The performance of Sajdah in Surah Sad is not one of the obligatory
locations; it is a prostration of thanks (Sajdat Shukr). The evidence for it is
the report recorded by Imam Ahmad from Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with
him, who said; "The prostration in Surah Sad is not one of the obligatory
prostrations; I saw the Messenger of Allah prostrating in this Surah.'' This was
also recorded by Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasa'i in his
Tafsir. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih.'' In his Tafsir of this Ayah, An-Nasa'i
also recorded that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Prophet
prostrated in Sad, and he said:
«سَجَدَهَا دَاوُدُ
عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ تَوْبَةً، وَنَسْجُدُهَا شُكْرًا»
(Dawud prostrated as an act of repentance and we prostrate as an act of
thanks.)'' This was recorded only by An-Nasa'i. The men of its chain of
narration are all reliable. In his Tafsir of this Ayah, Al-Bukhari recorded that
Al-`Awwam said that he asked Mujahid about the prostration in Surah Sad. He
said, `I asked Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, `Why do you prostrate'
He said, `Have you not read:
[وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِ
دَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَـنَ]
(and among his [Nuh's] progeny Dawud, Sulayman) (6:84)
[أُوْلَـئِكَ
الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ فَبِهُدَاهُمُ اقْتَدِهْ]
(They are those whom Allah had guided. So follow their guidance) (6:90).
Dawud, peace be upon him, was one of those whom your Prophet was commanded to
follow. Dawud prostrated here so the Messenger of Allah also prostrated here.'''
Abu Dawud recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him,
said, "The Messenger of Allah recited Sad while he was on the Minbar. When he
reached the prostration, he came down from the Minbar and prostrated, and the
people prostrated with him. On another occasion when he recited it, he reached
the prostration and the people prepared to prostrate. He said:
«إِنَّمَا هِيَ
تَوْبَةُ نَبِيَ، وَلَكِنِّي رَأَيْتُكُمْ تَشَزَّنْتُم»
(This is repentance for a Prophet, but I see that you are preparing to
prostrate.) Then he came down (from the Minbar) and prostrated.'' This was
recorded only by Abu Dawud and its chain of narration meets the conditions of
the Two Sahihs.
[وَإِنَّ لَهُ
عِندَنَا لَزُلْفَى وَحُسْنَ مَـَابٍ ]
(and verily, for him is a near access to Us, and a good place of (final)
return.) means, on the Day of Resurrection, he will have good deeds by virtue of
which he will be brought close to Allah, and he will have a good place of
(final) return, which means the lofty levels of Paradise, because of his
repentance and his perfect justice in his kingdom. As it says in the Sahih:
«الْمُقْسِطُونَ
عَلَى مَنَابِرَ مِنْ نُورٍ عَنْ يَمِينِ الرَّحْمنِ، وَكِلْتَا يَدَيْهِ يَمِينٌ،
الَّذِينَ يُقْسِطُونَ فِي أَهْلِيهِمْ وَمَا وَلُوا»
(Those who are fair and just with their families and those who are under
their authority will be on Minbars of light on the right hand of Ar-Rahman, and
both His Hands are right Hands.)''
[يدَاوُودُ إِنَّا
جَعَلْنَـكَ خَلِيفَةً فِى الاٌّرْضِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلاَ
تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَى فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ
عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدُ بِمَا نَسُواْ يَوْمَ الْحِسَابِ
]
(26. O Dawud! Verily, We have placed you as a successor on the earth; so
judge you between men in truth (and justice) and follow not your desire -- for
it will mislead you from the path of Allah. Verily, those who wander astray from
the path of Allah (shall) have a severe torment, because they forgot the Day of
Reckoning.)