Surah as-Sajdah

It is also called "al-Madaji'" (The Beds), as stated in al-Itqan. In Majma' al-Bayan, it is mentioned that just as it is called Surah as-Sajdah, it is also called "Sajdat Luqman" so that it may not be confused with "Ha-Mim as-Sajdah."

The consensus is that it is Meccan. Ibn al-Durays, Ibn Marduyah, and al-Bayhaqi in al-Dala'il reported from Ibn Abbas that it was revealed in Mecca. Ibn Marduyah reported the same from Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr. However, another narration from the "Ahbar" (Ibn Abbas) contains an exception; al-Nahhas reported from him, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: "Surah as-Sajdah was revealed in Mecca, except for three verses: 'Is he then who is a believer...' to the end of the three verses." A similar report is narrated from Mujahid and al-Kalbi. Some have also excepted two other verses, namely His saying: "Their sides forsake their beds," and they used certain narrations regarding the cause of revelation as evidence for this—you will see these, if Allah wills. I consider their exception to be unlikely due to the strong connection they have with what precedes them.

It consists of twenty-nine verses according to the Basran count, and thirty according to the others. The aspect of its relevance to the preceding surah lies in the fact that both contain proofs of Divinity. In al-Bahr, it is stated that since He, glory be to Him, mentioned in the preceding surah the proofs of Monotheism—which is the first foundation—then mentioned the Resurrection—which is the second foundation—and concluded the surah with that, He, majesty be to His affairs, mentioned at the beginning of this surah the third foundation, which is Prophethood.

Al-Jalal al-Suyuti said regarding the aspect of its connection to the preceding: It is an explanation of the five keys of the Unseen mentioned at the end of the previous surah. His saying: "Then it ascends to Him in a day, the measure of which is a thousand years of what you count," is an explanation of His saying: "Indeed, Allah has knowledge of the Hour," and that is why He followed it with His saying: "Knower of the unseen and the witnessed." His saying: "Have they not seen that We drive the water to the barren land?" is an explanation of His saying: "And He sends down the rain." His saying, blessed and exalted is He: "Who perfected everything He created..." until the end of the verses, is an explanation of His saying: "And He knows what is in the wombs." His saying: "He arranges the matter from the heaven to the earth; then it will ascend to Him in a day..." is an explanation of His saying: "And no soul knows what it will earn tomorrow." His saying: "And they say, 'When we are lost in the earth...'" until His saying: "Say, 'The angel of death who has been entrusted with you will take your souls, then to your Lord you will be returned,'" is an explanation of His saying: "And no soul knows in what land it will die." This, however, is not free from scrutiny.

Many narrations have come regarding its excellence. Abu Ubayd and Ibn al-Durays reported from the mursal of al-Musayyib ibn Rafi' that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "'Alif-Lam-Mim Tanzil'—and in one narration, 'Alif-Lam-Mim as-Sajdah'—will come on the Day of Resurrection having two wings, sheltering its companion and saying: 'There is no way against him, there is no way against him.'"

Al-Darimi, al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Marduyah reported from Tawus that he said: "'Alif-Lam-Mim as-Sajdah' and 'Tabarak alladhi bi-yadihi al-Mulk' are superior to every surah in the Quran by sixty good deeds." In a narration from Ibn Umar: "They are superior by sixty degrees over other surahs of the Quran."

Abu Ubayd in Fada'il, Ahmad, Abd ibn Humayd, al-Darimi, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa'i, and al-Hakim—who authenticated it—and Ibn Marduyah reported from Jabir that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would not sleep until he recited Alif-Lam-Mim Tanzil as-Sajdah and Tabarak alladhi bi-yadihi al-Mulk.

Ibn Marduyah reported from Ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever recites Tabarak alladhi bi-yadihi al-Mulk and Alif-Lam-Mim Tanzil as-Sajdah between Maghrib and Isha, it is as if he stood in prayer during the Night of Decree." Similar reports were narrated by him, al-Tha'labi, and al-Wahidi from the hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka'b, and by al-Tha'labi alone from the hadith of Ibn Abbas. Shaykh Wali al-Din examined this and said: "I have not found it." These narrations are all fabricated. However, I saw in al-Durr al-Manthur that al-Khara'iti reported in Makarim al-Akhlaq via the path of Hatim ibn Muhammad from Tawus that he said: "There is no man on earth who recites Alif-Lam-Mim Tanzil as-Sajdah and Tabarak alladhi bi-yadihi al-Mulk in a night except that the reward of the Night of Decree is written for him." Hatim said: "I mentioned this to Ata', and he said: 'Tawus spoke the truth. By Allah, I have not abandoned them since I heard of them, unless I was sick.'" I have not found what was said about this report regarding its authenticity, weakness, or fabrication. There are many other narrations about its excellence besides this; Allah Almighty knows best their status.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to recite it and Hal Ata in the Friday Fajr prayer, which indicates its excellence, and the hadith regarding this is authentic and beyond dispute. Ibn Abi Shaybah, al-Bukhari, Muslim, al-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah reported from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to recite in the Fajr prayer on Friday Alif-Lam-Mim Tanzil as-Sajdah and Hal Ata 'ala al-Insan. Abu Dawud and the others—except for al-Bukhari—reported the same from Ibn Abbas.

Al-Sajdah: (1) Alif-Lam-Mim

(In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Alif-Lam-Mim.)

If it is established as a name for the Surah or the Qur'an, then its grammatical position is nominative (raf’), as it is the predicate (khabar) of an omitted subject (mubtada’), meaning: "This is Alif-Lam-Mim." And His saying, the Exalted: