What does Quran 84:21 mean?

Quran 84:21 (Surah Al-Inshiqaaq, Ayah 21) translates to: "And when the Qur'an is recited to them, they do not prostrate [to Allah]?"

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 84:21 from?

This ayah is from Surah Al-Inshiqaaq (The Splitting Open), the 84th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 30 and is one of the Sajdah (prostration) ayahs.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 84:21?

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

What tafsir is available for Quran 84:21?

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

What topics does Quran 84:21 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Submission to Allah, Disbelief, Tawhid, Accountability, Divine Signs.

Ayah 20

فَمَا لَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ...

84:21Al-Inshiqaaq

Ayah 22

بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُكَذِّبُونَ...

۩ Sajdah Ayah

وَإِذَا قُرِئَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ لَا يَسْجُدُونَ ۩

Wa izaa quri'a 'alaihimul Quraanu laa yasjudoon

And when the Qur'an is recited to them, they do not prostrate [to Allah]?

Themes in this ayah

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The Quran & revelation99 Prayer52

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84:21Ayah 125

This is the only ayah in Al-Inshiqaaq strongly about the Quran and revelation.

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Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 84:21→

and what is wrong with them that when the Qur’ān is recited to them they do not prostrate? they do not submit by believing in it given its inimitability?

"I recited to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (Surat) An-Najm and he did not prostrate in it."

Jami` at-Tirmidhi #576Zaid bin Thabit narrated:

"I recited Surat An-Najm to the Messenger of Allah, and he did not prostrate for it."

Sahih Muslim #1196Ibn 'Umar reported:Sahih

Sometimes the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited the Qur'an, and would pass by (recite) the verse of sajda and performed prostration and he did this along with us, but we were so crowded in his company that none of us could find a place for performing prostration. (and it was done on occasions) other than prayer.

Sahih Muslim #982This hadith has been narrated by some other narrators, Ibn 'Abbas and others, and they all reported that 'Ali said:Sahih

The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) forbade me to recite the Qur'an while I am in a state of bowing and prostration, and in their narration (there is a mention of) forbiddance from that (recital) in the state of prostration as it has been transmitted by Zuhri, Zaid b. Aslam, al-Wahid b. Kathir, and Dawud b. Qais.

Sahih al-Bukhari #1048Narrated Ibn `Umar.:Sahih

Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) recited the Sura which contained the prostration of recitation he used to prostrate and then, we, too, would prostrate and some of us did not find a place for prostration.