The Prostration
As-Sajdah
السَّجدہ
LEARNING POINTS
This surah makes it clear that the Quran is a revelation from Allah.
The surah also speaks about the qualities of the believers and the disbelievers and the reward of each on Judgment Day.
Almighty Allah is the only Creator, and He is able to bring everyone back to life for judgment.
Those who deny the Next Life will be ashamed when they stand in front of Allah on Judgment Day.
Those who ignore Allah in this life will be ignored in Hell in the Next Life.
No one can possibly imagine the amazing reward that Allah has prepared for the believers in Jannah.
It is reported that the Prophet used to recite this surah and Surah Al-Insan (76) during the Fajr salah on Fridays. (Recorded by Imam Al-Bukhari & Imam Muslim)
SUPPORTING THE PROPHET
1Alif-Lam-Mim. 2The revelation of this Book is without a doubt--from the Lord of the universe. 3Or do they say, 'He has made it up!'? No way! It is the truth from your Lord 'O Prophet' to warn a people who had no warner before you, so they may be 'rightly' guide.
الٓمٓ 1تَنزِيلُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ لَا رَيۡبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ 2أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ ٱفۡتَرَىٰهُۚ بَلۡ هُوَ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ لِتُنذِرَ قَوۡمٗا مَّآ أَتَىٰهُم مِّن نَّذِيرٖ مِّن قَبۡلِكَ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَهۡتَدُونَ3
ALLAH'S POWER TO CREATE
4Allah is the One Who has created the heavens and the earth and everything in between in six Days, then established Himself on the Throne. You have no one instead of Him to protect you or speak in your defence. Will you not then keep this in mind? 5He manages everything from the heavens to the earth, then it all goes up to Him on a Day which is like a thousand of your years. 6That is the Knower of the seen and unseen-the Almighty, Most Merciful, 7Who has perfected everything He created. And He created the first human from clay.¹ 8Then He made his children from a little human seed, 9then He perfectly shaped each of them and had a spirit of His Own 'creation' breathed into them. And He gave you hearing, sight, and minds. 'Yet' you hardly give any thanks.
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٖ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِۖ مَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَلِيّٖ وَلَا شَفِيعٍۚ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ 4يُدَبِّرُ ٱلۡأَمۡرَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ إِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ثُمَّ يَعۡرُجُ إِلَيۡهِ فِي يَوۡمٖ كَانَ مِقۡدَارُهُۥٓ أَلۡفَ سَنَةٖ مِّمَّا تَعُدُّونَ 5ذَٰلِكَ عَٰلِمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّهَٰدَةِ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ 6ٱلَّذِيٓ أَحۡسَنَ كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقَهُۥۖ وَبَدَأَ خَلۡقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنِ مِن طِينٖ 7ثُمَّ جَعَلَ نَسۡلَهُۥ مِن سُلَٰلَةٖ مِّن مَّآءٖ مَّهِينٖ 8ثُمَّ سَوَّىٰهُ وَنَفَخَ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِهِۦۖ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفِۡٔدَةَۚ قَلِيلٗا مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ9
DENIERS OF LIFE AFTER DEATH
10Still' they ask 'mockingly', 'What! When our dead bodies disappear into the earth, will we really be raised back to life again?' In fact, they 'completely' deny the meeting with their Lord. 11Say, 'O Prophet,' 'Your soul will be taken by the Angel of Death, who is in charge of you. And then you will 'all' be returned to your Lord.' 12If only you could see the wicked hanging their heads 'in shame' in front of their Lord, 'crying:' 'Our Lord! We have now seen and heard 'the truth', so send us back and we will do good. We really have sure faith 'now'!' 13If We wanted, We could have easily forced every soul to be guided. But My Word must come true: I will surely fill up Jahannam with jinn and humans all together. 14So taste the punishment' for ignoring the meeting of this Day. We 'too' will certainly ignore you 'in Hell'. And taste the punishment of eternity for what you used to Do!
وَقَالُوٓاْ أَءِذَا ضَلَلۡنَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَءِنَّا لَفِي خَلۡقٖ جَدِيدِۢۚ بَلۡ هُم بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّهِمۡ كَٰفِرُونَ 10قُلۡ يَتَوَفَّىٰكُم مَّلَكُ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ ٱلَّذِي وُكِّلَ بِكُمۡ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ تُرۡجَعُونَ 11وَلَوۡ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ نَاكِسُواْ رُءُوسِهِمۡ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ رَبَّنَآ أَبۡصَرۡنَا وَسَمِعۡنَا فَٱرۡجِعۡنَا نَعۡمَلۡ صَٰلِحًا إِنَّا مُوقِنُونَ 12وَلَوۡ شِئۡنَا لَأٓتَيۡنَا كُلَّ نَفۡسٍ هُدَىٰهَا وَلَٰكِنۡ حَقَّ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ مِنِّي لَأَمۡلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ ٱلۡجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ أَجۡمَعِينَ 13فَذُوقُواْ بِمَا نَسِيتُمۡ لِقَآءَ يَوۡمِكُمۡ هَٰذَآ إِنَّا نَسِينَٰكُمۡۖ وَذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ ٱلۡخُلۡدِ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ14
WORDS OF WISDOM
As we mentioned in Surah Al-Ghashiyah (88), Allah says in verse 17 below that the amazing things which He has prepared for the believers in Jannah are beyond human imagination. This is why He uses general terms (for example, awesome gardens, rivers, fruits, drinks, fancy carpets, clothes of silk, and bracelets of gold), just to bring it down to our level of understanding. But Jannah is far beyond these descriptions. If you take a time machine and travel back in time to the year 1876, how would you describe the newest smartphone (with touch screen, wireless internet, facial recognition, Google Maps, Siri, and other fantastic gadgets) to Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone? I assume you would have to use very simple words to explain to him, or he wouldn't know what you are talking about. In the same way, if Allah were to describe Jannah to us the way it is, we wouldn't be able to understand. So He uses simple words that we can relate to.
This symbol ۩ (which we see at the end of verse 15 in Arabic) marks one of 15 places in the Quran where the reader should bow down (or go into sajdah) and say: 'I bow my face to the One Who created and formed it, and gave it the ability to hear and see with His power and strength. So blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.' If you don't remember this, you can just say 'Sub-hana Rabbia Al-A'la' (Glory be to my Lord-the Most High). (Recorded by Imam Al-Hakim)
QUALITIES OF THE BELIEVERS
15The only 'true' believers in Our revelation are those who-when it is recited to them--bow down and praise the glory of their Lord and are not too proud. 16They leave their beds 'at night', praying to their Lord with hope and fear, and donate from what We have provided for them. 17No soul can possibly imagine what joys are waiting for them as a reward for what they used to do.
إِنَّمَا يُؤۡمِنُ بَِٔايَٰتِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهَا خَرُّواْۤ سُجَّدٗاۤ وَسَبَّحُواْ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّهِمۡ وَهُمۡ لَا يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ 15تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمَضَاجِعِ يَدۡعُونَ رَبَّهُمۡ خَوۡفٗا وَطَمَعٗا وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ 16فَلَا تَعۡلَمُ نَفۡسٞ مَّآ أُخۡفِيَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعۡيُنٖ جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ17
THE BELIEVERS AND THE TROUBLEMAKERS
18Can the believer be equal 'in front of Allah' to the wicked? They are not equal! 19As for those who believe and do good, they will have the Gardens of 'Perfect' Living--as a welcoming stay for what they used to do. 20But as for the wicked, the Fire will be their home. Whenever they try to escape from it, they will be forced back into it. And they will be told, 'Taste the Fire's punishment, which you used to deny.' 21We will certainly make them taste some of the minor punishment 'in this life' before the major punishment in Hell, so maybe they will return 'to the Right Way'. 22And who does more wrong than the one who is reminded of Allah's revelations then turns away from them? We will surely punish the wicked.
أَفَمَن كَانَ مُؤۡمِنٗا كَمَن كَانَ فَاسِقٗاۚ لَّا يَسۡتَوُۥنَ 18أَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ فَلَهُمۡ جَنَّٰتُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰ نُزُلَۢا بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ 19وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فَسَقُواْ فَمَأۡوَىٰهُمُ ٱلنَّارُۖ كُلَّمَآ أَرَادُوٓاْ أَن يَخۡرُجُواْ مِنۡهَآ أُعِيدُواْ فِيهَا وَقِيلَ لَهُمۡ ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ٱلَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِۦ تُكَذِّبُونَ 20وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلۡأَدۡنَىٰ دُونَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلۡأَكۡبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ 21وَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بَِٔايَٰتِ رَبِّهِۦ ثُمَّ أَعۡرَضَ عَنۡهَآۚ إِنَّا مِنَ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ مُنتَقِمُونَ22
REVELATIONS FROM ALLAH
23Surely We gave the Book to Musa-so there should be no doubt that you too 'O Prophet' are receiving revelations-and We made it a guide for the Children of Isra'il. 24We raised from among them leaders, guiding by Our orders, when they were patient and had sure faith in Our signs. 25Your Lord will definitely decide between them on Judgment Day about what they disagreed on.
وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا مُوسَى ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ فَلَا تَكُن فِي مِرۡيَةٖ مِّن لِّقَآئِهِۦۖ وَجَعَلۡنَٰهُ هُدٗى لِّبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ 23وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡ أَئِمَّةٗ يَهۡدُونَ بِأَمۡرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُواْۖ وَكَانُواْ بَِٔايَٰتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ 24إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ يَفۡصِلُ بَيۡنَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُونَ25
ALLAH CAN BRING THE DEAD BACK TO LIFE
26Is it not yet clear to them how many peoples We destroyed before them, whose ruins they still pass by? Surely in this are signs. Will they not then listen? 27Do they not see how We drive rain to dry land, producing 'different' crops from which they themselves and their animals eat? Will they not then see?
أَوَ لَمۡ يَهۡدِ لَهُمۡ كَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلۡقُرُونِ يَمۡشُونَ فِي مَسَٰكِنِهِمۡۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٍۚ أَفَلَا يَسۡمَعُونَ 26أَوَ لَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ أَنَّا نَسُوقُ ٱلۡمَآءَ إِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ٱلۡجُرُزِ فَنُخۡرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرۡعٗا تَأۡكُلُ مِنۡهُ أَنۡعَٰمُهُمۡ وَأَنفُسُهُمۡۚ أَفَلَا يُبۡصِرُونَ27
THE DENIERS OF JUDGMENT
28They ask 'mockingly', 'When is this 'Day of final' Decision, if what you say is true?' 29Say, 'O Prophet,' 'On the Day of Decision, it will not benefit the disbelievers to believe then, and they will not be delayed from punishment.' 30So turn away from them 'for now', and wait! They too are waiting.
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلۡفَتۡحُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ 28قُلۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَتۡحِ لَا يَنفَعُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ إِيمَٰنُهُمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يُنظَرُونَ 29فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡهُمۡ وَٱنتَظِرۡ إِنَّهُم مُّنتَظِرُونَ30