[ Meaning of worship is to comply with God’s Laws, physical and spiritual. This is the essence of submission ]

16.Sura al-Nahl

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَوَ لَمْ يَرَوْاْ إِلَى مَا خَلَقَ اللّهُ مِن شَيْءٍ...   

16: 48.  Do they not look at Allah's creation, (even) among (inanimate) things --

C2074. 1 take "things" here to be inanimate things, for the next verse speaks of living, "moving creatures"and angels.

By a metaphor even such inanimate things are spoken of as recognising Allah and humbly worshipping Him. Even their shadows turn round from right and left according to the light from above, and they humbly prostrate themselves on the ground to celebrate the praises of Allah.

The "shadow" suggest how all things in this life are mere shadows of the true Reality in heaven, and they should turn and move in accordance with the divine light, as the shadows of trees and buildings move in one direction or another, and lengthen or shorten according to the light from heaven.

... يَتَفَيَّأُ ظِلاَلُهُ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَالْشَّمَآئِلِ سُجَّدًا لِلّهِ... 

how their (very) shadows turn round, from the right and the left, prostrating themselves to Allah,

The "shadow" suggest how all things in this life are mere shadows of the true Reality in heaven, and they should turn and move in accordance with the divine light, as the shadows of trees and buildings move in one direction or another, and lengthen or shorten according to the light from heaven.

... وَهُمْ دَاخِرُونَ ﴿٤٨﴾  

and that in the humblest manner?

وَلِلّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَالْمَلآئِكَةُ...    

16: 49.  And to Allah doth obeisance all that is in the heavens and on earth, whether moving (living) creatures or the angels:

C2075. Moving creatures, i.e., living creatures,

"All that is in the heavens or earth," includes every created thing. And created things are mentioned in three classes:

1.      inanimate things,

2.      ordinary living things, and

3.      angels.

Even the highest angels are not arrogant; they bow down and serve their Lord, and so does all Creation.

... وَهُمْ لاَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ﴿٤٩﴾

for none are arrogant (before their Lord).

Other versions:

16: 48

Asad Have, then, they never considered any of the things that God has created – their shadows turn right and left, prostrating themselves before God and utterly submissive ?

Yusuf Ali Do they not look at Allah's creation (even) among (inanimate) things how their (very) shadows turn round from the right and the left prostrating themselves to Allah and that in the humblest manner?

Pickthall Have they not observed all thing that Allah hath created, how their shadows incline to the right and to the left, making prostration unto Allah, and they are lowly?

Transliteration Awalam yarau ila_ ma_ khalaqalla_hu min syai'iy yatafayya'u zila_luhu_ 'anil yamini wasy syama_'ili sujjadal lilla_hi wa hum da_khiru_n(a).

16: 49

Asad For, before God prostrates itself all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth – every beast that moves, and the angels: these do not bear themselves with false pride:

Yusuf Ali And to Allah doth obeisance all that is in the heavens and on earth whether moving (living) creatures or the angels: for none are arrogant (before their Lord).

Pickthall And unto Allah maketh prostration whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth of living creatures, and the angels (also), and they are not proud.

Transliteration Wa lilla_hi yasjudu ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wa ma_ fil ardi min da_bbatiw wal mala_'ikatu wa hum la_ yastakbiru_n(a).