(78–81) “Establish prayer from the sun’s decline until the darkness of night, and the recitation at dawn—for the recitation at dawn is witnessed. And during part of the night, rise for prayer with it as an additional act for you; perhaps your Lord will raise you to a praised station. And say, ‘My Lord, cause me to enter in truth and to leave in truth, and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority.’ And say, ‘Truth has come, and falsehood has vanished. Falsehood is ever bound to vanish.’”

Allah Most High commands His Prophet Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—to establish prayer perfectly, both outwardly and inwardly, at its appointed times. “From the sun’s decline” means its inclination toward the western horizon after midday. This includes the noon and afternoon prayers.

“Until the darkness of night” means until night becomes dark. This includes the sunset and evening prayers. “And the recitation at dawn” means the dawn prayer. It is called a recitation because a longer Quran recitation is prescribed in it than in the other prayers, and because of the excellence of reciting at that time, when Allah, the angels of the ⦗465⦘ night, and the angels of the day witness it.

This verse mentions the five appointed times of the obligatory prayers. It also indicates that the prayers performed at these times are obligatory, since they were specifically singled out in the command.

It further indicates that the prescribed time is a condition for the validity of prayer and the cause of its becoming obligatory, for Allah commanded that it be established at these times.

It also indicates that the noon and afternoon prayers may be combined, as may the sunset and evening prayers, when there is a valid excuse, for Allah mentioned the times of each pair together.

It also establishes the excellence of the dawn prayer and of lengthening the recitation in it, and that recitation is an essential pillar of that prayer. When an act of worship is named after one of its constituent parts, this indicates that the part is obligatory.

His words, “And during part of the night, rise for prayer with it,” mean: pray with the Quran throughout the hours of the night. “As an additional act for you” means that the night prayer will further elevate your rank and raise your degrees, unlike others, for whom it serves as an expiation for their sins.

Another possible meaning is that the five prayers are obligatory for you and the believers, whereas the night prayer is obligatory specifically for you. On account of your honored status before Allah, He has assigned you more acts of worship than others so that your reward may increase and you may thereby attain the praised station. This is the station for which the first and the last generations will praise him: the station of the supreme intercession. The created beings will seek intercession through Adam, then Noah, then Abraham, then Moses, and then Jesus. Each of them will offer an excuse and refrain from undertaking it, until they seek the intercession of the master of Adam’s descendants, asking that Allah relieve them from the terror and anguish of the standing. He will intercede with his Lord, who will accept his intercession and raise him to a station envied by the first and the last generations. He will thus have bestowed a favor upon all creation.

His words, “And say, ‘My Lord, cause me to enter in truth and to leave in truth,’” mean: make all my entrances and departures acts of obedience to You and in pursuit of Your pleasure, for this entails sincerity and conformity to Your command.

“And grant me from Yourself a supporting authority” means: grant me manifest proof and decisive evidence for everything I undertake and everything I refrain from.

This is the highest station in which Allah may place a servant: that all his states should be good and draw him nearer to his Lord, and that he should possess clear evidence in every state. This entails beneficial knowledge and righteous action—knowledge of the matters themselves and of their proofs.

His words, “And say, ‘Truth has come, and falsehood has vanished,’” refer to the truth that Allah revealed to His Messenger Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Allah commanded him to proclaim openly: The truth has come, and nothing can withstand it; falsehood has vanished—that is, it has faded and disappeared.

“Falsehood is ever bound to vanish.” This is the very nature of falsehood. It may, however, possess power and gain currency when it is not confronted by the truth. But when the truth comes, falsehood disappears and is left without the slightest movement.

For this reason, falsehood gains currency only in times and places devoid of knowledge of Allah’s signs and clear proofs.