Surah Sad is the 38th surah of the Holy Quran. The surah takes its name from the alphabetical letter 'Sad (ص)'. This Surah contains 88 ayaat and is in Juz 23. Surah Sad was revealed in Makkah, which makes it a Makki surah revealed before the Prophet’s (ﷺ) hijrah to Madinah. It is believed to be an earlier Makkan surah revealed just five or six years after the coming of Islam.
According to Islamic accounts, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) sent Surah Sad to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) when he was facing extreme rejection from his tribe, the Quraish. Surah Sad is considered to be a continuation of the previous surah (Surah As-Saffat). It mentions stories of the Prophets that are not mentioned in Surah As-Saffat, namely Prophet Daud (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), Prophet Sulaiman (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), and Prophet Ayyub (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ).
Moreover, Surah Sad also narrates similar themes to Surah As-Saffat, such as the Oneness of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), the glories of paradise, and the horrors of hell.
٣٨ - ص
38 - Sad
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Sura Sad was revealed to affirm Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) role as Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) messenger at a time when he was facing retaliation and rejection from the Quraish. During this time, the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) had openly begun inviting people to Islam in Makkah, which caused significant concern among the leaders of the Quraish.
Surah Sad provides specific examples of earlier Prophets and the misfortunes that occurred to those who ignored divine messages. It emphasizes monotheistic faith that establishes Hazrat Muhammad (ﷺ) as the last Prophet and assures salvation for genuine believers on the Day of Judgment. According to some traditions, Surah Sad was revealed during the 4th year of Prophethood. As per some other traditions, it was revealed after Hazrat Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) accepted Islam after the migration to Habash.
Another set of traditions indicates that Surah Sad was revealed during Abu Talib's final illness. If this is accurate, the time of its revelation would fall in the 10th or 11th year of the Prophethood. Imam Ahmad, Nasa'i, Tirmidhi, Ibn Jarir, Ibn Abi Shaibah, Ibn Aba Hatim, Muḥammad bin Ishaq, and others narrate this tradition:
“When Abu Talib became sick, the Quraish leaders realized his time was close. They arranged to visit the elderly chief and ask him to resolve the conflict between them and his nephew. They were afraid that if they treated Muhammad (ﷺ) harshly after Abu Talib passed away, the Arabs would mock them, saying that they were treating Muhammad (ﷺ) this way because the elder leader was no longer alive.”
About 25 Quraish leaders, including Abu Jahl, Abu Sufyan, Umayyah bin Khalaf, Utbah, and Shaibah, approached Abu Talib. First, they discussed their problems with the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) and then stated, ‘We have arrived to make a fair request: allow your nephew to follow his faith, and in return, we will adhere to ours. He can worship anyone he chooses: we will not interfere with him on this issue; however, he must not denounce our deities, nor should he attempt to compel us to abandon them. Kindly ask him to negotiate terms with us based on this condition.
Abu Talib called the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) and remarked, ‘Beloved nephew, the members of your clan have approached me with a petition. They desire your agreement on a fair issue to resolve your conflict with them.’ He then informed the Prophet (ﷺ) about the demands of the leaders of the Quraish.
The Holy Prophet replied, ‘Beloved uncle: I will ask them to come to a consensus on a matter which, if they embrace, will allow them to overcome all of Arabia and bring the non-Arab world under their control.’ Upon hearing this, the Quraish were initially surprised. They were uncertain about how to reject such an offer. After some discussion, they answered: ‘You mention a single word: we are ready to say ten similar ones, but kindly let us know what it is.’ The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) stated: لَا اِلہَ اِلَا اللہُ. The Quraish stood up and left”.
Surah Sad highlights the challenges and difficulties encountered by the Prophet. It serves as a reminder of the importance of patience and faith in Allah during challenging times. Surah Sad also highlights the importance of prayer and supplication, as recounted by the stories of the Prophets. It warns against arrogance and pride and encourages believers to remain humble and just.
Surah Sad explores the themes of thankfulness, patience, and humility. It warns believers about the harmful effects of pride and the importance of acknowledging the gifts granted to us by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). The Surah also highlights the truth of the Day of Judgment and the responsibility of people for their actions.
The themes of prayer and belief in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) are narrated through the story of Prophet Daud (ﷺ) and his confrontation with the disobedient and proud shaitan. Furthermore, Surah Sad condemns the non-believers and idol-worshippers for denying the Oneness of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). It condemns them for rejecting the Prophet’s (ﷺ) message of Islam and calling him a liar and magician. It also encourages the Prophet (ﷺ) to remain steadfast and believe in Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) Divine help.
References are made to the creation of Hazrat Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and the hatred Shaitan had for him and his descendants. This is accompanied by mentions of the punishment awaiting the misleaders and their followers, along with the rewards in store for the righteous. Moreover, the beginning of Surah Sad emphasizes the divine nature of the Holy Quran, whereas the ending speaks about its universal quality.
Some other themes discussed in Surah Sad are:
It is stated in the Majma’ul Bayan:
“Whoever recites Surah Sad, Allah will give him a reward as much as the weight of every mountain that Allah had subjected for Daud (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), and He protects him from persisting in committing sins whether minor or major.”
Imam Baqir (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said:
“Whoever recites Surah Sad in the night before Friday will be given good rewards of the world and the Hereafter (by Allah) as much that have not been given to anyone of the people save the Divine prophets and the near-stationed angels, and Allah admits him and all those he loves from among his household in Paradise, even the servant who served him.”
Some of the key benefits of reciting Surah Sad are:
You can listen to the recitation of Surah Sad by Renowned Qaris:
Surah Sad is the 38th surah in the Quran Kareem. It has 88 ayaat and is placed in the 23rd para. You can download the full Surah Sad PDF online file and save it to your device. Just follow these simple steps:
There is no specific meaning of Surah Sad, but it is referred to as ‘the letter Sad (ص)’.
Surah Sad has 88 verses.
The peaceful hours of the night or early morning are best for reciting Surah Sad since this time is ideal for deep reflection and establishing a connection with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
Yes, you can listen to Surah Sad online in both MP3 and PDF formats.
Non-Arabic speakers can listen to and read the translation of Surah Sad in their desired language and reflect upon its message of perseverance, patience, and caution against evil. They can strengthen their bond with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and learn about the stories of previous prophets.