Signs for People of Understanding
Ali 'Imran 3:190–191. Also known as Inna fi khalqis samawati wal ard, Last verses of Ali Imran, Verses the Prophet recited at night
إِنَّ فِي خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَٰفِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّأُوْلِي ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ ﴿١٩٠﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يَذۡكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمٗا وَقُعُودٗا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمۡ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقۡتَ هَٰذَا بَٰطِلٗا سُبۡحَٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ﴿١٩١﴾
Inna fee khalqi alssamawati waalardi waikhtilafi allayli waalnnahari laayatin liolee alalbabi Allatheena yathkuroona Allaha qiyaman waquAAoodan waAAala junoobihim wayatafakkaroona fee khalqi alssamawati waalardi rabbana ma khalaqta hatha batilan subhanaka faqina AAathaba alnnari
190In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, are signs for people of understanding. 191Those who remember Allah while standing, and sitting, and on their sides; and they reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth: “Our Lord, You did not create this in vain, glory to You, so protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”
Verses 190 and 191 of Surah Ali 'Imran, the third surah, begin its closing passage. They say that in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are signs for people of understanding, and then describe those people.
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim report that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ recited this closing passage when he woke in the night, looking up at the sky. They invite the reader to look at the world and find their way to Allah through it.
What it means
The heavens, the earth, night and day
Verse 190 points to the creation of the heavens and the earth and to the way night and day follow each other. These are the most ordinary sights in life, and the verse calls them signs.
People of understanding
The signs are for ulul albab, people of real understanding. The word lubb refers to the core of something, so these are people who look past the surface.
Remembering Allah standing, sitting and lying down
Verse 191 describes them as remembering Allah while standing, sitting and lying on their sides. Their remembrance is not limited to one posture or time.
Reflecting on creation
They also think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth. Remembrance and reflection go together: one fills the heart, the other the mind.
You did not create this in vain
Their reflection leads them to speak to their Lord: You did not create all this without purpose, glory be to You, so protect us from the punishment of the Fire. Looking at the sky ends in a prayer.
Where it sits in Surah Ali 'Imran
Surah Ali 'Imran is a Medinan surah of 200 verses. Verse 189 says that the dominion of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah. Verses 190 and 191 begin the closing section. In verses 192 to 194, the same people of understanding continue their supplication: they say they heard a caller to faith and believed, and ask for forgiveness, to die among the righteous and not to be disgraced on the Day of Resurrection. Verse 195 gives Allah's answer, that He will not let the work of any worker be lost, male or female. The surah ends with verse 200, calling believers to be patient, to encourage patience and to stay steadfast.
How it is used
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim report, from Ibn Abbas, that he spent a night at the home of his aunt Maymunah, the Prophet's wife, and saw the Prophet ﷺ wake, look up at the sky and recite from verse 190 to the end of Surah Ali 'Imran before performing ablution and praying. Many Muslims follow this by reciting these verses when they wake for night prayer. A report in Sahih Ibn Hibban from Aisha says the Prophet ﷺ wept when these verses were revealed, and warned against reciting them without reflecting on them.
Questions
What did the Prophet ﷺ recite when he woke up at night?
According to Bukhari and Muslim, he looked at the sky and recited from 3:190 to the end of Surah Ali 'Imran.
Who are ulul albab?
It means people of understanding or insight. 3:191 describes them as people who remember Allah in every posture and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth.
Is there a similar verse elsewhere in the Quran?
Yes. 2:164 also lists the creation of the heavens and earth and the alternation of night and day among signs for people who understand.