Quranic Concept of Sajud (Sajdah)

Man_of_Faith

Mazhar,

I agree that in best case dictionaries can be right, but they do not necessarily have the proper definition even if key words are still accurate and they thus falsely misrepresent or add bias to the word's meaning. In other words; the connotation has been corrupted so that they do not connote on precisely se the same object, action or mental image as originally intended by the author, which in the case of the book called Quran is God.

So please do not be so quick in saying "Aha! I got you!"

Try again.

And no; sujud does not mean prostration by definition. A prostration is an extended bow by the way. A bow to the ground.

Wakas

A physical prostration is simply one specific meaning of SJD. I summarised the problems of this meaning in Quran here
http//www.mypercept.co.uk/articles/Summary-problems-sujud-prostration-Quran.html

It is an excellent summary, if I may say so.

Taro_Hiroshi

Peace everyone,

As far as I am concerned, the traditional understanding of the word Sujud in the Quran has no basis in reality.

Among His proofs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Do not Sujud before the sun, nor the moon; you shall fall Sujud before the GOD who created them, if you truly worship Him alone.

According to verse 4137, the author of the Quran tells people to not Sujud before the sun nor the moon. Then people are told to Sujud before the God (instead). The traditional understanding of the word Sujud in the above mentioned verse, is that it means physical prostration. According to history, people used to worship/serve the sun and the moon as deities in the past. They attributed lies to their deities; and did evil deeds in the name of their deities (The Sun and the Moon). By worshipping/serving the Sun and the Moon instead of worshipping/serving God, the man-made teachings attributed to their deities, corrupted their souls. Because they believed deeds that they did were sanctified by their deities (the sun and the moon). I think the reason why the author of the Quran tells people to not Sujud before the sun nor the moon, is because it will lead them to follow lies attributed to these deities or create lies and attribute them to their deities. Physical prostration towards the sun or the moon will not corrupt the souls of people. The thing which wlll corrupt the souls of people is worshipping/serving the Sun or the moon by obeying teachings that attributed to these false deities. Therefore it is unlikely that the word Sujud in the above mentioned verse means physical prostration. The word Sujud in the above mentioned verse most likely mean obedience. I don't think the author don't tell people to not Sujud before the Sun or the moon without a purpose. There is probably a good reason behind this advice/commandment. And that reason can't be physical prostration. Because physical prostration towards the sun or the moon will not harm the man/woman who does it, nor will this act harm other people. In the past the polytheists killed their children and killed other innocent people. They did these evil deeds because they believed these deeds were sanctioned by their false deities.

And, likewise, their belief in beings or powers that are supposed to have a share in God's divinity makes the slaying of their children seem goodly to many of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God, thus bringing them to ruin and confusing them in their faith. Yet, unless God had so willed, they would not be doing all this stand, therefore, aloof from them and all their false imagery!

""I found them ruled by a woman, and she was given all possessions, and she had a great throne."And I found her and her people Sujud to the sun instead of God! And the devil had made their works appear good to them, so he kept them away from the path, for they are not being guided."

The false deities of the people, had no power in themselves. Because their deities were inanimate objects that couldn't help them and couldn't harm them. But it was the power that people gave to their deities, by attributing man-made teachings to them, that made their deities dangerous. By devoting their lives to their deities, they ignored and/or abandoned the teachings of God.

Taro_Hiroshi

Peace everyone,

In this post I would like to share some of my thoughts on Sujud.

It seems that all traditional muslims believe that the Quranic word Sujud means physical prostration.

In reality there are many Quranic verses that disprove the notion that the word Sujud means physical prostration.

I would like to share a Quranic verse that disproves the notion that Sujud means physical prostration.

ART THOU NOT aware that before God Sujud themselves all that are in the heavens and all that are on earth the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and the beasts, whereas many will inevitably have to suffer ; and he whom God shall scorn will have none who could bestow honour on him for, verily, God does what He wills.

According to verse 2218, the sun Sujud before God. If the word Sujud means physical prostration, then this means that the sun does a physical prostration before God. Can the sun do a physical prostration before God?

http//www.tafreehmella.com/attachments/sajdahsahu-php_sajdah-jpg.40357/

Have you ever seen the sun do a physical prostration before God? Have you ever seen the sun prostrate like the man in the picture above? No. Hence our logic tells us that the sun can not do a physical prostration before God.

According to verse 2218 the moon Sujud before God. If the word Sujud means physical prostration, then this means that the moon does a physical prostration before God. Can the moon do a physical prostration before God?

http//www.tafreehmella.com/attachments/sajdahsahu-php_sajdah-jpg.40357/

Have you ever seen the moon do a physical prostration before God? Have you ever seen the moon prostrate itself like the man in the picture above? No. Hence our logic tells us that the stars can not do a physical prostration before God.

According to verse 2218, the stars Sujud before God. If the word Sujud means physical prostration, then this means that the stars do a physical prostration before God. Can the stars do a physical prostration before God?

http//www.tafreehmella.com/attachments/sajdahsahu-php_sajdah-jpg.40357/

Have you ever seen the stars do a physical prostration before God? Have you ever seen the stars prostrate themselves like the man in the picture above? No. Hence our logic tells us that the stars can not do a physical prostration before God.

According to verse 2218, the mountains Sujud before God. If the word Sujud means physical prostration, then this means that the mountains do a physical prostration before God. Can the mountains do a physical prostration before God?

http//www.tafreehmella.com/attachments/sajdahsahu-php_sajdah-jpg.40357/

Have you ever seen the mountains do a physical prostration before God? Have you ever seen the mountains prostrate themselves like the man in the picture above? No. Hence our logic tells us that the mountains can not do a physical prostration before God.

According to verse 2218, the trees Sujud before God. If the word Sujud means physical prostration, then this means that the trees do a physical prostration before God. Can the trees do a physical prostration before God?

http//www.tafreehmella.com/attachments/sajdahsahu-php_sajdah-jpg.40357/

Have you ever seen the trees do a physical prostration before God? Have you ever seen the trees prostrate themselves like the man in the picture above? No. Hence our logic tells us that the tress can not do a physical prostration before God.

If the word Sujud means physical prostration in the paragraphs above, then this means that the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains and the trees physically prostrate themselves before God. Does that sound reasonable? Does that sound logical? Does that sound realistic? Does that sound possible?

If the word Sujud means obedience in the paragraphs above, then this means that the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains and the trees obey God?

I would like to share another Quranic verse that disproves the notion that Sujud means physical prostration.

Did they not see that what God has created, its shadow inclines to the right and the left Sujud to God, willingly?

According to verse 1648, the shadow of something Sujud to God. If the word Sujud means physical prostration, then this means that the shadow of something do a physical prostration to God. Can the shadow of something do a physical prostration to God?

http//www.tafreehmella.com/attachments/sajdahsahu-php_sajdah-jpg.40357/

Have you ever seen the shadow of something do a physical prostration to God? Have you ever seen the shadow of something prostrate itself like the man in the picture above? No. Hence our logic tells us that the shadow can not do a physical prostration to God.

If the word Sujud has nothing to do with physical prostration and everything to do with obedience, then this means that the way traditional muslims pray by physically prostration on the ground, has nothing to do with the teachings of the Quran. Because any tradition or ritual that can't be found in the Quran is not a part of our deen (monotheism/quran-oriented islam). Our deen must be based solely on the Quran. Because the Quran is complete and fully detailed.

good_logic

Peace All.

Overlooking that sometimes the same word can mean different things in Qoran will lead to a lot of confusion!!!!!

"Sujud" can mean different things in different verses just like "salat" can mean different things in different verses...etc.

Coming to a conclusion that a word can mean the same thing throughout the Qoran will lead to error about the message?

GOD bless you all.
Peace.

Man_of_Faith

Peace,

However, it may also lead people astray because they heed conjecture in many cases.

Have faith

hafeez_kazi

Peace

And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord but turns away from them and forgets what his hands have put forth? Indeed, We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if you invite them to guidance - they will never be guided, then - ever. (Al-Kahf 57)

reborn

Peace all

If one understands it as 'to acknowledge' than all the verses with sajda will make much more sense to my understanding.

Peace all

EdQ

Salam to all those who have submitted to the Will of God,

I am still doing research on Ramadan - reading through other peoples understandings on this portal and reading understandings of other Quranists, it seems that Ramadan can be all the year round depending on one's translation and understanding.

Due to a continuation of my own research on Ramadan and the fact that the traditional version has already arrived, I am now performing the traditional Ramadan - I am not in agreement with it's falling at the time that it does (I am tending towards a lunisolar calendar), but for want of a better period, I have decided to perform it now in this year. That is my personal and definitive decision but it is to explain my headache on my first fast here in the UK as I grapple with the meaning of Sujud.

I understand and acknowledge the views of some who believe that the meaning of Sujud can differ depending on context, but (and I also stress that I am learning and open to an evolution in my understanding), I believe a consistent meaning would make more sense - at least to me - just like to me, SALAT defines well as CONNECTION in all instances.

In any case, back to SUJUD.

SUJUD could be translated as PROSTRATION (by many Hadithists - but also by many Quranists) but it could also be translated as YIELDING.

My views and opinions are evolving on this but below are my current thoughts.

Firstly, Yielding seems to be to be an intention whereas Prostration could to be a physical action or affirmation or manifestation of yielding. If someone yields, then it can be symbolized or shown by the act of prostration.

However, in any case, whether one uses Yielding or Prostration, the following verses seem to conflict

I refer to
Fussilat 4137 -

And of His Signs (are) the night and the day and the sun and the moon. (Do) not prostrate/yield to the sun and not to the moon, but prostrate/yield to Allah the One Who created them, if you, Him alone, worship.

and
al-Kahf 1850 -

And when We said to the Angels, "Prostrate/Yield to Adam," so they prostrated/Yielded except Iblis. (He) was of the jinn, and he rebelled against the Command (of) his Lord. Will you then take him and his offspring (as) protectors other than Me, while they (are) to you enemies? Wretched for the wrongdoers (is) the exchange.

If we are not to prostrate/yield to the sun or the moon but to Him who created them, then a reconciliation is needed as to why the Angels are ordered to prostrate to Adam who was created by God.

I believe the reason could be to do with Adam having a free will to decide - whereas the angels did not, but I am still working on this and am undecided.

If there are any views on the reconciliation of this by those who submit to God, I would appreciate it.

In regard to why Joseph and his parents prostrated/yielded, this could actually have been a prostration/yielding to God - When Joseph first dreamt that the planets prostrated/yielded to him, he had not yet been taught the meaning of interpretation of events so it is likely that he mistook the prostration/yielding of the planets to God to mean they were doing so to Joseph. He then understands the true meaning when he sees the prostration/yielding by his family to God.

In regard to Sujud while entering a gate, I do note that the Pope performs a prostration whenever he enters the gates of a new country/city. One could imagine that the Pope prostrates whilst entering new cities.

Another purpose for the physical act of prostrating/inclining/bending other than manifestation of yielding could be to fall down - at least for the creation on earth this could be to return/incline to the earth. In relation to planets and stars, it could mean planets prostrate or incline to the will of God...

I am going through all the instances of Sujud in the Quran and trying to reconcile in these days.

As I say, my ideas are evolving on these issues and I do not see this portal as a place to post my already defined ideas in order to convince others but to discuss those that are in the process of evolution.

Salam
Ed

EdQ