Verses 21–30
32. As-Sajda · The Prostration
Makkan30 verses
وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْأَدْنَىٰ دُونَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ٱلْأَكْبَرِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
32:21We shall surely make them taste the nearer punishment prior to the greater punishment, so that they may come back.
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ رَبِّهِۦ ثُمَّ أَعْرَضَ عَنْهَآ ۚ إِنَّا مِنَ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ مُنتَقِمُونَ
32:22Who is a greater wrongdoer than him who is reminded of his Lord’s signs, whereat he disregards them? Indeed, We shall take vengeance upon the guilty.
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَٰبَ فَلَا تَكُن فِى مِرْيَةٍۢ مِّن لِّقَآئِهِۦ ۖ وَجَعَلْنَٰهُ هُدًۭى لِّبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ
32:23Certainly We gave Moses the Book, [declaring], ‘Do not be in doubt about the encounter with Him,’ and We made it a [source of] guidance for the Children of Israel.1
وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةًۭ يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا۟ ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ
32:24When they had been patient and had conviction in Our signs, We appointed amongst them imams to guide [the people] by Our command.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
32:25Indeed your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that about which they used to differ.
أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لَهُمْ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ يَمْشُونَ فِى مَسَٰكِنِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍ ۖ أَفَلَا يَسْمَعُونَ
32:26Does it not dawn upon them how many generations We have destroyed before them, amid [the ruins of] whose dwellings they walk? There are indeed signs in that. Will they not then listen?
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّا نَسُوقُ ٱلْمَآءَ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلْجُرُزِ فَنُخْرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرْعًۭا تَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ أَنْعَٰمُهُمْ وَأَنفُسُهُمْ ۖ أَفَلَا يُبْصِرُونَ
32:27Do they not see that We carry water to the parched earth and with it We bring forth crops, from which they eat, themselves and their cattle? Will they not then see?2
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلْفَتْحُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ
32:28They say, ‘When will this judgement be, if you are truthful?’
قُلْ يَوْمَ ٱلْفَتْحِ لَا يَنفَعُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِيمَٰنُهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ
32:29Say, ‘On the day of judgement their [newly found] faith will not avail the faithless, nor will they be granted any respite.’3
فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ وَٱنتَظِرْ إِنَّهُم مُّنتَظِرُونَ
32:30So turn away from them, and wait. They too are waiting.
Tafsir
Commentary on this passage
Verse 24
1.Allah has appointed many Apostles like Moosa and Isa (a.s.) by His commands and has given the reference of two things. Patients and true believers, This is a clear sign that these two things are very necessary for the leadership of any community and we cannot deduce the right leadership without these two things. It is necessary that he should believe in all truths and invite people for it and depend on it, otherwise if he himself is doubtful in his Apostleship, how can he invite people to the right creed or if he would have no faith in the correctness of his own religion how can he inculcate his religion in their hearts? Practically also he should have the capacity of perfect forbearance because the way of preaching is full of thorns and not a bed of flowers. If man has no patience, he can fall into dispute and could leave the work and also create new discords in the community and this kind of man is unworthy to guide the people. Guidance is a deed of patience and satisfaction and it cannot accommodate feelings of desires and selfish motives
Footnotes
Explanations of words and phrases in these verses
Benefit
Azaabe-Adna is the worldly punishment which is nearer than the punishment of the Hereafter and also much lighter than the punishment of the Hereafter. The word ‘Rujoo’ is its context. Benefit: The ‘Liqa’ in 23rd ayat is related to the Book of Moosa (a.s.) then the relationship is to the predicate and ‘Liqa’ is used in the meaning of acquiring.
- 1
Some people think this pronoun is for the Book of Moosa (a.s.), while apparently it is the Holy Quran as there is no doubt that it is from Allah because it is not something new. Before this the Book of Moosa (a.s.) was revealed. This address to the Prophet (s.a.) is not aimed at clarifying any of his doubts. Rather it indicates the importance of the matter.
- 2
This point is explained again and again that it is not a difficult matter for Allah to destroy nations and replace them with new nations. It is best explained by comparing it to the greening of arid land and the desolation of a land full of vegetation.
- 3
This day indicates the day of Qiyamat, though some people think it refers to the conquest of Mecca. But to say that belief shall not be beneficial in the world or no respite shall be given is against the principles of justice.
Benefit
Yaumul Fath is the entreaty for punishment as indicated in the 118th ayat of Surah Shuara.