Ibn Abbas said: that is, an intellect. Al-Farra (1) said: This is permissible in Arabic. One may say, “You have no heart,” or, “Your heart is not with you,” meaning, “Your intellect is not with you.” It was also said: he has a heart that is present with Allah.

“Or lends an ear”: he listens to the Quran and to what is said to him, without occupying himself with anything else. The Arabs say, “Lend me your ear,” meaning, “Listen.” “While he is attentive”: that is, present in heart, neither heedless nor distracted.

“And We certainly created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days, and no weariness touched Us (38). So bear patiently what they say, and glorify your Lord with His praise before the rising of the sun and before its setting (39). And glorify Him during the night and after the prostrations (40).”

His saying, exalted is He, “And We certainly created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days, and no weariness touched Us”: that is, no fatigue or exhaustion.

It was revealed concerning the Jews, when they said: “O Muhammad, tell us what Allah created of creation during these six days.” He said: “Allah created the earth on Sunday and Monday; the mountains on Tuesday; the cities, rivers, and provisions on Wednesday; and the heavens and the angels on Thursday, up to three hours of Friday. During the first of those three hours, He created the appointed terms; during the second, affliction; and during the third, Adam.” They said: “You have spoken the truth—if you complete it.” He said: “And what is that?” They said: “Then He rested on Saturday and lay upon the Throne.” So Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse in refutation of them (2).

“So bear patiently what they say”: that is, their lies, for Allah lies in wait for them. This was before the command to fight them. “And glorify your Lord with His praise”: that is, pray in praise of Allah. “Before the rising of the sun”: meaning the dawn prayer. “And before its setting”: meaning the afternoon prayer. It was also narrated from Ibn Abbas that “before its setting” refers to the noon and afternoon prayers.

“And glorify Him during the night”: meaning the sunset and night prayers. Mujahid said: “During the night” means the night prayer, at whatever time one performs it. “And after the prostrations”: the people of the Hijaz and Hamzah recited it as wa-idbāra al-sujūd, with the hamzah vowelled with a kasrah; it is the verbal noun of adbara. The others recited it with a fathah, as the plural of dubur.