Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Hajj Verse 18

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Have you not seen that to Allah prostrate all those in the skies and all those on the earth, and the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the animals and many from mankind? And there are many on whom punishment has become due. And the one whom Allah puts to disgrace, there is none to give him respect. Surely Allah does what He wills.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Do you not see that to Allah bow down ˹in submission˺[[ lit., prostrate. Meaning, all beings submit to His Will.]] all those in the heavens and all those on the earth, as well as the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, and ˹all˺ living beings, as well as many humans, while many are deserving of punishment. And whoever Allah disgraces, none can honour. Surely Allah does what He wills.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Do you not see that to Allah prostrate all those who are in the heavens and all those on earth: the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures, and many humans? But there are many on whom the punishment has become due. Whoever Allah disgraces, none can honor him. Allah surely does what He wills.

A. J. Arberry

Hast thou not seen how to God bow all who are in the and all who are in the earth, heavens the sun and the moon, the stars and the mountains, the trees and the beasts, and many of mankind? And many merit the chastisement; and whom God abases, there is none to honour him. God does whatsoever He will.

Abdul Haleem

Do you not realize [Prophet] that everything in the heavens and earth submits to God: the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, and the animals? So do many human beings, though for many others punishment is well deserved. Anyone disgraced by God will have no one to honour him: God does whatever He will.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Beholdest thou not that Allah unto Him adore whosoever is in the heavens and on the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the mountains, and the trees and the beasts, and many of mankind! And many are there on whom due is the torment. And whomsoever Allah despiseth, none can honour; verily Allah doth whatsoever He willeth.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Seest thou not that to Allah bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on earth,- the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great number among mankind? But a great number are (also) such as are fit for Punishment; and such as Allah shall disgrace,- None can raise to honour; for Allah carries out all that He wills.

Abul Ala Maududi

Have you not seen that all those who are in the heavens and all those who are in the earth prostrate themselves before Allah; and so do the sun and the moon, and the stars and the mountains, and the trees, and the beasts, and so do many human beings, and even many of those who are condemned to chastisement? And he whom Allah humiliates, none can give him honour. Allah does whatever He wills.

Ahmed Ali

Do you see how all things in heavens and the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, trees and beasts, and men in abundance, pay homage to God? Yet there are many who deserve the punishment. And whosoever God disgraces will have none to raise him up in honour. God does verily as He will.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Did you not see that for Allah prostrate those who are in the heavens and in the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the hills, and the trees, and the beasts, and many among mankind; and there are many upon whom the punishment has been decreed; and he whom Allah disgraces – there is none to give him honour; indeed Allah may do whatever He wills. (Command of Prostration # 6)

Ali Quli Qarai

Have you not regarded that whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth prostrates to Allah, as well as the sun, the moon, and the stars, the mountains, the trees, and the animals and many humans? And many have come to deserve the punishment. Whomever Allah humiliates will find no one who may bring him honour. Indeed Allah does whatever He wishes.

Ali Ünal

Do you ever consider that all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth prostrate themselves to God, and so do the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, and the beasts, and so do many among human beings? Whereas many others are deservedly condemned to punishment. Whoever God humiliates can have none to give him honor. Assuredly, God does whatever He wills.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Have you not considered that whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth, and (also) the sun, the moon and the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures and many of mankind make obeisance to Allâh? Yet many of (mankind) are those who become deserving of punishment (because of their disobedience). None can honour the person whom Allâh disgraces. Verily,Allâh does what He pleases. [Prostration]

English Literal

Do you not see that God prostrates to Him who (is) in the skies/space and who (is) in the earth/Planet Earth, and the sun and the moon, and the stars/planets, and the mountains , and the trees, and the walkers/creepers/crawlers , and many of the people, and many became imminent/deserved on him the torture, and who God humiliates/disgraces/degrades so (there is) no honourer (supporter) for him, that God makes/does what He wills/wants .

Faridul Haque

Did you not see that for Allah prostrate those who are in the heavens and in the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the hills, and the trees, and the beasts, and many among mankind; and there are many upon whom the punishment has been decreed; and he whom Allah disgraces - there is none to give him honour; indeed Allah may do whatever He wills. (Command of Prostration # 6)

Hamid S. Aziz

Verily, those who believe this Revelation, and those who are Jews, and the Sabaeans, and the Christians, and the Magians, and those who join other gods with Allah, verily, Allah will decide between them on the Day of Resurrection; verily, Allah is witness over all things.

Hilali & Khan

See you not that to Allah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and Ad-Dawab (moving living creatures, beasts, etc.), and many of mankind? But there are many (men) on whom the punishment is justified. And whomsoever Allah disgraces, none can honour him. Verily! Allah does what He wills.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabeans and the Christians and the Magians and the polytheists -- surely Allah will decide between them on the day of Resurrection. Surely Allah is Witness over all things.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Do you not see that Allah is He, Whom obeys whoever is in the heavens and whoever is in the earth, and the sun and the moon and the stars, and the mountains and the trees, and the animals and many of the people; and many there are against whom chastisement has become necessary; and whomsoever Allah abases, there is none who can make him honorable; surely Allah does what He pleases.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Hast thou not seen that unto Allah payeth adoration whosoever is in the heavens and whosoever is in the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the hills, and the trees, and the beasts, and many of mankind, while there are many unto whom the doom is justly due. He whom Allah scorneth, there is none to give him honour. Lo! Allah doeth what He will.

Muhammad Sarwar

Have you not considered that those in the heavens and the earth, the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, the mountains, the trees, the animals, and many people, all bow down to God? But many people deserve His torment. No one can give honor to whomever God has insulted. God has all the power to do what He wants.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Have you not seen that to Allah prostrate all who are in the heavens and all who are in the earth, the sun and the moon, the stars and the mountains, the trees and the beasts, and many people? And many deserve the punishment. He who is abased by Allah has none to honor him. Allah does what He will.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

See you not that whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and Ad-Dawabb, and many of mankind prostrate themselves to Allah. But there are many (men) on whom the punishment is justified. And whomsoever Allah disgraces, none can honor him. Verily, Allah does what He wills.

Wahiduddin Khan

Do you not see that whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth, as well as the sun and the moon, and the stars and the mountains, and the trees and the beasts and many human beings -- all submit to God? But there are many who have become deserving of punishment. Whoever God disgraces, will have no one to honour him. Surely, God does what He wills.

Talal Itani

Do you not realize that to God prostrates everyone in the heavens and everyone on earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and the animals, and many of the people? But many are justly deserving of punishment. Whomever God shames, there is none to honor him. God does whatever He wills.

Tafsir jalalayn

Have you not seen, [have you not] realised, that to God prostrate whoever is in the heavens and whoever is in the earth, together with the sun and the moon, and the stars and the mountains, and the trees and the animals, that is, how they are submissive to Him in what He wills of them, as well as many of mankind?, namely, the believers, [who prostrate to Him] in addition to their submissiveness [to Him] when prostrating in prayer. And for many the chastisement has become due, and these are the disbelievers, for they refuse to prostrate, [an action] which is contingent on belief. And he whom God abases, [he whom] He makes unprosperous, there is none to give him honour, [none] to make him fortunate. Indeed God does whatever He will, in the way of abasing or giving honour.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Everything prostrates to Allah

Allah tells us that He alone, with no partner or associate, is deserving of worship. Everything prostrates to His might, willingly or unwillingly, and everything prostrates in a manner that befits its nature, as Allah says;

أَوَ لَمْيَرَوْاْ إِلَىخَلَقَ اللَّهُ مِن شَىْءٍ يَتَفَيَّأُ ظِلَـلُهُ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَالْشَّمَأيِلِ سُجَّدًا لِلَّهِ وَهُمْ

Have they not observed things that Allah has created;(how) their shadows incline to the right and to the left, making prostration unto Allah, and they are lowly. (16;48)

And Allah says here;

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَسْجُدُ لَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الاَْرْضِ

See you not that whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth prostrate themselves to Him,

means, the angels in the regions of the heavens, and all the living creatures, men, Jinn, animals and birds.

وَإِن مِّن شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدَهِ

and there is not a thing but glorifies His praise. (17;44)

وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ وَالنُّجُومُ

and the sun, and the moon, and the stars,

These are mentioned by name, because they are worshipped instead of Allah, so Allah explains that they too prostrate to their Creator and that they are subjected to Him.

لَا تَسْجُدُواْ لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُواْ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى خَلَقَهُنَّ

Prostrate yourselves not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate yourselves to Allah Who created them. (41;37)

In the Two Sahihs it was recorded that Abu Dharr said,

"The Messenger of Allah said to me,

أَتَدْرِي أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُ هَذِهِ الشَّمْسُ



Do you know where this sun goes?

I said, `Allah and His Messenger know best.'

He said,

فَإِنَّهَا تَذْهَبُ فَتَسْجُدُ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ ثُمَّ تَسْتَأْمِرُ فَيُوشِكُ أَنْ يُقَالَ لَهَا ارْجِعِي مِنْ حَيْثُ جِيْت

It goes (sets) and prostrates beneath the Throne, then it awaits the command. Soon it will be told,

"Go back the way whence you came.""

وَالْجِبَالُ وَالشَّجَرُ

and the mountains, and the trees,

Ibn Abbas said, "A man came and said,

`O Messenger of Allah, I saw myself in a dream last night, as if I was praying behind a tree. I prostrated, and the tree prostrated when I did, and I heard it saying,

"O Allah, write down a reward for me for that, and remove a sin from me for that, store it with You for me and accept it from me as You accepted from Your servant Dawud."'

Ibn Abbas said,

"The Messenger of Allah recited an Ayah mentioning a prostration, then he prostrated, and I heard him saying the same words that the man had told him the tree said."

This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Ibn Hibban in his Sahih.

وَالدَّوَابُّ
Ad-Dawabb,

means all the animals.

It was reported in a Hadith recorded by Imam Ahmad that;

the Messenger of Allah forbade using the backs of animals as platforms for speaking, for, perhaps the one who was being ridden was better and remembered Allah more than the one who was riding.

وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنَ النَّاسِ

and many of mankind,

means, they prostrate willingly, submitting themselves to Allah of their own free will.

وَكَثِيرٌ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ الْعَذَابُ

But there are many (men) on whom the punishment is justified.

means, those who refuse prostration, are stubborn and arrogant.

وَمَن يُهِنِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِن مُّكْرِمٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاء



And whomsoever Allah disgraces, none can honor him. Verily, Allah does what He wills.

It was recorded that Abu Hurayrah said,

"The Messenger of Allah said;

إِذَا قَرَأَ ابْنُ ادَمَ السَّجْدَةَ اعْتَزَلَ الشَّيْطَانُ يَبْكِي يَقُولُ

يَا وَيْلَهُ أُمِرَ ابْنُ ادَمَ بِالسُّجُودِ فَسَجَدَ فَلَهُ الْجَنَّةُ وَأُمِرْتُ بِالسُّجُودِ فَأَبَيْتُ فَلِيَ النَّار

When the son of Adam recites the Ayat containing the prostration, the Shaytan withdraws weeping and says,

"Ah! Woe (to me)! the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate and he prostrated, so Paradise is his; I was commanded to prostrate and I refused, so I am doomed to Hell."
This was recorded by Muslim.
In his book Al-Marasil, Abu Dawud recorded that Khalid bin Ma`dan, may Allah have mercy upon him, reported that Allah's Messenger said,

فُضِّلَتْ سُورَةُ الْحَجِّ عَلَى سَايِرِ الْقُرْانِ بِسَجْدَتَيْن

"Surah Al-Hajj has been favored over the rest of the Qur'an with two prostrations."

Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Isma`ili recorded from Abu Al-Jahm that;

Umar did the two prostrations of (Surah) Al-Hajj when he was in Al-Jabiyah, and he said,

"This Surah has been favored with two prostrations.