhammad ﷺ was in a state of spiritual unawareness. But as soon as he received the divine commissioning from Allah Almighty, he attained guidance and enlightenment that illuminated not just him but all mankind for generations to follow.
AYAH 8
The word “ail” originates from the Hebrew word “ailah,” meaning “to be in need.” This verse signifies how Allah enriched Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from a state of need. His transformative journey began with a business partnership and culminated in his marriage to Khadijah al-Kubra ؓ, who devoted her wealth to supporting his mission for the faith.
Following this, Allah’s three blessings are described, each accompanied by a corresponding prohibition.
AYAH 9 of Surah Duha:
Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) fervently championed the cause of the mistreated and underprivileged, particularly orphans. He urged compassion and respect for them, condemning any form of cruelty or injustice, which is forbidden by Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) emphasized that the best homes are those where orphans are embraced with kindness and love. In contrast, homes that mistreat adopted children risk inviting the displeasure of God Almighty.
[This is recorded by Bukhari in Al-Adab-ul-Mufrad, as well as by Ibn Majah and Baghawi, as cited by Mazhari.]
AYAH 10
The verb *tanhar* comes from the Arabic word *nahr*, meaning “to scold.” *Sa’il* refers to those seeking answers, whether they are asking for financial help or searching for knowledge, like academic investigators. The Holy Prophet ﷺ clearly forbade scolding any type of *sa’il* and instead urged us to offer something to a beggar or, if unable, to apologize politely. Similarly, when responding to someone seeking knowledge, our replies should always be kind, regardless of the situation, though certain circumstances may allow for a different approach.
AYAH 11 of Surah Duha
The phrase “just as you were poor and needy, and Allah made you wealthy, then talk about Allah’s favors upon you” is derived from the verb hadith, which means “to talk.” One way to express gratitude to Allah is to talk to others about divine favors. When someone has helped someone else, they should be acknowledged.
