Al-Jathiyah الجاثية

Holy Quran

The chapter starts with the Muqattaʿat Hāʼ Mīm, the sixth of seven Quranic chapters to do so. The following verses (2–15) discuss the "signs of God", such as the order in nature as well as its ability to serve humanity[6][7] The verses exhort mankind to reflect upon those signs and warn them of the punishment for those who turn away from God despite the signs[6][8]

Verse 16 talks about the Children of Israel, whom it says were sent with the Book (Torah) and multiple prophets, and were "favored above the world".[9] The following verse, however, criticized the Jews of Medina for rejecting the message of Muhammad[10]

Verse 18 is the only verse in the Quran that explicitly mentions the term sharia

A partial translation of the verse reads: "We have ordained for you a sharia to live in line with".[13] Linguistically, the Arabic term sharia means "a straight, smooth path that leads to water", which in the context of Arabian desert culture could also mean "a path to salvation from death"

The remaining verses (20–37) contain Quranic descriptions of the Judgment Day and the fate of those who deny the signs of God, i.e. the nonbelievers. Verse 28 describes that "every community will be upon its knees" on Judgment Day, a passage which gives the chapter its name.

Verses

1 The Quran a revelation from God

2-5 God revealed in his works

6-10 Punishment of those who reject the Quran

11-12 God’s mercy seen in his works of providence

13-14 Muslims exhorted to forgive the unbelievers

15-16 The Book of the law, wisdom, and prophecy given to the Israelites

17-19 Muhammad received the Quran

20 The wicked and just not rewarded alike

21-22 Unbelievers and idolaters threatened

23-25 God the author of life, therefore may raise the dead

26-34 Contrasted condition of believers and unbelievers in the judgment

35-36 Praise to the Lord of the universe

The name al-Jathiya ("The Kneeling") comes from a phrase in verse 28 which says that "every community will be upon its knees" on the Judgement Day. It is also called al-Dahr ("Time") after the word's presence in verse 24. Another name is al-Shariah, because the chapter is the only one in the Quran mentioning the term "shariah".