Day Turns Night — What’s the Big Deal?
By: Samet Faruque
Tags: Day, Night, Quran, Muslim, Islam

“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding.”(Al Qur’an, 3:190)

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the name of the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful Allah

Man is ever unmindful. Yet before our eyes, occurring every day, are colossal events, magnificent signs, and wondrous matters with deep lessons, powerful reminders, and spiritual insights. Allah says:

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ… لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and the day..are surely signs for a people who use reason. (2:164)

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are surely signs for those of understanding. (3:190)

The Closing in of the End

The changing of day and night is a reminder of the passing of time, the nearing of death, and the closing in of the hour.

إِنَّ فِي اخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ… لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَّقُونَ

Indeed, in the alternation of the night and the day…are signs for a people who are cautious and fear [God]. (10:6)

A sign of Power

The alternation of the night and the day display the power of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy. Have you ever seen a day that doesn’t come after the night, and have you ever seen a night that doesn’t come after the day? Who causes this order and this system, Who is behind the science and the wonder?

اللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ وَرَبَّ آبَائِكُمُ الْأَوَّلِينَ

Allah , your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers. (37:126)

There is no failure, no glitch and no bug in the running of the night and the day.

فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيًّا

So blessed is Allah , the best of creators. (23:14)

Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. (1:2)

And never is your Lord forgetful. (19:64)

Turn your Face to God

The changing of night and day is a reminder to turn to God, being sincere to Him, not setting any partners with Him.

Just as the night and the day submits, so we should submit.

It is a reminder to fix our affairs, and turn towards God.

يُقَلِّبُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّأُولِي الْأَبْصَارِ

He turns about (alternates) the night and the day. Indeed in that is a lesson for those who have vision. (24:44)

Each Suitable for our Needs

The night and the day are two signs of Allah. He made the day bright, to make easy the earning of livelihood. And He made the night dark, as a time for peace, rest and privacy.

وَجَعَلْنَا اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ آيَتَيْنِ ۖ فَمَحَوْنَا آيَةَ اللَّيْلِ وَجَعَلْنَا آيَةَ النَّهَارِ مُبْصِرَةً لِّتَبْتَغُوا فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلِتَعْلَمُوا عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ

And We have made the night and day two signs, and We erased the sign of the night and made the sign of the day a beholder (when man can see) that you may seek bounty from your Lord (work for a living) and may know the number of years and the account (of time). (17:12)

Doors of Opportunity

Having the night and day in succession means the opportunity to have daily habits, and habitual worship based on the timing of the day.

وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ خِلْفَةً لِّمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يَذَّكَّرَ أَوْ أَرَادَ شُكُورًا

And it is He who has made the night and the day in succession for whoever desires to remember or desires gratitude. (25:62)

The Prophet ﷺ said, as narrated by Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her:

أَحَبُّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى أَدْوَمُهَا وَإِنْ قَلَّ