Sūrah As-Sajdah The Prostration
السجدة
30 verses, Makkī. One of the surahs the Prophet ﷺ would recite in the Fajr prayer on Friday along with Sūrah Al-Insān (76). It addresses creation in six days, the human's creation from clay, the journey of the soul through the stages of life and death, and the reward of those who rise from sleep to pray at night.
Surah Overview
Key Themes from Ibn Kathīr
"Their sides forsake their beds" (32:16–17): "Their sides forsake their beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and hope, and from what We have provided them they spend. And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do." Ibn Kathīr cites the ḥadīth: the Prophet ﷺ recited this verse and said "I know what Allah has concealed and I will not tell you." The reward of qiyām al-layl is described as so profound it cannot be described.
Creation in six days and the ascent in one day (32:4–5): He created the heavens and earth in six days then established Himself above the Throne. He arranges every matter from the sky to the earth then it ascends to Him in a Day the measure of which is a thousand years. Ibn Kathīr presents the scholarly discussions on the length of the Day of Judgment.
- The Friday Fajr sunnah: The Prophet ﷺ consistently recited As-Sajdah and Al-Insān in the Friday Fajr prayer. Ibn Kathīr: this practice was to remind the congregation of the great events of Friday creation of Ādam ﷺ, the Day of Resurrection, the assembly all mentioned in these two surahs.
- The stages of the human soul (32:7–9): Allah perfected everything He created. He began the creation of man from clay then made his progeny from a drop of insignificant fluid then He proportioned him and breathed into him the soul. And He gave you hearing and sight and hearts little thanks do you give.
- The wrongdoer's regret (32:12): "If only you could see when the criminals are hanging their heads before their Lord 'Our Lord, we have seen and we have heard return us to the world, we will do righteousness.'" The moment of seeing is too late for action.
- Banī Isrāʾīl and the Imāms (32:24): "And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and they were certain of Our signs." Ibn Kathīr: the two conditions for leadership in the sight of Allah patience (ṣabr) and certainty (yaqīn).
- The prostration (32:15): "They believe in Our verses who, when they are reminded of them, fall prostrate and exalt with praise of their Lord, and they are not arrogant." The physical response to revelation prostration is the mark of the true believer.