وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ 49
Translations
And to Allāh prostrates whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth of creatures, and the angels [as well], and they are not arrogant.
Transliteration
Wa lillahi yasjudu ma fi as-samawati wa ma fi al-ardi min dabbah wa al-mala'ikatu wa hum la yastakbiroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that all creatures in the heavens and on earth, along with the angels, prostrate to Allah in submission and obedience. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this prostration represents the natural submission of all creation to Allah's will and divine order, whether through conscious recognition (as with humans and angels) or through their inherent nature and purpose. The phrase 'wa hum la yastakbiroon' (and they are not arrogant) emphasizes that neither the angels nor any creature refuses or shows arrogance toward Allah's command, presenting a stark contrast to human free will and the danger of human pride.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl (Meccan chapter) within a broader context of demonstrating Allah's majesty and the universality of creation's submission to Him. The surah uses natural phenomena, particularly the example of bees mentioned in its name, to illustrate divine wisdom and providence. This specific ayah reinforces the theme that all creation acknowledges Allah's supremacy.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Every creature glorifies with his prayer' (Sunan Ibn Majah), indicating that all creatures engage in worship and submission according to their nature. Additionally, Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet taught that when one prostrates, they should say 'Subhana Rabbi al-A'la' (Glory be to my Lord the Most High), reflecting conscious participation in the universal prostration described in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that submission to Allah is the natural state of all creation and should be our default condition; it challenges human arrogance and reminds us that maintaining humility and obedience to Allah aligns us with the fundamental nature of the universe rather than opposing it.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّتِى نَقَضَتْ غَزْلَهَا مِنۢ بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ أَنكَـٰثًا تَتَّخِذُونَ أَيْمَـٰنَكُمْ دَخَلًۢا بَيْنَكُمْ أَن تَكُونَ أُمَّةٌ هِىَ أَرْبَىٰ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ ۚ إِنَّمَا يَبْلُوكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ ۚ وَلَيُبَيِّنَنَّ لَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
And do not be like she who untwisted her spun thread after it was strong [by] taking your oaths as [means of] deceit between you because one community is more plentiful [in number or wealth] than another community. Allāh only tries you thereby. And He will surely make clear to you on the Day of Resurrection that over which you used to differ.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمُ ٱسْتَحَبُّوا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا عَلَى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
That is because they preferred the worldly life over the Hereafter and that Allāh does not guide the disbelieving people.
أَفَأَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مَكَرُوا۟ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ أَن يَخْسِفَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Then, do those who have planned evil deeds feel secure that Allāh will not cause the earth to swallow them or that the punishment will not come upon them from where they do not perceive?
ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ ٱتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Then We revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], to follow the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; and he was not of those who associate with Allāh.