سُوْرَةُ الرَّعْدِ

Surah Ar-Ra'd (13) — Ayah 15

The Thunder · Medinan · Juz 13 · Page 251

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وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَظِلَـٰلُهُم بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْـَٔاصَالِ ۩ ﴿15﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

And unto Allâh (Alone) falls in prostration whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and so do their shadows in the mornings and in the afternoons.

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

وَلِلَّهِ walillahi And to Allah
يَسْجُدُ yasjudu prostrates
مَن man whoever
فِى fī (is) in
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ l-samāwāti the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضِ wal-arḍi and the earth
طَوْعًۭا ṭawʿan willingly
وَكَرْهًۭا wakarhan or unwillingly
وَظِلَـٰلُهُم waẓilāluhum and (so do) their shadows
بِٱلْغُدُوِّ bil-ghuduwi in the mornings
وَٱلْـَٔاصَالِ ۩ wal-āṣāli and in the afternoons

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah15) ➊ {وَ لِلّٰهِ يَسْجُدُ مَنْ فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ …:} The meaning of sajdah is to bring the highest and most honorable part of the body lower than low before someone, expressing utmost humility before them. Thus, everything in the universe is expressing its humility and helplessness before Allah Almighty in this way. There is no difference between a Muslim and a disbeliever in this; however, man has been given a little choice to walk on the path of Paradise or Hell, apart from this, he is prostrating before Allah in every way, even unwillingly, and compared to Allah’s power, his own power over himself is not even one percent, not even one in a thousand. If anyone doubts this, let him try to hold his breath, stop his hunger or thirst, hold back urine or stool, if illness comes, let him stand firm and say, “I do not get sick,” stop old age from coming and hair from turning white, if the heartbeat stops, let him try to start it, if the kidneys fail, let him try to make them work, he can lift one leg, let him try to lift the other as well, let him show arrogance before the Angel of Death. In short, every rational and irrational being and their shadows, willingly or unwillingly, are prostrating before Allah alone. Then, to plead with such a helpless being, to call someone “Data,” someone “Dastgir,” someone “Gharib Nawaz,” someone “Mushkil Kusha,” how great a folly is this! Here, also see the translation and exegesis of Surah Al-Hajj, verse (18).

➋ { وَ ظِلٰلُهُمْ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَ الْاٰصَالِ : } That is, the shrinking and lengthening of their shadows is also by His will and decree. The mention of the earlier and later parts of the day is because at these times the shadow of everything on the earth is prominent, and in terms of worship, these are both excellent times. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: “And the shadows spread on the earth at morning and evening, this is their sajdah.” (Mowdih)

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

15. 1. In this, the greatness and power of Allah Almighty is described, that His dominance is over everything and everything is under His control and prostrates before Him, whether they do so willingly like the believers or unwillingly like the polytheists. And their shadows also prostrate morning and evening. As stated in another place: (اَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا اِلٰى مَا خَلَقَ اللّٰهُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ يَّتَفَيَّؤُا ظِلٰلُهٗ عَنِ الْيَمِيْنِ وَالشَّمَاۗىِٕلِ سُجَّدًا لِّلّٰهِ وَهُمْ دٰخِرُوْنَ) 16. An-Nahl:48) Surah An-Nahl Have they not seen that whatever thing Allah has created, their shadows incline to the right and to the left, prostrating to Allah, and they are humble? What is the nature of this prostration? Allah Almighty knows best. Or its other meaning is that all creation, including the disbeliever, is subject to Allah's command; no one has the power to disobey Him. If Allah gives someone health or makes them ill, makes them rich or poor, gives life or causes death, in these decreed commands, even a disbeliever has no power to deny.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

15. To Allah prostrate all those in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and so do their shadows in the mornings and evenings [22][23].

[22]
The Meaning of the Things in the Universe Prostrating to Allah:

That is, every thing in the universe is bound by and helpless before those natural laws which Allah Almighty has established for it. For example, the law for water is that it flows towards lower ground, and it is impossible for water to start flowing upwards against this law. Similarly, it is impossible for water not to maintain its level surface. This very thing is its prostration before Allah. In the same way, every thing in the universe is prostrating before Allah. Even man is bound by and helpless before these laws. For example, if he wishes to live without eating or drinking, he cannot do so, or if he wishes to prevent death from coming to him, he cannot do so. His choice is only in those matters in which he has been given the power of will and choice, and it is in these that he is tested.

[23] That is, shadows are bound by the law prescribed for them, and that is that light always travels in a straight path, and the mention of morning and evening is because at these times shadows are very long and spread out, and the increase and decrease of shadows happens gradually in the same proportion as the sun travels in a certain direction.
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