| Number: | 32 |
| Number-3: | 032 |
| As-Sajdah | |
| Name-Ar: | السجدة |
| Name-En: | The Prostration |
| Prev Sura: | Quran 31 |
| Next Sura: | Quran 33 |
| Classification: | Meccan |
| Juz: | 21 |
| Rukus: | 3 |
| Verses: | 30 |
| Words: | 372 |
| Letters: | 1523 |
| Muqattaat: | ʾAlif Lām Mīm الم |
| Sajdahs: | 1 |
(السجدة), is the 32nd chapter (sūrah) of the Quran with 30 verses (āyāt). The name of the chapter has been translated as ۩ 'prostration' [1] or 'adoration'[2] and is taken from the fifteenth verse, which mentions those who "... fall prostrate and hymn the praise of their Lord".[1]
Regarding the timing and contextual background of the believed revelation, it is an earlier "Meccan surah", which means it is believed revealed in Mecca, instead of later in Medina. Theodor Nöldeke (d.1930), translator of Tabari (Arabic – German), estimated it as the 70th (Nöldeke chronology). The traditional Egyptian chronology puts the chapter as the 75th chapter by the order of revelation (after Quran 23).
The first half of the chapter covers some of Islam's theological concepts, including revelation, God, creation of human beings, resurrection and the judgment day. The second half discusses the contrast between those who "fall prostrate" before God and those who "turn away" from God's sign. The chapter then mentions the Children of Israel as an example of people who follow God's guidance through Moses.
A hadith, narrated in the Tafsir of ibn Kathir (d.1373), said that Muhammad often recited As-Sajda together with Al-Insan (Quran 76) for the early morning prayer (fajr) every Friday.[4] al-Alusi (d.1854), amongst others confirmed another report stating that Muhammad often recited the chapter before going to sleep.[1]
Al-Suyuti (d.1505) named the chapter “Sūrah of the Beds,” (sūrat al-maḍājiʿ) after a mention of those who "shun [their] beds" in order to worship God at night (tahajjud). Other names of the chapter include the choice of Al-Qurtubi (d.1274): Alif Lam Mim Tanzil ("Alif, Lam, Mim, The Revelation") after the first words from verses 1 and 2.[1]
According to the Islamic tradition, the chapter was revealed during the Meccan phase of Muhammad's prophethood. Some scholars argue, based on attaching occasions of revelations (asbāb al-nuzūl), that several verses (some say verses 16–20, some say only 18–20, some say only 16) are from Medinan phase, but the arguments are not widely accepted. For example, Mahmud al-Alusi opines that the close connection between these verses and the preceding ones means that they are likely from the same period.
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