Which Surah and Juz is Quran 38:72 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 38:72?

Yes — there are 5 hadiths related to this ayah from Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Sunan an-Nasa'i, Sahih Muslim.

What tafsir is available for Quran 38:72?

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

Ayah 71

إِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى خَٰلِقٌ...

38:72Saad

Q: What does Quran 38:72 mean?

Quran 38:72 (Surah Saad, Ayah 72) translates to: "So when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My [created] soul, then fall down to him in prostration.""

Q: What topics does Quran 38:72 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Creation, Divine Command, Obedience to Allah, Story of Adam and Iblis, Humility.

Ayah 73

فَسَجَدَ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ...

فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُۥ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِى فَقَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ سَٰجِدِينَ

Fa-iza sawwaituhoo wa nafakhtu feehi mir roohee faqa'oo lahoo saajideen

So when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My [created] soul, then fall down to him in prostration."

Themes in this ayah

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Lessons from past peoples59

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

5 other themes with weak connections

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Lessons from past peoples

38:72Ayah 188

24 ayahs in Saad are strongly about lessons from past peoples.

← Previous on Lessons from past peoples38:71[So mention] when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I am going to create a human being from clay.Next on Lessons from past peoples →38:73So the angels prostrated - all of them entirely.

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 38:72→

So when I have proportioned him completed him and breathed in him when I have caused to flow therein My spirit so that he becomes a living being — the addition of ‘the spirit’ to Adam is an honour for him; the ‘spirit’ is a subtle body that gives life to a human being by permeating him — then fall down in prostration before him!’ — a prostration of salutation that is actually a bow.

"When the Messenger of Allah would prostrate (for recitation of) the Qur'an, he would say: (Sajada wajhiya lilladhi khalaqahu wa shaqqa sam'ahu wa basarahu bihawlihi wa quwwatihi.) (I have prostrated my face to the One Who created it, and made its hearing and vision, though His ability and power.)"

Sunan an-Nasa'i #1131It was narrated from Aishah that:Sahih

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say, when he did a prostration that was required when reciting Quran at night: "Sajada wajhi lilladhi khalaqahu wa sawwarahu wa shaqqa sam'ahu wa basarahu bihawlihi wa quwwatih (My face has prostrated to the One Who created it and formed it, and brought forth its hearing and sight by His power and strength.)"

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #3509Aishah narrated:Hasan

“When the Messenger of Allah would prostrate (for recitation of) the Qur’an, he would say: ‘I have prostrated my face to the One Who created it, and made its hearing and vision, through His ability and power (Sajada wajhī lilladhī khalaqahū wa shaqqa sam`ahū wa baṣarahū bi ḥawlihī wa quwwatih).’”

Sahih Muslim #6642Hammam b. Munabbih reported so many ahadith from Abu Huraira and one out of them is this that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said that Allah thus stated:Sahih

When My servant draws close to me by the span of a palm, I draw close to him by the space of a cubit, and when he draws close to Me by the space of a cubit, I draw close to him by the space (covered) by two hands, and when he draws close to Me by the space (covered by) two hands, I go in hurry towards him.

Sahih Muslim #6665Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said:Sahih

When My servant draws close to Me by the span of a palm, I draw close to him by the cubit and when he draws close to Me by the cubit, I draw close to him by the space (covered) by two armspans, and when he comes to me walking, I go in a hurry towards him.