Invited to Fall Prostrate

[68:42-3] The day will come when they will be exposed, and they will be required to fall prostrate, but they will be unable to. With their eyes subdued, humiliation will cover them. They were invited to fall prostrate when they were whole and able.

God invites us to fall prostrate. It’s an invitation, like an invitation to a party or a gala event. We are invited. What do most people do with that invitation? They turn it down. They flatly refuse. They don’t even RSVP; they just don’t respond. In fact, most people aren’t even aware of the invitation. And if they were, they would most likely respond as Satan did: [7:11] We created you, then we shaped you, then we said to the angels, “Fall prostrate before Adam.” They fell prostrate, except Iblees (Satan); he was not with the prostrators.[7:12] He said, “What prevented you from prostrating when I ordered you?” He said, “I am better than he; You created me from fire, and created him from mud.” [7:13] He said, “Therefore, you must go down, for you are not to be arrogant here. Get out; you are debased.”

Our ego gets us into so much trouble. It caused our eviction from Paradise—we were too arrogant to fall prostrate and then so cocky that we accepted free will,

instead of submitting like the animals and the plants and the mountains (33:72). God says we can’t be arrogant in His presence, so we have to find the ways to firmly and completely kill our ego (2:54) so we can come wholeheartedly back to God. And in His incredible mercy, God gives us the ways and means to do that. And one very valuable tool is prostration.

Sura 32 is entitled “Prostration.” It’s a short chapter but full of the importance of prostrating to God. Verses 2 and 3 tell us that the Quran is “without a doubt” a revelation from God, and that it brings the truth and warnings for our guidance. The next few verses remind us of the greatness of God—that He controls everything and we should not turn to anyone else for any of our needs. Verses 12-14 are under the subtitle “Too late.” They remind us that everyone will bow before God, but for the disbelievers it will be too late to repent. [32:14] Taste the consequences of your forgetting this day; now we forget you. You have incurred eternal retribution in return for your own works.

But here’s our salvation; here’s what we need to do. [32:15-6] The only people who truly believe in our revelations are those who fall prostrate upon hearing them.

They glorify and praise their Lord, without any arrogance. Their sides readily forsake their beds, in order to worship their Lord, out of reverence and hope, and from our provisions to them, they give.

We have the ability to fall prostrate; it’s within our means; it’s not too difficult for us to do. And if we can do it, then verse 17 shows us the reward: [32:17] You have no idea how much joy and happiness are waiting for you as a reward for your (righteous) works.

We have no idea how amazingly wonderful Heaven is, even with all the beautiful descriptions throughout the Quran. Still, God says we have no idea, which means it must be just so awesome it’s beyond anything our little brains can comprehend. Wow!

Sura 32 continues by telling us that God will give us pinches as reminders to turn to Him, “that they may take a hint and reform.” But if we fail to take heed, then we are evil indeed. He mentions the past generations who failed to heed the warnings, and He reminds us that we have to make these changes now. [32:29] Say, “The day such a victory comes, believing will not benefit

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