Sūrah No. 38, Revealed in Makkah, 88 verses.
Sūrat Sād
Merits of reciting the Sūrah
Whoever recites Sūrat Sād on Thursday night will be given the good of this world and the Hereafter which none is given except a sent Prophet and a close angel, and he will be made to enter Heaven along with all those he loved from among his family, including the servants who served him. Imam Muhammad al-Bāqir (a)
Note: Scholars suggest that such a reward can come from understanding and implementing the message of the Sūrah in one’s life and we pray to be granted the tawfīq.
General synopsis of contents
1) The opposition of the polytheists to the concepts of Tawhīd and nubuwwah. (vv. 2-14)
2) Narrations of the lives of nine Prophets of God. The Prophets Dāwūd, Sulaymān
and Ayyūb (a) are discussed in more detail than the others. (vv. 15-48)
3) The rewards and punishments in the Hereafter, along with the disputes of the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment. (vv. 49-64)
4) The Prophet a as a warner for mankind. (vv. 65-70)
5) Creation of the human being, the prostration of the angels to Adam (a) and the disobedience of Iblīs. (vv. 71-83)
6) Warnings to the stubborn enemies of the Prophet a and a reassurance and consolation for him. (vv. 84-88)
Important Messages
1) The pride of the disbelievers often made them reject a Prophet who came from among themselves. (v. 4)
2) Human beings have no control over who Allah Y chooses to bless from His mercy
(vv. 9-10)
3) The remembrance of past Prophets helps in being patient over the speech of the disbelievers. (v. 17)
4) Constant remembrance of the Hereafter is a quality that purifies the soul. (verse 46)
5) The doors of Heaven will be open for the God conscious ones to enter. (verse 50)
6) The Prophet a was a warner sent by Allah. (vv. 65 and 70)
Suggested verses for reflection and memorization.
1) 38:2 – The disbelievers indeed dwell in conceit and defiance.
2) 38:27 – And We did not create the heaven and the earth and what is between them in vain.
3) 38:29 – (It is) a Book We have revealed to you abounding in good that they may ponder over its verses, and that those endowed with understanding may be mindful.
4) 38:65-66 – There is no god except Allah, the One, the All-paramount, the Lord of the
heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, the All-mighty, the All-forgiver.
5) 38: 67-68 – It is a great prophesy, of which you are disregardful.
Activities for self-study
1) What are the arguments of the disbelievers against the message of the Prophet a as outlined in verses 4-8?
2) Read the stories of the following Prophets and write out the points mentioned about them:
a) Prophet Dāwūd (a) – verses 17-20
b) Judgment of Prophet Dāwūd (a) – verses 21-24
c) Prophet Sulayman (a) – verses 34-40
d) Prophet Ayyub (a) – verses 41-44
3) What will the people of Hell argue about with each other? See verses 59-64.
4) Study verses 71-85 which talk about the creation of the human being and the order to prostrate to him:
a) When were the angels asked to prostrate to the human being?
b) What was Iblis’ reason for not prostrating?
c) How did Iblis respond when he was given the respite till the Day of Judgment?