SAJDAH IN THE QUR’AN

Abstract

UDK 28-231.1

Besides the fact that it is the component of the salah and its crown element through which we seek closeness of God, sajdah is also a title of the 32^nd surah of the Qur’an. The first part of the article relates about the surah as-Sajdah, about its characteristics and its thematic outlines. The second part of the article describes the use of the word sajdah in the Qur’an, which include the sajdah performed by: malaa’ikah, by the cosmos and by man.  The sajdah of malaa’ikah  is mentioned is mentioned in a number of places in the Qur’an and this article presents the interpretation of it by an eminent sufi mufessir Ismail Hakki. The article will also present an answer as to what is the meaning and significance of the sajdah performed by the cosmos as an expression of its submission towards the Creator of the Universe. Man as a creation of God which witnessed the sajdah offered by the malaaikah, is asked to offer sajdah as a form of both, the obligational and voluntary prayers (ibadat). The article also relates about the symbolism of sajdah performed by man and of the connection between the sajdah of man and the sajdah of cosmos.