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
وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا ثُمَّ لَا يُؤْذَنُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَلَا هُمْ يُسْتَعْتَبُونَ
And [mention] the Day when We will resurrect from every nation a witness [i.e., their prophet]. Then it will not be permitted to the disbelievers [to apologize or make excuses], nor will they be asked to appease [Allāh].
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ ءَامِنَةً مُّطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ ٱللَّهِ فَأَذَٰقَهَا ٱللَّهُ لِبَاسَ ٱلْجُوعِ وَٱلْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَصْنَعُونَ
And Allāh presents an example: a city [i.e., Makkah] which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allāh. So Allāh made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing.
ٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَـٰدِلْهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided.
۞ وَقَالَ ٱللَّهُ لَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ إِلَـٰهَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ ۖ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ فَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرْهَبُونِ
And Allāh has said, "Do not take for yourselves two deities. He [i.e., Allāh] is but one God, so fear only Me."