َ إِنَّ لَكَ فِي النَّهَارِ سَبْحًا طَوِيلًا ﴿۷﴾ وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ وَتَبَتَّلْ إِلَيْهِ تَبْتِيلًا ﴿۸﴾ رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَاتَّخِذْهُ وَكِيلًا ﴿۹﴾ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًا جَمِيلًا ﴿۱۰﴾

﴾7﴿ Inna laka fin nahaari sabhan taweelaa
﴾8﴿ Wazkuris ma rabbika wa tabattal ilaihi tabteelaa
﴾9﴿ Rabbul mashriqi wal maghriibi laaa ilaaha illaa Huwa fattakhizhu wakeelaa
﴾10﴿ Wasbir 'alaa maa yaqoo loona wahjurhum hajran jameelaa

﴾7﴿ Indeed, for you by day is a prolonged occupation
﴾8﴿ And remember the name of your Lord, and devote yourself entirely to Him with complete devotion
﴾9﴿ (He is) the Lord of the East and the West; there is no deity worthy of worship except Him, so take Him as Disposer of your affairs (putting your full trust in him)
﴾10﴿ And be patient over what they say, and distance yourself from them in a gracious manner

[7] This verse gives the reason for illā qalīlan—that you cannot stand in prayer for the entire night because you also have responsibilities during the day that must be fulfilled.
(Sabḥan) – Refers to moving about for religious duties (such as da‘wah), or for worldly needs like trade, etc.
Another interpretation is that sabḥan means “engagement” or “occupation”—so if you cannot complete the work of prayer and recitation at night, then fulfill it during some part of the day.
(Ṭawīlan) – Refers to the long span of the day: from Fajr to Ẓuhr, then from Ẓuhr to ‘Aṣr, and then from ‘Aṣr to Maghrib—the time is extended and sufficient.
[8] This verse mentions two etiquettes of calling to the Qur’an: First: (Wa-udhkur) – Meaning: seek help from your Lord, begin everything with Bismillāh, and keep the remembrance of Allah constantly in your heart.
This is the first essential etiquette for a dā‘ī (caller to Islam).
Second: (Tabattal ilayhi) – Derived from batl, which means cutting off. Here, it refers to detachment from shirk, showing off (riyā’), seeking praise (sum‘ah), and making all actions sincerely for Allah alone.
(Question): Has tabattul (detachment) been prohibited in hadith? (Answer): The prohibition refers to the tabattul of the Christians (Naṣārā)—which means cutting off from creation entirely, not calling others to truth, not joining communal gatherings, avoiding marriage, and declaring lawful pleasures as forbidden.
This is known as rahbāniyyah (monasticism).
That form of tabattul is invalid.
However, the tabattul encouraged in the Qur’an is different—it means sincere devotion to Allah while fulfilling one’s social and lawful responsibilities.
[9] This verse mentions the third etiquette of calling to the Qur’an and also highlights the purpose of reciting with tartīl, which is to affirm tawḥīd (monotheism) and refute all forms of shirk—whether in rubūbiyyah (lordship), ulūhiyyah (worship), wakālah (trust), or taṣarruf (control over affairs).
(Wakīlan) – He is the One who possesses full authority and control over all causes and effects, and every affair is in His hand.
Therefore, rely upon Him in all matters—this is the meaning of taking Allah as wakīl (trustee).
The agency (wakālah) of Allah is vastly different from that of creation: A human wakīl is appointed by the muwakkil (the one giving the task), who can revoke the power at will. A human wakīl expects compensation or payment and spends from the wealth of the muwakkil.
In contrast, Allah’s wakālah is the complete opposite: it is based on His ownership, power, mercy, and perfection.
He is not appointed by anyone, cannot be removed, requires no compensation, and is never dependent.
[10] This verse mentions two more etiquettes related to calling toward the Qur’an: 1. Patience in the face of insults, mockery, and abuse from the disbelievers, and remaining steadfast in delivering the message.
2. Hijrah (detachment) from the deniers—not giving importance to their wealth or family ties, and not abandoning their invitation due to their insults.
However, it means keeping oneself away from their shirk, innovations (bid‘āt), gatherings of sin and immorality, and corrupt social spaces.
(Jamīlan) – Hijrah jamīl (beautiful detachment) is that which is done purely for the sake of Allah, not out of personal desire or worldly motives.
This kind of separation is called bughḍ fī-llāh (hatred for the sake of Allah).
Similar expressions appear in Sūrah al-Ḥijr (15:85) and Sūrah al-Muddaththir (74:5).