55 Preface فَاصبِر إِنَّ وَعدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَاستَغفِر لِذَنبِكَ وَسَبِّح بِحَمدِ رَبِّكَ بِالعَشِيِّ وَالإِبكارِYusuf AliPatiently, then, persevere:1 for the Promise of God is true: and ask forgiveness2 for thy fault, and celebrate the Praises of thy Lord in the evening and in the morning.3The Israelites corrupted or lost their Book: they disobeyed God’s Law; and failed to proclaim and exemplify God’s Message. That is why the new Revelation came to the Prophet. If, in the beginning, it was rejected and persecuted, there was no cause for discouragement; on the contrary, there was all the greater need for patience and perseverance.Every mortal according to his nature and degree of spiritual enlightenment falls short of the perfect standard of God (16:61), and should therefore ask God for forgiveness. What is merit in an ordinary man may be a human shortcoming in one nearest to God: see 38:24-25, and notes 4175-4176. Prophets have a further responsibility for their People or their Ummah, and they ask in a representative capacity.Cf. 3:41. Evening and morning are the best times for contemplation and spiritual effort. But the phrase “evening and morning” may mean “at all times”. (R).