وَيَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقَانِ يَبْكُونَ وَيَزِيدُهُمْ خُشُوعًا ۩ 109
Translations
And they fall upon their faces weeping, and it [i.e., the Qur’ān] increases them in humble submission.
Transliteration
Wa-yakhirrun lil-adhqani yabkun wa-yaziduhum khushu'a
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the believers' emotional and spiritual response upon hearing the Qur'an recited—they fall prostrate to the ground weeping out of reverence and awe for Allah's words. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse illustrates the profound impact the Qur'an has on those with sincere hearts, as they are moved to tears and increased humility (khushu') in submission to Allah. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this reaction represents the peak of spiritual consciousness and demonstrates how the divine words penetrate the hearts of the faithful.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Isra's discussion of the Qur'an's miraculous nature and its effects on believers. It is part of a broader passage (17:107-109) describing how those who believe respond to the Qur'an with tears and prostration, contrasting them with those who turn away. The surah addresses the spiritual transformation that occurs when sincere hearts encounter Allah's revelation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). Additionally, 'When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell down in prostration and weeping' is referenced in the context of Surah Maryam 58, showing a parallel spiritual state of believers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith involves an emotional and spiritual responsiveness to Allah's words—believers should seek to develop sincere hearts that are moved by the Qur'an's message. In our modern distracted age, this verse encourages us to recite and listen to the Qur'an with presence of heart and genuine reverence, allowing its words to penetrate our souls and increase our humility before Allah.
Related Ayahs
۞ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ قَادِرٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَهُمْ أَجَلًا لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ فَأَبَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ إِلَّا كُفُورًا
Do they not see that Allāh, who created the heavens and earth, is [the one] Able to create the likes of them? And He has appointed for them a term, about which there is no doubt. But the wrongdoers refuse except disbelief.
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فَـٰحِشَةً وَسَآءَ سَبِيلًا
And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.
ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ ضَرَبُوا۟ لَكَ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ فَضَلُّوا۟ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ سَبِيلًا
Look how they strike for you comparisons; but they have strayed, so they cannot [find] a way.
مَّنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِى لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا
Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.