What does Quran 38:1 mean?

Quran 38:1 (Surah Saad, Ayah 1) translates to: "Sad. By the Qur'an containing reminder..."

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 38:1 from?

This ayah is from Surah Saad (The letter Saad), the 38th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 23.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 38:1?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim.

What tafsir is available for Quran 38:1?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Ibn Kathir, Al-Jalalayn, Ibn Abbas — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

38:1Saad

Q: What topics does Quran 38:1 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Guidance, Divine Revelation, Prophethood, Spiritual Reflection, Remembrance of Allah (Dhikr).

Ayah 2

بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى عِزَّةٍۢ وَشِقَاقٍۢ...

صٓ ۚ وَٱلْقُرْءَانِ ذِى ٱلذِّكْرِ

Saaad; wal-Qur-aani ziz zikr

Sad. By the Qur'an containing reminder...

Themes in this ayah

Explore in Habl →

The Quran & revelation98

Scores run 0–100: how strongly this ayah speaks to a theme. 70+ is central, 50+ is clear, under 50 is weak.

11 other themes with weak connections

Labeled by AI and people · How this works

Follow this theme through SaadFollow this theme

The Quran & revelation

38:1Ayah 188

7 ayahs in Saad are strongly about the Quran and revelation. This is one of them.

Next on The Quran & revelation →38:4And they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves. And the disbelievers say, "This is a magician and a liar.

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 38:1→

Sād God knows best what He means by this letter. By the Qur’ān bearing the Remembrance that is bearing the Pronouncement; or what is meant is that the Qur’ān is a Book of renown the response to this oath has been omitted in other words ‘It is not as the Meccan disbelievers say that there are many gods’.

"The Prophet recited Fatihatil-Kitab for a funeral (prayer)." (Da'if Jiddan)

Sahih al-Bukhari #1258Narrated Anas:Sahih

When the reciters of Qur'an were martyred, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) recited Qunut for one month and I never saw him (i.e. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)) so sad as he was on that day.

Sahih Muslim #935Ibn Abbas reported:Sahih

Umm al-Fadl daughter of al-Harith heard him reciting:" By those sent forth to spread goodness" (lxxvii.). (Upon this) she remarked: O my son, you reminded me by the recitation of this surah (the fact) that it was the last surah that I heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he recited it in the evening prayer.

Sunan Ibn Majah #575It was narrated that from ‘Amr bin Shu’aib, from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:Sahih

“Every prayer in which Fatihatil-Kitab (the Opening of the Book) is not recited, it is deficient, it is deficient.”

Sahih Muslim #3107Sahih

This hadith is narrated by 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) through another chain of transmitters, but no mention is made of" sad and downcast".