وَٱلنَّجْمُ وَٱلشَّجَرُ يَسْجُدَانِ 6
Translations
And the stars and trees prostrate.
Transliteration
Wa al-najmu wa al-shajaru yasjudaan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the stars and trees prostrating in submission to Allah, expressing their obedience to His divine will. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as the natural inclination and submission of all creation to Allah's commands—the stars follow their celestial paths and trees bow their branches, all manifestations of sajdah (prostration) in the cosmic sense. This ayah emphasizes that every creature and element of creation acknowledges Allah's sovereignty, whether through conscious worship (as in humans) or through the natural submission of their created nature.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ar-Rahman, a Medinan surah that recounts Allah's blessings and signs throughout creation. The surah systematically demonstrates how all creation testifies to Allah's mercy (ar-Rahman) and majesty, with verses progressively illustrating different aspects of the natural world. This particular ayah fits within the broader theme of universal submission to Allah's will.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best remembrance is 'La ilaha illallah' (there is no deity except Allah), and the best supplication is 'Alhamdulillah' (all praise is for Allah)' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). While not directly about this ayah, it relates to the theme of all creation glorifying Allah. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the angels prostrating emphasizes the universal theme of creation's submission.
Themes
Key Lesson
Every element of creation—visible and invisible—participates in glorifying Allah through its very nature and function, reminding us that submission to Allah's will is not merely a human religious obligation but a fundamental characteristic of all existence. This should inspire believers to recognize Allah's majesty in the natural world and cultivate sincere submission in their own hearts and actions.