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It was also said that “three full nights” means three consecutive nights, though the first interpretation is more correct. (1)
It is related in the account that during those days he was unable to speak with people; but whenever he wished to remember Allah, exalted is He, his tongue was freed. (2)
“Then he came out to his people from the sanctuary and signaled to them: ‘Glorify Allah morning and evening.’” (11)
(1) This is also the view preferred by al-Tabari, 16:52. He related the second view from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, through the narration of al-Awfi. See Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 3:113.
(2) Ibn Abi Hatim reported from Ibn Zayd, who said: “His tongue was restrained, so he was unable to speak to anyone. Yet during that time he would glorify Allah and read the Torah; whenever he wished to speak to people, he was unable to do so.” See al-Durr al-Manthur, 5:483; al-Bahr al-Muhit, 6:176. See also the preceding discussion, 2:36.
وَقِيلَ: ثَلَاثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيًّا أَيْ مُتَتَابِعَاتٍ، وَالْأَوَّلُ أَصَحُّ (١) .
وَفِي الْقِصَّةِ: أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَقْدِرْ فِيهَا أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ مَعَ النَّاسِ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى انْطَلَقَ لِسَانُهُ (٢) .
﴿فَخَرَجَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ مِنَ الْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ أَنْ سَبِّحُوا بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا (١١) ﴾
(١) وهو أيضا ما رجحه الطبري: ١٦ / ٥٢. وحكى القول الثاني عن ابن عباس ﵄ من رواية العوفي.. وانظر: "تفسير ابن كثير": ٣ / ١١٣.
(٢) أخرج ابن أبي حاتم عن ابن زيد قال: حبس لسانه فكان لا يستطيع أن يكلم أحدا، وهو في ذلك يسبح ويقرأ التوراة، فإذا أراد كلام الناس لم يستطع أن يكلمهم. انظر: "الدر المنثور": ٥ / ٤٨٣، "البحر المحيط": ٦ / ١٧٦ وراجع فيما سبق: ٢ / ٣٦.