Chapter 32: Sūrat al-Sajdah

Sūrat al-Sajdah (32:1-9)

Delivered on 3/6/2016

Shaykh Amin provides an introduction to Sūrat al-Sajdah and comments on the comprehensive meaning of the word ‘sajdah‘ (prostration). In this lecture:

  • the soundness of saying, “I do not understand” after understanding the wisdom of Luqmān (AS)
  • sajdah‘ as a representation of the universal submission of the intellect
  • how the worship of Allah ﷻ makes one more knowledgeable
  • the fallibility of knowledge that is not waḥy’-based
  • the purpose of revelation
  • understanding revelation secondary to submission
  • the transcending nature of prophetic sight
  • the inadequacies in transferring knowledge across worlds
  • Divine commands and time

Sūrat al-Sajdah (32:9-14)

Delivered on 3/13/2016

Ādam (AS) and Ḥawwāʾ (RA) lived in paradise where their faculties with perfected before they were sent to earth. In this lecture:

  • the three modes of creation
  • the levels of denial
  • focusing on the destination
  • the womb of the earth
  • angelic determination
  • the existence of Jahannam
  • the absolute non-emptiness of space
  • reading Qurʾānic ‘āyāt’ (verses) as an observer

Sūrat al-Sajdah (32:15-22)

Delivered on 3/20/2016

Allah’s ﷻ ‘Faḍl’ (grace) surpasses His ﷻ Justice and is the sole determinant of salvation. In this lecture:

  • arrogance an obstacle to ‘sajdah
  • holding God ﷻ hostage to His ﷻ Justice
  • seeking guidance in life decisions
  • the garden of refuge
  • arguing with God ﷻ
  • heedlessness versus rebellion

Sūrat al-Sajdah (32:23-30)

Delivered on 4/3/2016

Revelation comes from above, and hence its content does not lend to being contextualized based on the needs of the community. In this lecture:

  • the Torah, a book of guidance
  • leaders versus followers
  • leading requires patience and steadfastness
  • the nature of constitutional disagreements
  • a universal view of impostors
  • the pervasive theme of submission (sajdah)
  • similes for revelation and guidance
  • the seed of skepticism – self-cultivation