Surah 32 · Meccan · 30 Verses
السجدة
SURAH AS-SAJDAH
The Prostration
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
تَنزِيلُ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ
[This is] the revelation of the Book about which there is no doubt from the Lord of the worlds.
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أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۚ بَلْ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ لِتُنذِرَ قَوْمًۭا مَّآ أَتَىٰهُم مِّن نَّذِيرٍۢ مِّن قَبْلِكَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ
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.
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ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍۢ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ مَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَلِىٍّۢ وَلَا شَفِيعٍ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ
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يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يَعْرُجُ إِلَيْهِ فِى يَوْمٍۢ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُۥٓ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍۢ مِّمَّا تَعُدُّونَ
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.
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ذَٰلِكَ عَٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَٰدَةِ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
That is the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Exalted in Might, the Merciful,
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ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحْسَنَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقَهُۥ ۖ وَبَدَأَ خَلْقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنِ مِن طِينٍۢ
Who perfected everything which He created and began the creation of man from clay.
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ثُمَّ جَعَلَ نَسْلَهُۥ مِن سُلَٰلَةٍۢ مِّن مَّآءٍۢ مَّهِينٍۢ
Then He made his posterity out of the extract of a liquid disdained.
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ثُمَّ سَوَّىٰهُ وَنَفَخَ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِهِۦ ۖ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَٰرَ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَ ۚ قَلِيلًۭا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ
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وَقَالُوٓا۟ أَءِذَا ضَلَلْنَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَءِنَّا لَفِى خَلْقٍۢ جَدِيدٍۭ ۚ بَلْ هُم بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّهِمْ كَٰفِرُونَ
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.
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۞ قُلْ يَتَوَفَّىٰكُم مَّلَكُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ٱلَّذِى وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ
Say, "The angel of death who has been entrusted with you will take you. Then to your Lord you will be returned."
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وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ نَاكِسُوا۟ رُءُوسِهِمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ رَبَّنَآ أَبْصَرْنَا وَسَمِعْنَا فَٱرْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَٰلِحًا إِنَّا مُوقِنُونَ
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."
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وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَءَاتَيْنَا كُلَّ نَفْسٍ هُدَىٰهَا وَلَٰكِنْ حَقَّ ٱلْقَوْلُ مِنِّى لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ
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فَذُوقُوا۟ بِمَا نَسِيتُمْ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَٰذَآ إِنَّا نَسِينَٰكُمْ ۖ وَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلْخُلْدِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
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."
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إِنَّمَا يُؤْمِنُ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهَا خَرُّوا۟ سُجَّدًۭا وَسَبَّحُوا۟ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ۩
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.
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تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًۭا وَطَمَعًۭا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
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فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌۭ مَّآ أُخْفِىَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍۢ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
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.
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أَفَمَن كَانَ مُؤْمِنًۭا كَمَن كَانَ فَاسِقًۭا ۚ لَّا يَسْتَوُۥنَ
Then is one who was a believer like one who was defiantly disobedient? They are not equal.
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أَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ فَلَهُمْ جَنَّٰتُ ٱلْمَأْوَىٰ نُزُلًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
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.
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وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فَسَقُوا۟ فَمَأْوَىٰهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ كُلَّمَآ أَرَادُوٓا۟ أَن يَخْرُجُوا۟ مِنْهَآ أُعِيدُوا۟ فِيهَا وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تُكَذِّبُونَ
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."
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وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْأَدْنَىٰ دُونَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْأَكْبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
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وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ رَبِّهِۦ ثُمَّ أَعْرَضَ عَنْهَآ ۚ إِنَّا مِنَ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ مُنتَقِمُونَ
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.
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وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَٰبَ فَلَا تَكُن فِى مِرْيَةٍۢ مِّن لِّقَآئِهِۦ ۖ وَجَعَلْنَٰهُ هُدًۭى لِّبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ
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وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةًۭ يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا۟ ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ
And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and [when] they were certain of Our signs.
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إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
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أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ يَمْشُونَ فِى مَسَٰكِنِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍ ۖ أَفَلَا يَسْمَعُونَ
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?
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أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّا نَسُوقُ ٱلْمَآءَ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلْجُرُزِ فَنُخْرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرْعًۭا تَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ أَنْعَٰمُهُمْ وَأَنفُسُهُمْ ۖ أَفَلَا يُبْصِرُونَ
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?
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وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلْفَتْحُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ
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قُلْ يَوْمَ ٱلْفَتْحِ لَا يَنفَعُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِيمَٰنُهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "On the Day of Conquest the belief of those who had disbelieved will not benefit them, nor will they be reprieved."
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فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ وَٱنتَظِرْ إِنَّهُم مُّنتَظِرُونَ
So turn away from them and wait. Indeed, they are waiting.
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About This Surah
Surah As-Sajdah affirms that the Quran is revelation, points to creation and human formation, confronts denial of resurrection, and contrasts people who respond in humble prostration with those who persistently turn away. Night prayer, fear, hope, and hidden reward appear beside final judgment and historical warning. The chapter offers no fixed-count healing or success formula, and prostration practice should follow qualified guidance.
As-Sajdah opens by denying that the Quran was invented and presenting it as warning to a people in need of guidance. Creation of the heavens and earth, divine governance, human formation from earth, reproduction, hearing, sight, and hearts build the argument for resurrection. These verses serve theological reflection and are not a complete embryology or neuroscience text.
Deniers ask whether becoming lost in the earth can be followed by new creation. The answer places death under the angel entrusted with taking souls and describes return to God. Unseen details should not be expanded beyond the text or illustrated as verified physical processes.
The central contrast concerns response to signs. Believers fall in prostration, glorify without arrogance, leave their beds to call upon God in fear and hope, and give from their provision. Hidden reward is promised. The passage encourages voluntary night worship without establishing a universal schedule, fixed repetition, or guaranteed worldly result. People with illness, disability, caregiving duties, or exhaustion should not be shamed through comparison.
The surah distinguishes faithful and defiantly disobedient outcomes, recalls scripture given to Moses, and mentions leaders who guided with patience and certainty. Worldly punishment before the greater one is presented as an opportunity to return, but readers cannot label every illness, disaster, or loss as a targeted punishment.
The closing points to destroyed generations and water reaching barren land before asking why people demand the final decision. The Messenger is told to wait. Patient certainty replaces sensational date-setting.
Core Themes
- Revelation not human invention
- Creation and human formation pointing to return
- Humble response through prostration
- Night worship joining fear, hope, and charity
- Leadership through patience and certainty
- Waiting without eschatological date-setting
Structure
Verses 1–9: revelation, creation, and human formation — 1-9
The Quran’s origin, creation, governance, human formation, reproduction, senses, and gratitude establish dependence and the possibility of resurrection. Its place in the surah controls responsible later application.
Verses 10–14: denial, death, and final regret — 10-14
Objections to recreation, the angel of death, return, bowed regret, and accountability answer denial without supplying speculative unseen mechanics. Its place in the surah controls responsible later application.
Verses 15–22: prostration, night worship, and outcomes — 15-22
Humble prostration, night prayer, fear, hope, giving, hidden reward, and contrasting final outcomes connect worship with character and provision. Its place in the surah controls responsible later application.
Verses 23–30: Moses, leadership, history, and waiting — 23-30
Moses’ scripture, patient leaders, final decision, destroyed generations, revived land, demands for judgment, and waiting close the chapter. Its place in the surah controls responsible later application.
Reading Guide
Keep creation verses theological
They argue for divine power and return. Do not claim that the chapter supplies a complete scientific model of reproduction, consciousness, or cosmology.
Do not shame people over night worship
Voluntary devotion is praised, but illness, disability, work, caregiving, and exhaustion differ. No reader may infer spiritual worth from sleep schedules alone.
Treat prostration practice responsibly
The passage includes a prostration response; practical rulings and recitation circumstances should follow qualified school-aware guidance rather than an interface summary.
Refuse disaster and illness verdicts
The warning about nearer punishment does not authorize labeling a specific tragedy, diagnosis, or victim as a divine target. Keep the cited context and stated safety limits visible.
Key Passages
Revelation and warning — 1-3
The opening presents the Quran as revelation rather than invention and as warning for a community. It does not make every human commentary or translation immune from error. Read the cited verses as a unit; their immediate argument does not become a stand-alone ruling, diagnosis, prediction, or guaranteed result.
Human formation and faculties — 7-9
Human formation, reproduction, spirit, hearing, sight, and hearts are mentioned to awaken gratitude. The passage is not a complete clinical or biological account. Read the cited verses as a unit; their immediate argument does not become a stand-alone ruling, diagnosis, prediction, or guaranteed result.
Return after death — 10-14
Denial of recreation is answered through entrusted death and return to God, followed by regret. Unseen processes should not be embellished as though observed. Read the cited verses as a unit; their immediate argument does not become a stand-alone ruling, diagnosis, prediction, or guaranteed result.
Prostration and hidden reward — 15-17
Believers respond to signs with humble prostration, night prayer, fear, hope, and giving. Hidden reward is promised without specifying a worldly payoff or universal worship schedule. Read the cited verses as a unit; their immediate argument does not become a stand-alone ruling, diagnosis, prediction, or guaranteed result.
Moses and patient leadership — 23-25
Scripture given to Moses and leaders guiding through patience and certainty show that authority depends on revelation, endurance, and accountability rather than charisma alone. Read the cited verses as a unit; their immediate argument does not become a stand-alone ruling, diagnosis, prediction, or guaranteed result.
Recitation Note
No exclusive time, fixed repetition count, or guaranteed worldly outcome is asserted here for reciting Surah As-Sajdah. Reading it is worship and study; any separate claim about protection, healing, marriage, children, provision, or success requires independently verified evidence and narrow wording.
Interpretation Limits
- Creation and death passages are not complete scientific descriptions of biology or the unseen.
- Night worship must not become a fixed-count guarantee or a basis for shaming illness and exhaustion.
- Specific disasters and illnesses must not be declared targeted punishment.
- Prostration practice requires qualified guidance and must not be inferred solely from a website summary.