Surah 32. As-Sajdah

Say, 'O Prophet,' 'Your soul will be taken by the Angel of Death, who is in charge of you. Then to your Lord you will 'all' be returned.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Say: "The Angel of Death put in charge of you will (duly) take your souls: then shall ye be brought back to your Lord." ³⁶⁴²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If death is certain, as it is, and this life by itself in no way satisfies our instincts and expectations, we may be sure that the agency which separates our soul from our body will bring us into the new world. If we believe in a soul at all-the very foundation of Religion-we must believe in a Future, without which the soul has no meaning.

If only you could see the wicked hanging their heads 'in shame' before their Lord, 'crying:' 'Our Lord! We have now seen and heard, so send us back and we will do good. We truly have sure faith 'now'!'

  - Mustafa Khattab

If only thou couldst see when the guilty ones will bend low their heads before their Lord (saying:) "Our Lord! We have seen and we have heard: now then send us back (to the world): we will work righteousness: for we do indeed (now) believe." ³⁶⁴³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

In life on the new plane, there will be no room for deception or self-deception. The most hardened sinner will see the truth and the justice of the Day of Account. He will wish he could be sent back, but it will be too late. The world as we know it will have already passed away.

Had We willed, We could have easily imposed guidance on every soul. But My Word will come to pass: I will surely fill up Hell with jinn and humans all together.

  - Mustafa Khattab

If We had so willed We could certainly have brought every soul its true guidance: but the Word from Me will come true. "I will fill Hell with Jinns and men all together." ^{3644 3645}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Could evil have been avoided? Certainly everything is in Allah's power. If it had been His Will and Plan, He could have created a world in which there would have been no choice or will in any of His creatures. But that was not His Will and Plan. In the world as we see it, man has a certain amount of choice and free-will. That being so, He has provided Signs and means of instruction for man, in order that man's will may be straight and pure. A necessary corollary will be Punishment for the infraction of His Law. That Punishment must come to pass, for Allah's Word is true and must be fulfilled.

Cf. xi. 119. n. 1623, and vii. 18, and see last note. Jinns are the evil spirits that tempt men, and the men who will suffer punishment will be those who have succumbed to their temptations.

So taste 'the punishment' for neglecting the meeting of this Day of yours. We 'too' will certainly neglect you. And taste the torment of eternity for what you used to do!

  - Mustafa Khattab

"Taste ye then for ye forgot the meeting of this day of yours and We too will forget you taste ye the Penalty of Eternity for your (evil) deeds!" ³⁶⁴⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Forgot": Cf. n. 1029 to vii. 51. "Forget" is here in the sense of "to ignore deliberately, to reject with scorn". In the sense of mistake or defect of knowledge it is inapplicable to the All-Perfect Being, for we are expressly told: "My Lord never errs, nor forgets": xx. 52.

The only 'true' believers in Our revelation are those who- when it is recited to them- fall into prostration and glorify the praises of their Lord and are not too proud.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Only those believe in Our Signs who when they are recited to them fall down in adoration and celebrate the praises of their Lord nor are they (ever) puffed up with pride. ³⁶⁴⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"In adoration": Sujjadan, or in a posture of prostration, expressive of deep humility and faith. This is the keyword of the Sura, which bears the title of Sajda. All the Signs of Allah lead our thoughts upwards towards Him, and when they are expounded, our attitude should be one of humble gratitude to Allah. At this passage it is usual to make a prostration.

They abandon their beds, invoking their Lord with hope and fear, and donate from what We have provided for them.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Their limbs do forsake their beds of sleep the while they call on their Lord in Fear and Hope: and they spend (in charity) out of the sustenance which We have bestowed on them. ^{3648 3649}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Men and women "breathless with adoration" shun soft, comfortable beds, and luxurious sleep. Their limbs are better exercised in offices of devotion and prayer, especially by night. Commentators specially refer this to Prayers called Tahajjud, which are offered after midnight in the small hours of the morning.

In Fear and Hope: in spiritual fear lest their dedication to Allah should not be sufficiently worthy to be accepted, and a spiritual longing or hope that their shortcomings will be overlooked by the Mercy of Allah. And their adoration is not shown only in Prayer, but also in practical Service and Charity, out of whatever gifts they may have received from Allah.

No soul can imagine what delights are kept in store for them as a reward for what they used to do.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Now no person knows what delights of the eye are kept hidden (in reserve) for them as a reward for their (good) Deeds. ³⁶⁵⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Delights of the eye: an idiom for that which pleases most and gives most satisfaction. In our present state we can scarcely imagine the real Bliss that will come to us in the Future.

Is the one who is a believer equal 'before Allah' to the one who is rebellious? They are not equal!

  - Mustafa Khattab

Is then the man who believes no better than the man who is rebellious and wicked? No equal are they. ³⁶⁵¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Future of the two classes-the Blessed and the Wicked-is described in verses 19-22.

As for those who believe and do good, they will have the Gardens of 'Eternal' Residence- as an accommodation for what they used to do.

  - Mustafa Khattab

For those who believe and do righteous deeds are Gardens as hospitable homes for their (good) deeds. ³⁶⁵²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

A home brings before our minds a picture of peace and happiness. When to it are added honour and hospitality, it adds further to the idea of happiness.

But as for those who are rebellious, the Fire will be their home. Whenever they try to escape from it, they will be forced back into it, and will be told, 'Taste the Fire's torment, which you used to deny.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

As to those who are rebellious and wicked their abode will be the Fire: every time they wish to get away therefrom they will be forced thereinto and it will be said to them: "taste ye the Penalty of the Fire the which ye were wont to reject as false. ³⁶⁵³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxii. 22. Just as the gardens is the type of Bliss, so is the Fire the type of Penalty and suffering. There will be no getting away from it. What will be the thoughts of those who had earned it? "We used to reject the idea of the Consequences as a mere chimera: and now we find it to be true!" What will be their feelings then? How will they like it!

We will certainly make them taste some of the minor torment 'in this life' before the major torment 'of the Hereafter', so perhaps they will return 'to the Right Path'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And indeed We will make them taste of the Penalty of this (life) prior to the supreme Penalty in order that they may (repent and) return. ³⁶⁵⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The final Penalty is to come in the Hereafter. There is no doubt about it. But before it comes, a minor Penalty comes in this very life. It may be in some kind of misfortune, or it may be in the pangs of a tortured conscience or secret sorrow. But this minor Penalty may be really a mercy, as it gives them a chance of repentance and amendment.

And who does more wrong than the one who is reminded of Allah's revelations then turns away from them? We will surely inflict punishment upon the wicked.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And who does more wrong than one to whom are recited the Signs of his Lord and who then turns away therefrom? Verily from those who transgress We shall exact (Due) Retribution. ³⁶⁵⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The worst and most hardened sinner is the man to whom Allah's Signs are actually brought home and who yet prefers Evil and turns away from the Light of Allah. The Signs may be in the words and guidance of a great Teacher or in some minor sorrow or warning, which he disregards with contumely. Or it may be in a catastrophic blow to his conscience, which should open his eyes, but from which he deliberately refuses to profit. The penalty-the Nemesis-must necessarily come eventually.

Indeed, We gave the Scripture to Moses- so let there be no doubt 'O Prophet' that you 'too' are receiving revelations- ¹and We made it a guide for the Children of Israel.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Other possible translations: 1. “Do not be in doubt that Moses received it.” 2. “Do not be in doubt of your meeting with Moses.”

We did indeed aforetime give the Book to Moses: be not then in doubt of its reaching (thee): and We made it a guide to the Children of Israel. ^{3656 3657}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"The Book" is not here coextensive with Revelation. Moses had, revealed to him, a Law, a shari'at, which was to guide his people in all the practical affairs of their life. Jesus, after him, was also inspired by Allah: but his Injil or Gospel contained only general principles and not a Code or shari'at. The holy Prophet was the next one to have a shari'at or "Book" in that sense: for the Qur-an contains both a Code and general principles. This Sura is a Makkan Sura. The Code came later in Madinah. But he is given the assurance that he will also have a Code, to supersede the earlier Law, and complete the Revelation of Allah.

"Its reaching (thee)" : liqa-i-hi. Commentators differ as to the construction of the pronoun hi, which may be translated either "its" or "his". I construe it to refer to "the Book", as that gives the most natural meaning, as explained in the last note.

We raised from among them leaders,¹ guiding by Our command, when they patiently endured and firmly believed in Our signs.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 i.e., prophets.

And We appointed from among them Leaders giving guidance under Our command so long as they persevered with patience and continued to have faith in Our Signs. ³⁶⁵⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The series of Judges, Prophets, and Kings in Israel continued to give good guidance, in accordance with Allah's Law, as long as the people continued in Faith and Constancy (persevering patience). When that condition ceased, Allah's grace was withdrawn, and the people broke up into wrangling sects and practically suffered national annihilation.

Indeed, your Lord will decide between them on the Day of Judgment regarding their differences.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Verily thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Judgement in the matters wherein they differ (among themselves). ³⁶⁵⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

These wrangles and disputes among them will continue until the Day of Judgment, but meantime a new Ummat (that of Islam) will arise and take its place, with a universal and unified Message for mankind.

Is 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?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Does it not teach them a lesson how many generations We destroyed before them in whose dwellings they (now) go to and fro? Verily in that are Signs: do they not then listen? ^{3660 3661}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If a nation gone astray could only learn from the history of earlier nations that were destroyed for their evil! Their could sec vestiges of them in their daily goings to and fro: the Jews could see vestiges of the Philistines, Amalekites, etc. in Palestine, and the pagan Arabs, of the 'Ad and Thamud in Arabia.

"Listen": i.e., listen to the warnings conveyed in Allah's Signs. Notice how naturally the transition is effected from the physical to the spiritual-from the ruined physical vestiges of ungodly nations on this earth to the more intangible Signs conveyed by History and Revelation. Here the sense of Hearing is mentioned, both in its physical and its metaphysical or spiritual aspect. In the next verse the sense of Sight is mentioned in both aspects.

Do they not see how We drive rain to parched land, producing 'various' crops from which they and their cattle eat? Will they not then see?

  - Mustafa Khattab

And do they not see that We do drive Rain to parched soil (bare of herbage) and produce therewith crops providing food for their cattle and themselves? Have they not the vision? ^{3662 3663}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Again, as in the last verse, there is an easy transition from the physical to the spiritual. In physical nature there may be parched soil, which is to all intents and purposes dead. Allah sends rain, and the dead soil is converted into living land producing rich crops of fodder and corn, nuts and fruits, to satisfy the hunger of man and beast. So in the spiritual world. The dead man is revivified by Allah's grace and mercy, through His Revelation. He becomes not only an asset to himself but to his dependents and those around him.

The verse begins with "do they not see?" (a wa lam yarau), a physical act. It ends with "have they not the vision?" (afa la yabsirun), a matter of spiritual insight. This is parallel to the two kinds of "hearing" or "listening", explained in n. 3661 above.

They ask 'mockingly', 'When is this 'Day of final' Decision, if what you say is true?'

  - Mustafa Khattab

They say: "When will this decision be if ye are telling the truth?" ³⁶⁶⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Unbelievers may say: "If all this which you say is true, tell us when this final decision between right and wrong will come about." The answer is: "If you mean that you will postpone your repentance and reform till then, it will be no use: it will be too late for repentance, and no respite will be granted then: this is the Respite, and this is your chance."

Say, 'O Prophet,' 'On the Day of Decision it will not benefit the disbelievers to believe then, nor will they be delayed 'from punishment'.'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Say: "On the Day of Decision no profit will it be to Unbelievers if they (then) believe! Nor will they be granted a respite."

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

So turn away from them, and wait! They too are waiting.

  - Mustafa Khattab

So turn away from them and wait: they too are waiting. ³⁶⁶⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Read vi. 158 and n. 984 as a commentary on this. There it is said to the Unbelievers: "Wait ye: we too are waiting." Here the Righteous one is told: "Wait (thou): they too are waiting." The reversal of the order is appropriate: in each case the person (or persons) addressed is mentioned first. Cf. also vii. 71.