Al-Mukhtasar · Tafsir · in English
السجدة
As-Sajdah
The Prostration · Meccan · 30 ayahs
Alif Lam Meem. The discussion on similar letters has already passed in Sūrah Al-Baqarah.
32:2Page 415
تَنزِيلُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ لَا رَيۡبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٢
[This is] the revelation of the Book about which there is no doubt from the Lord of the worlds.
This Qur’ān that Muhammad (peace be upon him) has brought, was revealed to him by the Lord of all the worlds. There is no doubt in it.
32:3Page 415
أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ ٱفۡتَرَىٰهُۚ بَلۡ هُوَ ٱلۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ لِتُنذِرَ قَوۡمٗا مَّآ أَتَىٰهُم مِّن نَّذِيرٖ مِّن قَبۡلِكَ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَهۡتَدُونَ ٣
Or do they say, "He invented it"? Rather, it is the truth from your Lord, [O Muḥammad], that you may warn a people to whom no warner has come before you [so] perhaps they will be guided.
These disbelievers say, “Indeed, Muhammad has fabricated it and attributed it to his Lord.” It is not as they say, rather, it is the truth in which there is no doubt; revealed from your Lord - O Messenger - to you so that you may warn a nation to whom no Messenger has come before you, of the punishment of Allah, perhaps they are guided to the truth and they follow and practice it.
32:4Page 415
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٖ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِۖ مَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَلِيّٖ وَلَا شَفِيعٍۚ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ ٤
It is Allāh who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in six days; then He established Himself above the Throne.1 You have not besides Him any protector or any intercessor; so will you not be reminded?
Allah is the one who created the heavens and the earth, and created everything in between them in six days, while He is capable of creating them in less than the time it takes to bat an eyelid. He then rose over His throne in a manner that befits His Majesty. O people! You do not have a guardian who takes care of your affairs other than Him, or an intercessor who intercedes for you in front of your Lord. Do you not think and worship Allah who created you, not worshipping others with Him?
32:5Page 415
يُدَبِّرُ ٱلۡأَمۡرَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ إِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ثُمَّ يَعۡرُجُ إِلَيۡهِ فِي يَوۡمٖ كَانَ مِقۡدَارُهُۥٓ أَلۡفَ سَنَةٖ مِّمَّا تَعُدُّونَ ٥
He arranges [each] matter from the heaven to the earth; then it will ascend to Him in a Day, the extent of which is a thousand years of those which you count.
Allah organises the affairs of all creations in the heavens and the earth, then that affair ascends to Him in a day, the duration of which is a thousand years of your counting - O people - in the world.
32:6Page 415
ذَٰلِكَ عَٰلِمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّهَٰدَةِ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٦
That is the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Exalted in Might, the Merciful,
That being who organises all that is aware of everything that is present and absent, none of it is hidden from Him. He is the Almighty whom none can overcome; who takes retribution from his enemies and is the Merciful towards His believing servants.
32:7Page 415
ٱلَّذِيٓ أَحۡسَنَ كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقَهُۥۖ وَبَدَأَ خَلۡقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنِ مِن طِينٖ ٧
Who perfected everything which He created and began the creation of man from clay.
He is the being who perfected everything He created, and created the human from clay, without there having been a previous example of him.
32:8Page 415
ثُمَّ جَعَلَ نَسۡلَهُۥ مِن سُلَٰلَةٖ مِّن مَّآءٖ مَّهِينٖ ٨
Then He made his posterity out of the extract of a liquid disdained.
He then created the human’s children after it from a delicate fluid: semen.
32:9Page 415
ثُمَّ سَوَّىٰهُ وَنَفَخَ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِهِۦۖ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَۚ قَلِيلٗا مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ ٩
Then He proportioned him and breathed into him from His [created] soul1 and made for you hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect]; little are you grateful.
Then He completed the creation of the human in his complete form His soul through the angel appointed with blowing the soul, and made for you - O people - ears so that you could hear with them, eyes so that you could see, and hearts so that you could understand. Little are you grateful for these bounties of Allah which He bestows upon you.
32:10Page 415
وَقَالُوٓاْ أَءِذَا ضَلَلۡنَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَءِنَّا لَفِي خَلۡقٖ جَدِيدِۭۚ بَلۡ هُم بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّهِمۡ كَٰفِرُونَ ١٠
And they say, "When we are lost [i.e., disintegrated] within the earth, will we indeed be [recreated] in a new creation?" Rather, they are, in the meeting with their Lord, disbelievers.
The idolaters who reject the resurrection say, “When we die, our bodies become dust and we become invisible in the earth, will we be resurrected alive again, anew? That cannot be understood.” Rather, in reality, they are rejecters of the resurrection and do not believe in it.
32:11Page 415
۞ قُلۡ يَتَوَفَّىٰكُم مَّلَكُ ٱلۡمَوۡتِ ٱلَّذِي وُكِّلَ بِكُمۡ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ تُرۡجَعُونَ ١١
Say, "The angel of death who has been entrusted with you will take you. Then to your Lord you will be returned."
O Messenger! Say to these idolaters who reject the resurrection: “The angel of death who Allah has appointed to seize your souls shall do so, then to Me alone you will return on the Day of Judgment to give account and to be requited.
32:12Page 416
وَلَوۡ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ نَاكِسُواْ رُءُوسِهِمۡ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ رَبَّنَآ أَبۡصَرۡنَا وَسَمِعۡنَا فَٱرۡجِعۡنَا نَعۡمَلۡ صَٰلِحًا إِنَّا مُوقِنُونَ ١٢
If you could but see when the criminals are hanging their heads before their Lord, [saying], "Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so return us [to the world]; we will work righteousness. Indeed, we are [now] certain."
The criminals will soon emerge on the Day of Judgment bowing their heads in humiliation due to their rejection of resurrection, feeling ashamed and saying, “Our Lord! I have seen the resurrection I used to reject, and heard the confirmation of that which the Messengers brought from You, so return us to the worldly life so that I can do good deeds that will make You pleased with us. Indeed, I now convinced of the resurrection and the truth of whatever the Messengers brought.” If you were to see the criminals in that state, you would see a grave scene!
32:13Page 416
وَلَوۡ شِئۡنَا لَأٓتَيۡنَا كُلَّ نَفۡسٍ هُدَىٰهَا وَلَٰكِنۡ حَقَّ ٱلۡقَوۡلُ مِنِّي لَأَمۡلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ ٱلۡجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ أَجۡمَعِينَ ١٣
And if We had willed, We could have given every soul its guidance, but the word1 from Me will come into effect [that] "I will surely fill Hell with jinn and people all together.
And if I wished to give every soul guidance and ability, I would have forced them onto this, but through wisdom and justice it was necessary to pass the decree. that I would definitely fill hell on the Day of Judgment with the disbelievers from the Thaqalan: the jinns and the humans, because of their choosing the path of disbelief and error over the path of belief and steadfastness.
32:14Page 416
فَذُوقُواْ بِمَا نَسِيتُمۡ لِقَآءَ يَوۡمِكُمۡ هَٰذَآ إِنَّا نَسِينَٰكُمۡۖ وَذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ ٱلۡخُلۡدِ بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ ١٤
So taste [punishment] because you forgot the meeting of this, your Day; indeed, We have [accordingly] forgotten you. And taste the punishment of eternity for what you used to do."
And on the Day of Judgment it will be said to them in rebuke and censure, “Now taste the punishment due to your heedlesness of the meeting with Allah on the Day of Judgment for accountability in the worldly life, I shall leave you in the punishment without caring for how much you suffer from it. Taste the punishment of the everlasting hellfire that will not end, because of the sins you used to commit in the world.
32:15Page 416
إِنَّمَا يُؤۡمِنُ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهَا خَرُّواْۤ سُجَّدٗاۤ وَسَبَّحُواْ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّهِمۡ وَهُمۡ لَا يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ۩ ١٥
Only those believe in Our verses who, when they are reminded by them, fall down in prostration and exalt [Allāh] with praise of their Lord, and they are not arrogant.
“Only those people believe in my verses revealed to My Messenger who, when they are reminded of them prostate to Allah glorifying Him together with praising Him. They are not arrogant from worshipping Him nor prostrating to Him in any condition.”
32:16Page 416
تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمَضَاجِعِ يَدۡعُونَ رَبَّهُمۡ خَوۡفٗا وَطَمَعٗا وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ ١٦
Their sides part [i.e., they arise] from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend.1
They leave their beds to worship Allah, supplicating to Him in their prayers, fearing His punishment and hoping in His mercy. They also spend the wealth Allah has given them in His path.
32:17Page 416
فَلَا تَعۡلَمُ نَفۡسٞ مَّآ أُخۡفِيَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعۡيُنٖ جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ١٧
And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes [i.e., satisfaction] as reward for what they used to do.
So no one knows what things Allah has prepared for it in terms of bringing coolness and joy to the eyes, as a reward for the good deeds it would do in the world. It is a reward that no one except Allah can comprehend, due to its greatness.
32:18Page 416
أَفَمَن كَانَ مُؤۡمِنٗا كَمَن كَانَ فَاسِقٗاۚ لَّا يَسۡتَوُۥنَ ١٨
Then is one who was a believer like one who was defiantly disobedient? They are not equal.
The one who believes in Allah, acts upon His commands and refrains from that which he is prohibited from, is not like the one who disobeys Him. The two groups are not equal in terms of requital according to Allah.
32:19Page 416
أَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ فَلَهُمۡ جَنَّٰتُ ٱلۡمَأۡوَىٰ نُزُلَۢا بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ١٩
As for those who believed and did righteous deeds, for them will be the Gardens of Refuge as accommodation for what they used to do.
As for those who have faith in Allah and do good deeds, the reward prepared for them is gardens in which they shall remain as a mark of honour for them from Allah, a reward for the god deeds they used to do in the world.
32:20Page 416
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فَسَقُواْ فَمَأۡوَىٰهُمُ ٱلنَّارُۖ كُلَّمَآ أَرَادُوٓاْ أَن يَخۡرُجُواْ مِنۡهَآ أُعِيدُواْ فِيهَا وَقِيلَ لَهُمۡ ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ٱلَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِۦ تُكَذِّبُونَ ٢٠
But as for those who defiantly disobeyed, their refuge is the Fire. Every time they wish to emerge from it, they will be returned to it while it is said to them, "Taste the punishment of the Fire which you used to deny."
As for those who left the obedience of Allah by disbelief and committing sins, the abode prepared for them on the Day of Judgment is the hellfire in which they shall remain forever. Every time they attempt to come out of it, they will be returned to it, and it will be said to them, rebuking them, “Taste the punishment of the hellfire you used to deny in the world, when My Messengers would warn you of it.”
32:21Page 417
وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلۡأَدۡنَىٰ دُونَ ٱلۡعَذَابِ ٱلۡأَكۡبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ ٢١
And We will surely let them taste the nearer punishment1 short of the greater punishment that perhaps they will return [i.e., repent].
I will definitely make these disbelievers who left the obedience of their Lord and do not repent, suffer trials and afflictions in the worldly life, for perhaps due to those worldly afflictions, they will repent to Allah.
32:22Page 417
وَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ رَبِّهِۦ ثُمَّ أَعۡرَضَ عَنۡهَآۚ إِنَّا مِنَ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ مُنتَقِمُونَ ٢٢
And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord; then he turns away from them? Indeed We, from the criminals, will take retribution.
There is no one more oppressive than the one who is admonished with the verses of Allah but does not take heed, but turns away without caring about them. Indeed, I will inevitably take retribution from the criminals, because of their committing disbelief and sins, and their turning away from the My verses.
32:23Page 417
وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا مُوسَى ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ فَلَا تَكُن فِي مِرۡيَةٖ مِّن لِّقَآئِهِۦۖ وَجَعَلۡنَٰهُ هُدٗى لِّبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ ٢٣
And We certainly gave Moses the Scripture, so do not be in doubt over his meeting.1 And We made it [i.e., the Torah] guidance for the Children of Israel.
Verily, I gave Moses the Torah, so - O Messenger - do not be in doubt over you having met Moses in the Night Journey and the Ascension. I made the book revealed to Moses a guide for the Israelites from deviance.
32:24Page 417
وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنۡهُمۡ أَئِمَّةٗ يَهۡدُونَ بِأَمۡرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُواْۖ وَكَانُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ ٢٤
And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and [when] they were certain of Our signs.
And I made leaders from the Children of Israel whom the people would emulate and follow. They became guides to the truth when they were patient in calling others to Allah and fulfilling the commands of Allah and refraining from His prohibitions, and when they firmly believed in His Ayahs that were revealed to their Messengers.
32:25Page 417
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ يَفۡصِلُ بَيۡنَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُونَ ٢٥
Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
O Messenger! Indeed, your Lord is the one who will judge between them on the Day of Judgment in matters they would dispute in the world; so He will make the one on truth clear from the one on falsehood, and requite each with what they deserve.
32:26Page 417
أَوَلَمۡ يَهۡدِ لَهُمۡ كَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلۡقُرُونِ يَمۡشُونَ فِي مَسَٰكِنِهِمۡۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٍۚ أَفَلَا يَسۡمَعُونَ ٢٦
Has it not become clear to them how many generations We destroyed before them, [as] they walk among their dwellings? Indeed in that are signs; then do they not hear?
Are these people blind that they cannot see how many of the previous nations I destroyed before them? Here they are, walking past dwellings which were previously resided in by those who were destroyed, yet they do not take heed from their state? Indeed, in the destruction of the previous nations due to their disbelief, are lessons from which the truth of their Messengers can be proven, who came to them from Allah. Will these rejecters of the verses of Allah then not listen attentively using their intellects?
32:27Page 417
أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ أَنَّا نَسُوقُ ٱلۡمَآءَ إِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ٱلۡجُرُزِ فَنُخۡرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرۡعٗا تَأۡكُلُ مِنۡهُ أَنۡعَٰمُهُمۡ وَأَنفُسُهُمۡۚ أَفَلَا يُبۡصِرُونَ ٢٧
Have they not seen that We drive water [in clouds] to barren land and bring forth thereby crops from which their livestock eat and [they] themselves? Then do they not see?
Do these rejecters of resurrection not see that I send rainwater to a barren land in which there are no plants, and then take out the crops by rain water, from which their cattle eat as well as themselves? Do they not see that and understand that whoever causes the barren earth to grow, is capable of reviving the dead?
32:28Page 417
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلۡفَتۡحُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ ٢٨
And they say, "When will be this conquest,1 if you should be truthful?"
Those that reject the resurrection say, while seeking the punishment in haste, “When is this judgement that you claim is going to be made between us and yourselves on the Day of Judgement, and consequently our abode will be hellfire and yours paradise?”
32:29Page 417
قُلۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡفَتۡحِ لَا يَنفَعُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ إِيمَٰنُهُمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يُنظَرُونَ ٢٩
Say, [O Muḥammad], "On the Day of Conquest the belief of those who had disbelieved will not benefit them, nor will they be reprieved."
O Messenger! Say to them: “O Messenger say to them: the day of the judgement, when it comes, will be too late to believe for those who denied the truth in the world. Nor will they be given respite to make repentance.”
32:30Page 417
فَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡهُمۡ وَٱنتَظِرۡ إِنَّهُم مُّنتَظِرُونَ ٣٠
So turn away from them and wait. Indeed, they are waiting.
O Messenger! So turn away from these people after they have persisted in their deviance, and wait for the punishment of Allah to befall them. Indeed, they wait for an unpredictable turn of fortune against you, but in reality they only await their destruction.
Text: Quranic Universal Library (Tarteel), via spa5k/tafsir_api (MIT), at a fixed version. The ayahs: Quran Foundation. Sources and licences