Article #290
Subject: The Sujud Al-Tilawah, Sura al Isra 17: 107-109
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 8/10/2012 02:09:31 PM

The Sujud Al-Tilawah and Sura al Isra 17: 107-109


These verses proscribe reverence from all who study the Quran (especially
Christians who
Practice Judaism and Jew who practice Christianity) with respect to the
necessity of humble belief in
All religions and acceptance of events that have already happened. These
events are described in the
Sura 17 (The Children of Israel), and include the destruction of the 2nd
Temple
, destruction of all And disapora of those practicing Judaism at that time.
The inference is that the 2nd temple of Judaism will not be rebuilt. Which I
also believe since I believe many of the acts and observances described in
the Torah (such as animal sacrifices) were not prescribed for all time. But,
may God Himself, in his infinite mercy and goodness be a better judge about
how this turns out for us all than I. Since there is some ambiguity in most
mathematical Biblical counts of when the end days will be (see postings at
http://www.ourprayergroup.blogspot.com for one calculation on this as
compared with Isaac Newton’s); Perhaps He Himself has not decided yet in
order to see whether His Muslim or Jewish followers obey His earlier
teachings about the importance for non-violence, compassion, mercy, in doing
His will and for helping Him co-create a new peaceful society in the Holy
Land. If Muslims allow terrorism against innocent people in God’s name He
will abandon them. If Jews do not allow a “two-state” solution for
Palestinians and provide for an equitable distribution of land there He will
abandon them. See our other postings and prayers related to asking God to
bring Peace in the Holy Land. Notice this in the “problems for God to solve”
subdirectory. And, we all need to do our part as God directs us, in order for
this go be able to happen. I also believe that there were many other acts of
disobedience to God by the Rabbi’s of that time, which is why He (God)
allowed the 2nd temple to be destroyed by the Romans and both the Jews and
Christians of the time to be dispersed for the benefit of better propagating
knowledge of Him that was already given to all of us.

In the translation below, of these verses I have included a transliteration
as given in the book:
“Roman Translation of the Holy Quran with full Arabic Text “ by Muhammad
Yusef Ali. This translation is not included in the text “Graded Steps in
Qur’an Reading”.

Verse 107
“Qui ‘aaminuu bihiii ‘aw laa tu’-minuu: ‘innnallaziina ‘uutul’ilma min
qablihiii ‘izaa utlaa ‘alayhim yakhimirruuna lil-‘azqaani sujjadaa.

Say whether you believe it or not, it is true that those who were given
knowledge beforehand, when it is recited to them, fall down on their faces in
humble prostration,

108 Wa yaquuluuna Subhaana Rabbinaa la-maf- ‘uulaa!

“And they say: ‘Glory to our Lord! Truly has the promise of our Lord been
fulfilled!’

109 Wa yakhirruuna lil-‘azqaani yabkuuna wa yaziidu-hum khushuu-‘aa.
(Bow-down)

They fall on their faces in tears, and it increases their (earnest) humility.

The positions of prayer differ of course in the different religions which God
has given to us all.
Jews often stand up while listening to the Torah, Christians are usually
sitting to hear the Bible preached from above in a pulpit,
Muslims sit together in a kneeling posture after first prostrating,
Hindu’s and Sikhs often sit down in the Yogic lotus posture while listening
to their scriptures. In their riturals and rites, probably, each of these
different religions have some part which was put in by the prophets and
originators of the rituals and not God. For we should all know, as we
worship together, that God can come to us as Truth both from the “top down”
or the “bottom up”. Hopefully, they were not put in to unnecessarily confuse
and hurt beginners and others trying to learn our different ways of
worshipping the same God as they go along. If this was so in the case of the
Quran it would contradict its own teaching that God (its source) is
compassionate and interesting in helping us all learn about Him in others
more than He is interested in judging us as we do so.