أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَسْجُدُ لَهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ وَٱلنُّجُومُ وَٱلْجِبَالُ وَٱلشَّجَرُ وَٱلدَّوَآبُّ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْعَذَابُ ۗ وَمَن يُهِنِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن مُّكْرِمٍ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۩ 18
Translations
Do you not see [i.e., know] that to Allāh prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth and the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures and many of the people? But upon many the punishment has been justified. And he whom Allāh humiliates - for him there is no bestower of honor. Indeed, Allāh does what He wills.
Transliteration
Alam tara anna Allaha yasjudu lahu man fi as-samawati wa man fi al-ardi wa ash-shams wa al-qamar wa an-nujum wa al-jibal wa ash-shajar wa ad-dawabb wa kathir min an-nas wa kathir haqqa alayhi al-adhab wa man yuhin Allahu fa ma lahu min mukarrim inna Allaha yafalu ma yasha
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the universal prostration and submission of all creation to Allah—from the celestial bodies (sun, moon, stars) to the mountains, vegetation, and animals. Ibn Kathir explains that this refers to the inherent obedience and submission of all creation to Allah's laws and will, as well as literal prostration by those capable. The ayah concludes by distinguishing those who willingly submit (many among humanity) from those who reject faith and deserve punishment, emphasizing that honor comes only through Allah's grace, not human endeavor.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Hajj is Medinan and addresses the reality of the Hajj pilgrimage while expounding Islamic monotheism. This particular ayah comes in a section emphasizing Allah's absolute sovereignty and the universal nature of worship, serving as a reminder to believers that all existence acknowledges Allah's lordship, making human rejection of faith a rebellion against natural order.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Every day the sun rises, and with it angels come down saying: O Lord, judge between Your servants regarding that in which they differ.' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Also relevant: The Prophet mentioned that every creature glorifies Allah in its own way (Tafsir context from various hadith collections).
Themes
Key Lesson
Just as all of creation naturally submits to Allah's laws and design, humans are called to conscious, willing submission through faith and obedience. Recognition that true honor and dignity come only through Allah's grace, not through worldly status or rejecting divine guidance.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ قُتِلُوٓا۟ أَوْ مَاتُوا۟ لَيَرْزُقَنَّهُمُ ٱللَّهُ رِزْقًا حَسَنًا ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ
And those who emigrated for the cause of Allāh and then were killed or died - Allāh will surely provide for them a good provision. And indeed, it is Allāh who is the best of providers.
ٱللَّهُ يَصْطَفِى مِنَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ رُسُلًا وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
Allāh chooses from the angels messengers and from the people. Indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَعَادٌ وَثَمُودُ
And if they deny you, [O Muḥammad] - so, before them, did the people of Noah and ʿAad and Thamūd deny [their prophets],
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَآ أَوْ ءَاذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۖ فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ وَلَـٰكِن تَعْمَى ٱلْقُلُوبُ ٱلَّتِى فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ
So have they not traveled through the earth and have hearts by which to reason and ears by which to hear? For indeed, it is not eyes that are blinded, but blinded are the hearts which are within the breasts.