Sūrah 38 · Meccan

How Sūrah Saad was revealed.

Where and when it came down, what it teaches, and the hadith about it — all on one calm page.

Read Saad → The revelation story
Where revealed Meccan

Revealed in the Meccan period, before the migration to Madīnah.

Order of revelation #38

Its place in the traditional order in which the sūrahs were revealed.

Length 88 ayahs

5 reading sections in the Muṣḥaf.

The revelation story

How and when it came down.

This Makkan surah focuses on proving the truth of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) mission and the inevitability of the Resurrection. It was revealed to break the arrogant denial of the Quraysh, primarily achieved by recounting the struggles and rewards of Prophets David and Job. It establishes that all human misery stems from the primordial arrogance of Satan, contrasting the judgment awaiting the oppressors with the reward reserved for the pious.

Themes and purpose:

This Makkan surah focuses on proving the truth of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) mission and the inevitability of the Resurrection. It was revealed to break the arrogant denial of the Quraysh, primarily achieved by recounting the struggles and rewards of Prophets David and Job. It establishes that all human misery stems from the primordial arrogance of Satan, contrasting the judgment awaiting the oppressors with the reward reserved for the pious.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Makkan by unanimous agreement. 

Context: The surah was revealed during the final illness of the Prophet’s uncle, Abū Ṭālib, around the tenth year of the Prophethood (around three years before the Hijrah). The revelation occurred after the Quraysh leaders asked the Prophet (ﷺ) to compromise, leading to the immediate descent of the opening ayahs condemning their prideful rejection of Monotheism.

Chronology: It is counted as the 38th surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Qamar and before al-Aʿrāf.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah's established name is "Sūrat Ṣād," named after the opening letter. It is also sometimes called "Sūrat Dāwūd," due to the emphasis on his story and righteous rule.

Virtue: Some early Muslims referred to it as "Qalb al-Qur’an" (Heart of the Quran), though this title is more famously applied to Yā-Sīn.

Ayah Count: 86 ayahs (Ḥijāz/Shām/Baṣrah) or 88 (Kūfah).

Surah Overview:

  • Prophetic Affirmation: Opening with an oath by the Quran, affirming the truth of the Prophet’s mission and condemning the arrogance and opposition of the disbelievers. [1-8]
  • Monotheism and the Hereafter: Proving the existence of the Resurrection and the wisdom behind it (to reward the righteous and punish the wicked). [9-16]
  • Consolation via Prophets: Consoling the Prophet (ﷺ) by recounting the struggles and rewards of past messengers (Dāwūd, Sulaymān, Ayyūb, etc.) as models of patience. [17-48]
  • Praising the Believers: Describing the reward and status of the pious. [49-54]
  • Warning the Oppressors: Describing the shame, mutual blame, and eternal punishment awaiting the arrogant leaders and their followers on Judgment Day. [55-64]
  • The Origin of Misguidance: Detailing the story of the rebellion of Iblīs (the devil) and his refusal to prostrate to Adam, establishing Satan's primordial arrogance as the source of all error. [65-85]
  • Conclusion: a final affirmation of the Quran’s truth, the inevitability of resurrection, and a command to the Prophet (ﷺ) to be patient with his people. [86-88]

Sūrah background — via the Quran Foundation Content API. Shown as supplied by the provider. We do not edit, summarise or generate it.

Hadith about this sūrah

What the hadith say.

These 11 narrations in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī are connected to specific āyāt of this sūrah — a linkage reviewed by the Quran Foundation. Open any one to read it in full, in Arabic and English.

  1. Relates to āyah2
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4807

    حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الطَّنَافِسِيُّ، عَنِ الْعَوَّامِ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ مُجَاهِدًا عَنْ سَجْدَةِ، ص فَقَالَ سَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ مِنْ أَيْنَ سَجَدْتَ فَقَالَ أَوَمَا تَقْرَأُ ‏﴿‏وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِهِ دَاوُدَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ‏﴾‏ ‏﴿‏أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ فَبِهُدَاهُمُ اقْتَدِهْ‏﴾‏ فَكَانَ دَاوُدُ مِمَّنْ أُمِرَ نَبِيُّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَقْتَدِيَ بِهِ، فَسَجَدَهَا دَاوُدُ فَسَجَدَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ ‏{‏عُجَابٌ‏}‏ عَجِيبٌ‏.‏ الْقِطُّ الصَّحِيفَةُ هُوَ هَا هُنَا صَحِيفَةُ الْحَسَنَاتِ‏.‏ وَقَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ ‏﴿‏فِي عِزَّةٍ‏﴾‏ مُعَازِّينَ‏.‏ ‏﴿‏الْمِلَّةِ الآخِرَةِ‏﴾‏ مِلَّةُ قُرَيْشٍ‏.‏ الاِخْتِلاَقُ الْكَذِبُ‏.‏ الأَسْبَابُ طُرُقُ السَّمَاءِ فِي أَبْوَابِهَا ‏﴿‏جُنْدٌ مَا هُنَالِكَ مَهْزُومٌ‏﴾‏ يَعْنِي قُرَيْشًا ‏﴿‏أُولَئِكَ الأَحْزَابُ‏﴾‏ الْقُرُونُ الْمَاضِيَةُ‏.‏ ‏{‏فَوَاقٍ‏}‏ رُجُوعٍ‏.‏ ‏{‏قِطَّنَا‏}‏ عَذَابَنَا ‏﴿‏اتَّخَذْنَاهُمْ سُخْرِيًّا‏﴾‏ أَحَطْنَا بِهِمْ أَتْرَابٌ أَمْثَالٌ‏.‏ وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ الأَيْدُ الْقُوَّةُ فِي الْعِبَادَةِ الأَبْصَارُ الْبَصَرُ فِي أَمْرِ اللَّهِ، ‏﴿‏حُبَّ الْخَيْرِ عَنْ ذِكْرِ رَبِّي‏﴾‏ مِنْ ذِكْرٍ‏.‏ ‏﴿‏طَفِقَ مَسْحًا‏﴾‏ يَمْسَحُ أَعْرَافَ الْخَيْلِ وَعَرَاقِيبَهَا‏.‏ ‏{‏الأَصْفَادِ‏}‏ الْوَثَاقِ‏.‏

    Narrated Al-Awwam: I asked Mujahid regarding the prostration in Surat Sa`d. He said, "I asked Ibn `Abbas, 'What evidence makes you prostrate?' He said, "Don't you recite:--'And among his progeny, David and Solomon..(6.84). Those are they whom Allah had guided. So follow their guidance.' (6.90) So David was the one of those prophets whom Prophet (Muhammad) was ordered to follow. David prostrated, so Allah's Messenger (Muhammad) performed this prostration too.'

    Open at Sunnah.com →

  2. Relates to āyah7
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4807

    حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الطَّنَافِسِيُّ، عَنِ الْعَوَّامِ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ مُجَاهِدًا عَنْ سَجْدَةِ، ص فَقَالَ سَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ مِنْ أَيْنَ سَجَدْتَ فَقَالَ أَوَمَا تَقْرَأُ ‏﴿‏وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِهِ دَاوُدَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ‏﴾‏ ‏﴿‏أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ فَبِهُدَاهُمُ اقْتَدِهْ‏﴾‏ فَكَانَ دَاوُدُ مِمَّنْ أُمِرَ نَبِيُّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَقْتَدِيَ بِهِ، فَسَجَدَهَا دَاوُدُ فَسَجَدَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ ‏{‏عُجَابٌ‏}‏ عَجِيبٌ‏.‏ الْقِطُّ الصَّحِيفَةُ هُوَ هَا هُنَا صَحِيفَةُ الْحَسَنَاتِ‏.‏ وَقَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ ‏﴿‏فِي عِزَّةٍ‏﴾‏ مُعَازِّينَ‏.‏ ‏﴿‏الْمِلَّةِ الآخِرَةِ‏﴾‏ مِلَّةُ قُرَيْشٍ‏.‏ الاِخْتِلاَقُ الْكَذِبُ‏.‏ الأَسْبَابُ طُرُقُ السَّمَاءِ فِي أَبْوَابِهَا ‏﴿‏جُنْدٌ مَا هُنَالِكَ مَهْزُومٌ‏﴾‏ يَعْنِي قُرَيْشًا ‏﴿‏أُولَئِكَ الأَحْزَابُ‏﴾‏ الْقُرُونُ الْمَاضِيَةُ‏.‏ ‏{‏فَوَاقٍ‏}‏ رُجُوعٍ‏.‏ ‏{‏قِطَّنَا‏}‏ عَذَابَنَا ‏﴿‏اتَّخَذْنَاهُمْ سُخْرِيًّا‏﴾‏ أَحَطْنَا بِهِمْ أَتْرَابٌ أَمْثَالٌ‏.‏ وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ الأَيْدُ الْقُوَّةُ فِي الْعِبَادَةِ الأَبْصَارُ الْبَصَرُ فِي أَمْرِ اللَّهِ، ‏﴿‏حُبَّ الْخَيْرِ عَنْ ذِكْرِ رَبِّي‏﴾‏ مِنْ ذِكْرٍ‏.‏ ‏﴿‏طَفِقَ مَسْحًا‏﴾‏ يَمْسَحُ أَعْرَافَ الْخَيْلِ وَعَرَاقِيبَهَا‏.‏ ‏{‏الأَصْفَادِ‏}‏ الْوَثَاقِ‏.‏

    Narrated Al-Awwam: I asked Mujahid regarding the prostration in Surat Sa`d. He said, "I asked Ibn `Abbas, 'What evidence makes you prostrate?' He said, "Don't you recite:--'And among his progeny, David and Solomon..(6.84). Those are they whom Allah had guided. So follow their guidance.' (6.90) So David was the one of those prophets whom Prophet (Muhammad) was ordered to follow. David prostrated, so Allah's Messenger (Muhammad) performed this prostration too.'

    Open at Sunnah.com →

  3. Relates to āyah11
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4807

    حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الطَّنَافِسِيُّ، عَنِ الْعَوَّامِ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُ مُجَاهِدًا عَنْ سَجْدَةِ، ص فَقَالَ سَأَلْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ مِنْ أَيْنَ سَجَدْتَ فَقَالَ أَوَمَا تَقْرَأُ ‏﴿‏وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِهِ دَاوُدَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ‏﴾‏ ‏﴿‏أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ فَبِهُدَاهُمُ اقْتَدِهْ‏﴾‏ فَكَانَ دَاوُدُ مِمَّنْ أُمِرَ نَبِيُّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَقْتَدِيَ بِهِ، فَسَجَدَهَا دَاوُدُ فَسَجَدَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ ‏{‏عُجَابٌ‏}‏ عَجِيبٌ‏.‏ الْقِطُّ الصَّحِيفَةُ هُوَ هَا هُنَا صَحِيفَةُ الْحَسَنَاتِ‏.‏ وَقَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ ‏﴿‏فِي عِزَّةٍ‏﴾‏ مُعَازِّينَ‏.‏ ‏﴿‏الْمِلَّةِ الآخِرَةِ‏﴾‏ مِلَّةُ قُرَيْشٍ‏.‏ الاِخْتِلاَقُ الْكَذِبُ‏.‏ الأَسْبَابُ طُرُقُ السَّمَاءِ فِي أَبْوَابِهَا ‏﴿‏جُنْدٌ مَا هُنَالِكَ مَهْزُومٌ‏﴾‏ يَعْنِي قُرَيْشًا ‏﴿‏أُولَئِكَ الأَحْزَابُ‏﴾‏ الْقُرُونُ الْمَاضِيَةُ‏.‏ ‏{‏فَوَاقٍ‏}‏ رُجُوعٍ‏.‏ ‏{‏قِطَّنَا‏}‏ عَذَابَنَا ‏﴿‏اتَّخَذْنَاهُمْ سُخْرِيًّا‏﴾‏ أَحَطْنَا بِهِمْ أَتْرَابٌ أَمْثَالٌ‏.‏ وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ الأَيْدُ الْقُوَّةُ فِي الْعِبَادَةِ الأَبْصَارُ الْبَصَرُ فِي أَمْرِ اللَّهِ، ‏﴿‏حُبَّ الْخَيْرِ عَنْ ذِكْرِ رَبِّي‏﴾‏ مِنْ ذِكْرٍ‏.‏ ‏﴿‏طَفِقَ مَسْحًا‏﴾‏ يَمْسَحُ أَعْرَافَ الْخَيْلِ وَعَرَاقِيبَهَا‏.‏ ‏{‏الأَصْفَادِ‏}‏ الْوَثَاقِ‏.‏

    Narrated Al-Awwam: I asked Mujahid regarding the prostration in Surat Sa`d. He said, "I asked Ibn `Abbas, 'What evidence makes you prostrate?' He said, "Don't you recite:--'And among his progeny, David and Solomon..(6.84). Those are they whom Allah had guided. So follow their guidance.' (6.90) So David was the one of those prophets whom Prophet (Muhammad) was ordered to follow. David prostrated, so Allah's Messenger (Muhammad) performed this prostration too.'

    Open at Sunnah.com →

The link between each āyah and these narrations is the Quran Foundation's reviewed reference map. The wording is reproduced verbatim from a public-domain edition of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and is not edited, summarised or generated; every narration also opens at Sunnah.com so it can be checked against another copy.

Learning to pray as you read? How to pray step by step, how to perform wuḍūʾ, and how many rakʿahs each prayer has.