Revealed in the middle Makkan period, Surah As-Sajdah (The Prostration) defends the reality of revelation, creation, and resurrection against the doubts of the disbelievers. It challenges humanity to reflect on their physical origin from clay and water, and the divine breath that gave them life and consciousness. The Surah takes its name from the verse of prostration, which describes the true believers as those who immediately fall in prostration when reminded of their Lord's signs, forsaking their beds in the night to call upon Him in fear and hope. It contrasts the eternal reward of paradise with the punishment of transgressors, urging mankind to submit before the Day of Judgment.
Transliteration
Aliflammeem
Translation
Alif, Lam, Meem
These three disjointed letters ('Alif-Lam-Mim') are Huruf Muqatta'at, whose true knowledge rests with Allah alone. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ held this chapter in special reverence, regularly reciting it during Friday dawn prayers and each night before sleep.
Transliteration
Tanzeelu alkitabi la rayba feehi min rabbi alAAalameena
Translation
The revelation of the Book, without a doubt, is from the Lord of the Universe
Transliteration
Am yaqooloona iftarahu bal huwa alhaqqu min rabbika litunthira qawman ma atahum min natheerin min qablika laAAallahum yahtadoona
Translation
Yet they say, “He made it up.” In fact, it is the Truth from your Lord, to warn a people who received no warner before you, that they may be guided
Transliteration
Allahu allathee khalaqa alssamawati waalarda wama baynahuma fee sittati ayyamin thumma istawa AAala alAAarshi ma lakum min doonihi min waliyyin wala shafeeAAin afala tatathakkaroona
Translation
God is He who created the heavens and the earth and everything between them in six days, and then established Himself on the Throne. Apart from Him, you have no master and no intercessor. Will you not reflect
Transliteration
Yudabbiru alamra mina alssamai ila alardi thumma yaAAruju ilayhi fee yawmin kana miqdaruhu alfa sanatin mimma taAAuddoona
Translation
He regulates all affairs, from the heavens, to the earth. Then it ascends to Him on a Day the length of which is a thousand years by your count
Introduces cosmic time relativity: God directs the administration of the entire universe from heaven to earth, which ascends back to Him in a period equivalent to a thousand years of human reckoning, demonstrating that divine time operates beyond human earthly scales.
Transliteration
Thalika AAalimu alghaybi waalshshahadati alAAazeezu alrraheemu
Translation
That is the Knower of the Invisible and the Visible, the Powerful, the Merciful
Transliteration
Allathee ahsana kulla shayin khalaqahu wabadaa khalqa alinsani min teenin
Translation
He who perfected everything He created, and originated the creation of man from clay
Transliteration
Thumma jaAAala naslahu min sulalatin min main maheenin
Translation
Then made his reproduction from an extract of an insignificant fluid
Transliteration
Thumma sawwahu wanafakha feehi min roohihi wajaAAala lakumu alssamAAa waalabsara waalafidata qaleelan ma tashkuroona
Translation
Then He proportioned him, and breathed into him of His Spirit. Then He gave you the hearing, and the eyesight, and the brains—but rarely do you give thanks
Observes the chronological development of human sensory faculties in the womb: explicitly citing hearing ('Sam'') before eyesight ('Absar'), precisely matching modern embryological findings that an infant's inner ear develops and hears sound long before the eyes open.
Transliteration
Waqaloo aitha dalalna fee alardi ainna lafee khalqin jadeedin bal hum biliqai rabbihim kafiroona
Translation
And they say, “When we are lost into the earth, shall we be in a new creation?” In fact, they deny the meeting with their Lord
Reflects the skepticism of Meccan pagans who could not fathom how decomposed human bones, turned to dust and merged into the soil, could ever be reconstructed into conscious living bodies.
Transliteration
Qul yatawaffakum malaku almawti allathee wukkila bikum thumma ila rabbikum turjaAAoona
Translation
Say, “The angel of death put in charge of you will reclaim you. Then to your Lord you will be returned.”
Identifies the role of the Angel of Death ('Malak al-Mawt'): tasked by divine decree with extracting the soul at its appointed term and escorting it to its maker.
Transliteration
Walaw tara ithi almujrimoona nakisoo ruoosihim AAinda rabbihim rabbana absarna wasamiAAna faarjiAAna naAAmal salihan inna mooqinoona
Translation
If only you could see the guilty, bowing their heads before their Lord: “Our Lord, we have seen and we have heard, so send us back, and we will act righteously; we are now convinced.”
Transliteration
Walaw shina laatayna kulla nafsin hudaha walakin haqqa alqawlu minnee laamlaanna jahannama mina aljinnati waalnnasi ajmaAAeena
Translation
Had We willed, We could have given every soul its guidance, but the declaration from Me will come true: “I will fill Hell with jinn and humans, altogether.”
Transliteration
Fathooqoo bima naseetum liqaa yawmikum hatha inna naseenakum wathooqoo AAathaba alkhuldi bima kuntum taAAmaloona
Translation
So taste, because you forgot the meeting of this Day of yours; We have forgotten you; so taste the eternal torment for what you used to do
Transliteration
Innama yuminu biayatina allatheena itha thukkiroo biha kharroo sujjadan wasabbahoo bihamdi rabbihim wahum la yastakbiroona
Translation
They believe in Our communications, those who, when reminded of them, fall down prostrate, and glorify their Lord with praise, and are not proud
The prostration verse of the Surah: describes sincere believers as those who instantly drop to the ground in humble prostration (Sujud) upon hearing divine verses, completely devoid of pride. Readers traditionally perform a physical prostration upon reciting or hearing this verse.
Transliteration
Tatajafa junoobuhum AAani almadajiAAi yadAAoona rabbahum khawfan watamaAAan wamimma razaqnahum yunfiqoona
Translation
Their sides shun their beds, as they pray to their Lord, out of reverence and hope; and from Our provisions to them, they give
Praises believers who voluntarily leave their warm beds in the silence of the night to engage in intimate late-night prayer (Tahajjud), balancing deep reverent awe with hopeful longing.
Transliteration
Fala taAAlamu nafsun ma okhfiya lahum min qurrati aAAyunin jazaan bima kanoo yaAAmaloona
Translation
No soul knows what eye’s delight awaits them—a reward for what they used to do
A celebrated promise of Paradise: God declares that no human soul can even conceive the boundless joy, beauty, and emotional tranquility ('Qurrata A'yun') prepared in the afterlife for the righteous—echoing the Hadith: 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor human heart ever conceived.'
Transliteration
Afaman kana muminan kaman kana fasiqan la yastawoona
Translation
Is someone who is faithful like someone who is a sinner? They are not equal
Revealed following an argument between the noble companion Ali ibn Abi Talib and the arrogant aristocrat al-Walid ibn Uqbah, affirming that a sincere believer and an arrogant oppressor can never be deemed equal before God.
Transliteration
Amma allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo alssalihati falahum jannatu almawa nuzulan bima kanoo yaAAmaloona
Translation
As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, for them are the Gardens of Shelter—hospitality for what they used to do
Transliteration
Waamma allatheena fasaqoo famawahumu alnnaru kullama aradoo an yakhrujoo minha oAAeedoo feeha waqeela lahum thooqoo AAathaba alnnari allathee kuntum bihi tukaththiboona
Translation
But as for those who transgressed, their shelter is the Fire. Every time they try to get out of it, they will be brought back into it, and it will be said to them, “Taste the suffering of the Fire which you used to deny.”
Transliteration
Walanutheeqannahum mina alAAathabi aladna doona alAAathabi alakbari laAAallahum yarjiAAoona
Translation
We will make them taste the lesser torment, prior to the greater torment, so that they may return
Transliteration
Waman athlamu mimman thukkira biayati rabbihi thumma aAArada AAanha inna mina almujrimeena muntaqimoona
Translation
Who is more wrong than he, who, when reminded of his Lord’s revelations, turns away from them? We will certainly wreak vengeance upon the criminals
Transliteration
Walaqad atayna moosa alkitaba fala takun fee miryatin min liqaihi wajaAAalnahu hudan libanee israeela
Translation
We gave Moses the Book; so do not be in doubt regarding His encounter; and We made it a guidance for the Children of Israel
Transliteration
WajaAAalna minhum aimmatan yahdoona biamrina lamma sabaroo wakanoo biayatina yooqinoona
Translation
And We appointed leaders from among them, guiding by Our command, as long as they persevered and were certain of Our communications
Transliteration
Inna rabbaka huwa yafsilu baynahum yawma alqiyamati feema kanoo feehi yakhtalifoona
Translation
Your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection regarding everything they had disputed
Transliteration
Awalam yahdi lahum kam ahlakna min qablihim mina alqurooni yamshoona fee masakinihim inna fee thalika laayatin afala yasmaAAoona
Translation
Is it not a lesson for them, how many generations We have destroyed before them, in whose habitations they walk? Surely in that are signs. Do they not hear
Transliteration
Awalam yaraw anna nasooqu almaa ila alardi aljuruzi fanukhriju bihi zarAAan takulu minhu anAAamuhum waanfusuhum afala yubsiroona
Translation
Do they not see how We conduct the water to a dry land, and with it We produce vegetation, from which their livestock eat, and themselves? Do they not see
Transliteration
Wayaqooloona mata hatha alfathu in kuntum sadiqeena
Translation
And they say, “When is this victory, if you are truthful?”
Addresses the cynical demand of skeptics asking for the exact calendar date of the 'Day of Decision,' clarifying that when Judgment finally descends, forced confessions and late-stage repentance will be utterly useless.
Transliteration
Qul yawma alfathi la yanfaAAu allatheena kafaroo eemanuhum wala hum yuntharoona
Translation
Say, “On the day of victory, the faith of those who disbelieved will be of no avail to them, and they will not be granted respite.”
Transliteration
FaaAArid AAanhum waintathir innahum muntathiroona
Translation
So turn away from them, and wait. They too are waiting