Surah 32. As-Sajdah

That is the Knower of the seen and unseen- the Almighty, Most Merciful,

  - Mustafa Khattab

Such as He the knower of all things hidden and open the Exalted (in power) the Merciful; ³⁶³⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah's attributes, then, may be summed up with reference to Knowledge, Power, and Mercy. Where our knowledge is partial and uncertain, His is complete and certain. Where our power often falls short of the carrying out of our will, or needs the help of Time, His is complete and conterminous with His Will. Where our mercy seems to be bounded by or opposed to justice, His is absolute and unconditioned.

Who has perfected everything He created. And He originated the creation of humankind from clay.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Adam (ﷺ).

He Who has made everything which He has created most Good. He began the creation of man with (nothing more than) clay ^{3636 3637}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah's creation in itself is good: it is beautiful, in proper proportions, and adapted for the functions it has to perform. There is no evil or disorder in it. Such evil or disorder as creeps in is due to man's will (as far as the world of man is concerned), and spiritual Teaching is directed to train and cure that will and bring it into conformity with the Universal Order and Plan.

Man is asked to contemplate his own humble beginning. His material body (apart from life) is a piece of earth or clay, which is another term for primeval matter. Matter is therefore the first stage, but even matter was not self-created. It was created by Allah.

Then He made his descendants from an extract of a humble fluid,

  - Mustafa Khattab

And made his progeny from a quintessence of the nature of a fluid despised: ³⁶³⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Then comes life and the reproduction of life. We are still looking at the purely physical aspect, but it is now a stage higher; it is an animal. Its reproduction is through the sperm or semen, which is a quintessence of every part of the body of man. Yet it issues from the same part of his body as the urine, and is therefore despicable in man's sight. It is a living cell or cells, summing up so much ancestral life-history. Cf. xxiii. 12, and n. 2872.

then He fashioned them and had a spirit of His Own 'creation' breathed into them. And He gave you hearing, sight, and intellect. 'Yet' you hardly give any thanks.

  - Mustafa Khattab

But He fashioned him in due proportion and breathed into him something of His spirit. And He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and sight and feeling (and understanding): little thanks do ye give! ^{3639 3640}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The third stage is indicated by "fashioned him in due proportion". Cf. xv. 29. After fertilisation of ovum by the sperm, an individual life comes into existence, and it is gradually fashioned into shape, its limbs are formed; its animal life begins to function; all the beautiful adaptations come into play. The fourth stage here mentioned is that of distinctive Man, into whom Allah's spirit is breathed. Then he rises higher than animals.

As a complete man he gets the higher faculties. The five animal senses I understand to be included in the third stage. But in the fourth stage he rises higher, and is addressed in the second person, "you," instead of the third person "him". He has now the spiritual counterpart of hearing (i.e., the capacity of hearing Allah's Message) and seeing (i.e., the inner vision), and feeling the nobler heights of love and understanding the bearings of the inner life (both typified by the Heart). Yet with all these gifts, what thanks does unregenerate or corrupted man give to Allah?

'Still' they ask 'mockingly', 'When we are disintegrated into the earth, will we really be raised as a new creation?' In fact, they are in denial of the meeting with their Lord.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And they say: "What! when we lie hidden and lost in the earth shall we indeed be in a creation renewed?" Nay they deny the meeting with their Lord! ³⁶⁴¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xiii. 5. It has been the cry of Materialists and Sceptics through the ages not only to bound their horizon with this brief life, but to deny dogmatically that there can be a future life. Though this is against the professed principles of Sceptics, in practice they take up that attitude. Here "they" refers to those "who give little thanks" to Allah, mentioned in the last verse. The argument used against them is: if Allah can produce such a wonderful creation the first time, why can He not make it again? That points to the possibility: our own general inner hope and expectation of a future life, coupled with Faith in Allah's work, is the ground of our certainty.

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.