Surah Al-'Alaq, Ayah 19

The Threat against Man's Transgression for the sake of Wealth

Allah informs that man is very pleased, most evil, scornful and transgressive when he considers himself self-sufficient and having an abundance of wealth. Then Allah threatens, warns and admonishes him in His saying,

إِنَّ إِلَى رَبِّكَ الرُّجْعَى

(Surely, unto your Lord is the return.) meaning, `unto Allah is the final destination and return, and He will hold you accountable for your wealth, as to where you obtained it from and how did you spend it.'

Scolding of Abu Jahl and the Threat of seizing Him

Then Allah says,

أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِى يَنْهَى - عَبْداً إِذَا صَلَّى

(Have you seen him who prevents. A servant when he prays) This was revealed about Abu Jahl, may Allah curse him. He threatened the Prophet for performing Salah at the Ka`bah. Thus, Allah firstly admonished him with that which was better by saying,

Verse [ 19] كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَاسْجُدْ وَاقْتَرِ‌ب ۩ (No! never obey him, and bow down in sajdah { Prostration}, and come closer.) The Holy Prophet ﷺ is advised to ignore and disobey Abu Jahl when he stops him from praying. He is asked to be steadfast in prayer and prostration.

Acceptability of Supplication in the Posture of Prostration

It is recorded in Abu Dawud on the authority of Sayyidna Abu Hurairah ؓ that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: اقرب ما یکون العبد من ربّہٖ وھو ساجد فاکثروا الدعاء . (The closest that a servant can be to his Lord is when he is in prostration. Therefore, make abundant supplications [ while prostrating ]) Another authentic Tradition states: فانّہ قمن ان یستجاب لکم (...because it is fitting and proper that supplications be accepted in the state of prostration.)

Ruling

It is valid to supplicate in the supererogatory (nafi) salah while prostrating. In certain narrations, special words of the supplications are recorded from the Holy Prophet ﷺ . It is better to recite those transmitted prayers of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . There is no proof or evidence of such supplications in the prostration of obligatory salah, because the obligatory salah needs to be short.

Ruling

A prostration is compulsory for one who recites this verse and listens to it. A narration of Sayyidna Abu Hurairah ؓ states that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to prostrate when he recited this verse. Allah knows best!

Al-hamdulillah

The Commentary on

Surah Al-` Alaq

Ends here

Those who wage aggressive campaigns against Truth or place impediments in the way of those who adopt the path of Truth, are destined to have a miserable fate. In such circumstances, the real prop for a preacher of Truth is his prayers to God. Having been disappointed by people, he should turn to God for fulfilment. He should distance himself from human beings and come close to the God of all humanity and submit to Him.