"And the night when it retreats"—meaning when it turns away. Some of them read: "And the night when it retreats"—meaning when it turns away.
Muhammad said: It is said: The night 'dabara' and 'adbara' [retreated], just as you would say: The night 'qabala' and 'aqbala' [approached]. And it is said: 'Dabarani fulan' and 'khalafani' [someone followed me]; meaning: when he comes after me.
"And the morning when it brightens"—
﴿وَاللَّيْل إذْ أدبر﴾ إِذْ ولَّى، وَبَعْضُهُمْ يَقْرَأُ: ﴿إِذَا أَدْبَرَ﴾ إِذَا ولَّى.
قَالَ محمدٌ: يُقَالُ: دَبَرَ اللَّيْلُ وَأَدْبَرَ، كَقَوْلِكَ: قَبَلَ اللَّيْلُ وأَقْبل، وَيُقَالُ: دَبَرَنِي فلانُ وَخَلَفَنِي؛ يَعْنِي: إِذَا جَاءَ بَعْدِي.
﴿وَالصُّبْحِ إِذَا أَسْفَرَ﴾ ﴿
