Prostration (Al-Sajdah)Prostration (Al-Sajdah)

A. L. M.*

A. L. M. (Alif Laam Meem)*

الم

The book is, without a doubt, a revelation from the Lord of the universe.

The book is, without a doubt, a revelation from the Lord of the universe.

تَنزِيلُ الْكِتَبِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِنْ رَبِّ الْعَلَمِينَ

They said, "He fabricated it." Indeed, this is the truth from your Lord, to warn people who never received a warner before you, that they may be guided.

They said, “He fabricated it.” Indeed, this is the truth from your Lord, to warn people who never received a warner before you, that they may be guided.

أمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَهُ بَلْ هُوَ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّكَ لِتُنذِرَ قَوْمًا مَا أتَهُمْ مِنْ نَذِيرٍ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ

GOD is the One who created the heavens and the earth, and everything between them in six days, then assumed all authority. You have none beside Him as Lord, nor do you have an intercessor. Would you not take heed?

GOD is the One who created the heavens and the earth, and everything between them in six days, then assumed all authority. You have none beside Him as Lord, nor do you have an intercessor. Would you not take heed?

اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَوَتِ وَالْأرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِي سِتَّةِ أيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا شَفِيعٍ أفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ

All matters are controlled by Him from the heaven to the earth [then climb to Him]* in a day that equals one thousand of your years.

All matters are controlled by Him from the heaven to the earth. To Him, the day is equivalent to one thousand of your years.

يُدَبِّرُ الْأمْرَ مِنْ السَّمَاء ِ إلَى الْأرْضِ ثُمَّ يَعْرُجُ إلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ ألْفَ سَنَةٍ مِمَّا تَعُدُّونَ

Knower of all secrets and declarations; the Almighty, Most Merciful.

Knower of all secrets and declarations; the Almighty, Most Merciful.

ذَلِكَ عَلِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَدَةِ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ

He is the One who perfected everything He created, and started the creation of the human from clay.

He is the One who perfected everything He created, and started the creation of the human from clay.

الَّذِي أحْسَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقَهُ وَبَدَأ خَلْقَ الْإنسَنِ مِنْ طِينٍ

Then He continued his reproduction through a certain lowly liquid.

Then He continued his reproduction through a certain lowly liquid.

ثُمَّ جَعَلَ نَسْلَهُ مِنْ سُلَلَةٍ مِنْ مَاءٍ مَهِينٍ

He shaped him and blew into him from His spirit. And He gave you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brains; rarely are you thankful.

He shaped him and blew into him from His spirit. And He gave you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brains; rarely are you thankful.

ثُمَّ سَوَّهُ وَنَفَخَ فِيهِ مِنْ رُوحِهِ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ السَّمْعَ وَالْأبْصَرَ وَالْأفْءدَةَ قَلِيلًا مَا تَشْكُرُونَ

They wonder, "After we vanish into the earth, do we get created anew?" Thus, as regards meeting their Lord, they are disbelievers.

They wonder, “After we vanish into the earth, do we get created anew?” Thus, as regards to meeting their Lord, they are disbelievers.

وَقَالُوا أءِذَا ضَلَلْنَا فِي الْأرْضِ أءنَّا لَفِي خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ بَلْ هُمْ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ كَفِرُونَ

Say, "You will be put to death by the angel in whose charge you are placed, then to your Lord you will be returned."

Say, “You will be put to death by the angel in whose charge you are placed, then to your Lord you will be returned.”

قُلْ يَتَوَفَّكُمْ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ الَّذِي وُكِّلَ بِكُمْ ثُمَّ إلَى رَبِّكُمْ تُرْجَعُونَ

If only you could see the guilty when they bow down their heads before their Lord: "Our Lord, now we have seen and we have heard. Send us back and we will be righteous. Now we have attained certainty."*

If only you could see the guilty when they bow down their heads before their Lord: “Our Lord, now we have seen and we have heard. Send us back and we will be righteous. Now we have attained certainty.” *

وَلَوْ تَرَى إذْ الْمُجْرِمُونَ نَاكِسُوا رُءُوسِهِمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ رَبَّنَا أبْصَرْنَا وَسَمِعْنَا فَارْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَلِحًا إنَّا مُوقِنُونَ

Had we willed, we could have given every soul its guidance, but it is already predetermined that I will fill Hell with jinns and humans, all together.*

Had we willed, we could have given every soul its guidance, but it is already predetermined that I will fill Hell with jinns and humans, all together.*

وَلَوْ شِئنَا لَاءتَيْنَا كُلَّ نَفْسٍ هُدَهَا وَلَكِنْ حَقَّ الْقَوْلُ مِنِّي لَأمْلَانَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنْ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ أجْمَعِينَ

Taste the consequences of your forgetting this day; now we forget you. You have incurred eternal retribution in return for your own works.

Taste the consequences of your forgetting this Day; now we forget you. You have incurred eternal retribution in return for your own works.

فَذُوقُوا بِمَا نَسِيتُمْ لِقَاءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا إنَّا نَسِينَكُمْ وَذُوقُوا عَذَابَ الْخُلْدِ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

The only people who truly believe in our revelations are those who fall prostrate upon hearing them. They glorify and praise their Lord, without any arrogance.

The only people who truly believe in our revelations are those who fall prostrate upon hearing them. They glorify and praise their Lord, without any arrogance.

إنَّمَا يُؤْمِنُ بءايَتِنَا الَّذِينَ إذَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهَا خَرُّوا سُجَّدًا وَسَبَّحُوا بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

Their sides readily forsake their beds, in order to worship their Lord, out of reverence and hope, and from our provisions to them, they give.

Their sides readily forsake their beds, in order to worship their Lord, out of reverence and hope, and from our provisions to them, they give.

تَتَجَافَى جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنْ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ

You have no idea how much joy and happiness are waiting for you as a reward for your (righteous) works.

You have no idea how much joy and happiness are waiting for you as a reward for your (righteous) works.

فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَا أخْفِيَ لَهُمْ مِنْ قُرَّةِ أعْيُنٍ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

Is one who is a believer the same as one who is wicked? They are not equal.

Is one who is a believer the same as one who is wicked? They are not equal.

أفَمَنْ كَانَ مُؤمِنًا كَمَنْ كَانَ فَاسِقًا لَا يَسْتَوُنَ

As for those who believe and lead a righteous life, they have deserved the eternal Paradise. Such is their abode, in return for their works.

As for those who believe and lead a righteous life, they have deserved the eternal Paradise. Such is their abode, in return for their works.

أمَّا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّلِحَتِ فَلَهُمْ جَنَّتُ الْمَأوَى نُزُلًا بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

As for the wicked, their destiny is Hell. Every time they try to leave it, they will be forced back. They will be told, "Taste the agony of Hell which you used to disbelieve in."

As for the wicked, their destiny is Hell. Every time they try to leave it, they will be forced back. They will be told, “Taste the agony of Hell which you used to disbelieve in.”

وَأمَّا الَّذِينَ فَسَقُوا فَمَأوَهُمْ النَّارُ كُلَّمَا أرَادُوا أنْ يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا أعِيدُوا فِيهَا وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُوا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ

We let them taste the smaller retribution (of this world), before they incur the greater retribution (of the Hereafter), that they may (take a hint and) reform.

We let them taste the smaller retribution (of this world), before they incur the greater retribution (of the Hereafter), that they may (take a hint and) reform.

وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُمْ مِنْ الْعَذَابِ الْأدْنَى دُونَ الْعَذَابِ الْأكْبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

Who is more evil than one who is reminded of these revelations of his Lord, then insists upon disregarding them? We will certainly punish the guilty.

Who is more evil than one who is reminded of these revelations of his Lord, then insists upon disregarding them? We will certainly punish the guilty.

وَمَنْ أظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ ذُكِّرَ بِءايَتِ رَبِّهِ ثُمَّ أعْرَضَ عَنْهَا إنَّا مِنْ الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُنتَقِمُونَ

We have given Moses the scripture - do not harbor any doubt about meeting Him - and we made it a guide for the Children of Israel.

We have given Moses the scripture - do not harbor any doubt about meeting Him - and we made it a guide for the Children of Israel.

وَلَقَدْ ءاتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَبَ فَلَا تَكُنْ فِي مِرْيَةٍ مِنْ لِقَائهِ وَجَعَلْنَهُ هُدًى لِبَنِي إسْرَءِيلَ

We appointed from among them imams who guided in accordance with our commandments, because they steadfastly persevered and attained certainty about our revelations.

We appointed from among them leaders who guided in accordance with our commandments, because they steadfastly persevered and attained certainty about our revelations.

وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أئمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا وَكَانُوا بِءايَتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ

Your Lord is the One who will judge them on the Day of Resurrection, regarding everything they disputed.

Your Lord is the One who will judge them on the Day of Resurrection, regarding everything they disputed.

إنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ

Does it ever occur to them how many generations we have annihilated before them? They now live and walk in their ancestors' homes. This should provide sufficient proofs. Do they not hear?

Does it ever occur to them how many generations we have annihilated before them? They now live and walk in their ancestors' homes. This should provide sufficient proofs. Do they not hear?

أوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ كَمْ أهْلَكْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ مِنْ الْقُرُونِ يَمْشُونَ فِي مَسَكِنِهِمْ إنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَِِاءَيَتٍ أفَلَا يَسْمَعُونَ

Do they not realize that we drive the water to barren lands, and produce with it crops to feed their livestock, as well as themselves? Do they not see?

Do they not realize that we drive the water to barren lands, and produce with it crops to feed their livestock, as well as themselves? Do they not see?

أوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أنَّا نَسُوقُ الْمَاءَ الَى الْأرْضِ الْجُرُزِ فَنُخرِجُ بِهِ زرْعًا تَأكُلُ مِنهُ أنْعَمُهُمْ وَأنفُسُهُمْ أفَلَا يُبْصِرُونَ

They challenge: "Where is that victory, if you are truthful?"

They challenge: “Where is that victory, if you are truthful?”

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هَذَا الْفَتْحُ إنْ كُنْتُمْ صَدِقِينَ

Say, "The day such a victory comes, believing will not benefit those who did not believe before that, nor will they be given another chance."

Say, “The day such a victory comes, believing will not benefit those who did not believe before that, nor will they be given another chance.”

قُلْ يَوْمَ الْفَتْحِ لَا يَنفَعُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إيمَنُهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنْظَرُونَ

Therefore, disregard them and wait, they too are waiting.

Therefore, disregard them and wait, they too are waiting.

فَأعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ وَانْتَظِرْ إنَّهُمْ مُنتَظِرُونَ