What does Quran 91:1 mean?

Quran 91:1 (Surah Ash-Shams, Ayah 1) translates to: "By the sun and its brightness"

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 91:1 from?

This ayah is from Surah Ash-Shams (The Sun), the 91th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 30.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 91:1?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Sunan Abu Dawud, Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Sunan an-Nasa'i.

What tafsir is available for Quran 91:1?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Al-Jalalayn, Ibn Abbas — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

91:1Ash-Shams

Q: What topics does Quran 91:1 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Creation, Nature References, Spiritual Purification, Divine Revelation, Prayer.

Ayah 2

وَٱلْقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلَىٰهَا...

وَٱلشَّمْسِ وَضُحَىٰهَا

Wash shamsi wa duhaa haa

By the sun and its brightness

Themes in this ayah

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Signs in creation79

Scores run 0–100: how strongly this ayah speaks to a theme. 70+ is central, 50+ is clear, under 50 is weak.

2 other themes with weak connections

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Signs in creation

91:1Ayah 115

6 ayahs in Ash-Shams are strongly about signs in creation. This is one of them.

Next on Signs in creation →91:2And [by] the moon when it follows it

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 91:1→

By the sun and her morning light

By the life of the sun is meant that you may find heat in it.

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #309Abdullah bin Buraidah narrated that his father (Buraidah) said:Hasan

"Allah's Messenger would recite: By the sun and its brightness, or similar Surah for the latter Isha (prayer)."

Sunan an-Nasa'i #1001It was narrated from Abdullah bin Buraidah, from his father, that:Sahih

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite 'By the sun and its brightness' and similar surahs in Isha'.

Sahih Muslim #5342Anas reported that when Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) decided to write (letters) to non-Arabs (i. e. Persian and Byzantine Emperors) it was said to him that the non-Arabs would not accept a letter but that having a seal over it; so he (the Holy Prophet) got a silver ring made. He (Anas) said:Sahih

I perceive as if I am looking at its brightness in his hand.

Sahih Muslim #5928Jabir b. Samura reported that there had appeared some whiteness on the front part of the head and beard of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). When he applied oil, it did not become visible, but when he did not (apply) oil, it became apparent. And he had a thick beard. A person said:Sahih

His face was as (bright) as the sword. Thereupon he (Jabir) said: No, it was round and like the sun and the moon. And I saw the seal near his shoulder of the size of a pigeon's egg and its color was the same as that of his body.

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91:1Ash-Shams

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About Quran 91:1