Six Profound Messages from Surah Ad-Duha Implied in Its 11 Short Verses

Surah Ad-Duha, consisting of 11 verses, carries profound messages. The surah, which is the 93rd in the Quran, is rich with theological and cosmic significance.

First, the alternation between light and darkness is a divine law (sunnatullah) in the universe. Allah opens Surah Ad-Duha with an oath by the morning brightness and the night:

“By the morning brightness. And [by] the night when it covers with darkness.” (Q.S. Ad-Duha: 1–2)

Imam Al-Alusi, in his commentary Ruh al-Ma’ani, explained that Allah specifically swore by these two times to symbolise the alternating states experienced by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), while also refuting the negative assumptions some people had about him.

He wrote: “It is as if Allah is saying: Time consists of moments; there is a time for night and a time for day. Sometimes the night lengthens and the day shortens, and at other times the opposite occurs. The lengthening is not by chance, and the shortening is not out of hatred, but everything proceeds according to wisdom.”

Everything in this universe has its ‘dhuha’ (morning brightness) and its ‘night’. In worship, there is a ‘dhuha’ period of enthusiasm and diligence in performing deeds, and there is also a ‘night’ period of lassitude and decline.