As-Sajdah is the 32nd chapter of the Quran with 30 verses. Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation, it is an earlier "Meccan surah", which means it has been revealed in Mecca, instead of later in Medina.
Name
The name of the chapter, which means "The Prostration", is taken from the fifteenth verse, which mentions those who "... fall prostrate and hymn the praise of their Lord". Alternative names of the chapter include Alif Lam Mim Tanzil after the first words of the chapter, and Al-Madajiʻ, after a mention of those who "shun beds" in order to worship God at night. In the 1730s the Christian translator,George Sale entitled the chapter Adoration Sale used a 16thC manuscript of Tafsir al-Baydawi, then owned by the Dutch Church, Austin Friars, to translate from the Arabic. He relied heavily on Maracci's 1698 Quran, Alcorani Textus Universus Arabicè et Latinè, to furnish his copious footnotes. Regarding his understanding of the title, Sale notes several postures used by Muslims in their prayers match those prescribed by Rabbinic Judaism, particularly the most solemn act of adoration: ۩ prostrating themselves so as to touch the ground with their forehead.
According to the Islamic tradition, the chapter was revealed during the Meccan phase of Muhammad's prophethood. Some scholars argue, based on attaching occasions of revelations, that several verses are from Medinan phase, but the arguments are not widely accepted. For example, Mahmud al-Alusi opines that the close connection between these verses and the preceding ones means that they are likely from the same period. The traditional Egyptian chronology puts the chapter as the 75th chapter by the order of revelation, while the Nöldeke Chronology puts it as the 70th.
Content
The first half of the chapter covers some of Islam's theological concepts, including revelation, God, creation of human beings, resurrection and the judgment day. The second half discusses the contrast between those who "fall prostate" before God and those who "turns away" from God's sign. The chapter then mentions the Children of Israel as an example of people who follow God's guidance through Moses.
A hadith narrated by Abu Huraira said that Muhammad often recited As-Sajda together with Al-Insan for the early morning prayer every Friday. This report also appears in Tafsir ibn Kathir. Another report said that he often recited the chapter before going to sleep.
