Surah as-Sajdah (The Prostration) 32 : 16

Explanatory Note

The sūrah then describes their physical attitude and inner feelings in a vivid expression that brings the movement and the feeling before our eyes: “[They] drag themselves out of their beds at night to pray to their Lord in fear and hope.” They stand up for night prayer, which is the obligatory `Ishā’ prayer and the Witr that follows it, and they add voluntary night prayer and supplication. This is described here, however, as dragging themselves out of beds. Thus we see the beds and their attraction, inviting people to take rest and sleep. Yet those believers do not respond, and make every effort to resist such attraction, because they have something else that preoccupies them. They want to stand before their Lord, in adoration, with feelings of fear and hope present in their minds. They dread disobeying God and long for His help. They fear God’s anger and punishment and hope for His mercy and acceptance. All these feelings are brought together before our eyes as they: “pray to their Lord in fear and hope.” With such sensitivity and devoted, earnest prayer, they do their duty towards the Muslim community, in obedience to God: “And who are charitable with what We provide for them.”