وَلَـٰكِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

ربك الاعلىٰ

I'm against protocol, both giving and receiving, despite it being part of our culture. I'm a rebel against this norm. yesterday, I waited for a medical superintendent in his office. When he arrived, everyone stood up for protocol's sake. My rebellious nature wouldn't let me stand, but social pressure forced me to, which felt strange.
To me, he was just an experienced professional in his field, not deserving of such protocol. However I had to stand up because of peer pressure طوعاً و كرهاً but then I managed to fake my intentions LOL. 

Later, while praying, I bowed my head in prostration (sajdah). I realized Allah's grandeur, choosing my humble self to bow before Him. I can't imagine bowing my head for someone and nor can I imagine its not bowing down before its Master. However, humanly lowering your head to its lowest possible position is the most humbling position of our existence, yet we feel exalted when we bow our head for our Lord. How exalted He'd be? I asked myself. And as I recited 'سبحان ربي الاعلىٰ', it hit me differently this time.  These words, taught by the Prophet PBUH, resonate with the Quranic verse 'سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْاَعْلَى' (Glorify the Name of your Lord the Most Exalted). So, In our most humble state, we acknowledge Allah's transcendence, His might, His grandeur. 
My mind then wandered to those who refuse to bow to God's commands. As for one forehead finds elevation in submission, while another, labeled 'kadhiba' (liar) and 'khateyah' (erring), resists.

'Khateyah' implies deviating (intentionally or unintentionally) from one's purpose. Interestingly, a land patch that remains dry amidst surrounding rainfall is also called 'خطأة'. The Quran also paints a vivid imagery  of such a land in Surah Al-A'raf: 
'The good land yields its produce by the permission of its Lord, while the wicked land produces only poor vegetation.'
 Similarly, the term خطاء with ضمه applies to animals that stray from their wonted place and wander to where they shouldn't be.

In Surah Al-Qiyamah, the characteristics of a disbeliever are outlined as follows:
 'He did not affirm the truth, nor did he pray. Instead, he denied and turned away.' The next verse describes him as 'proudly returning to his family(his 'asset').'

Remember the animals that stray? as explained by mufasirun, this verse specifically illustrates Abu Jahl's state. Upon seeing the Prophet PBUH praying, he deviated from his expected response/ default purpose (to conform to the call of Prophet PBUH). He rejected the remembrance of God and kept his heart barren, depriving it of the nourishing rain of divine remembrance. Meanwhile, the landscapes around him (the hearts of Prophet PBUH and his companions) received the rainfall of spiritual awareness.

Abu Jahl failed to join this gathering, deviated from the expected purpose. He arrogantly turned his back and walked away, much like lost animals that wander from their natural habitat. And how to get those animals back to their actual habitat?
 فَیُؤْخَذُ بِالنَّوَاصِیْ وَ الْاَقْدَامِ.
 (They will be seized by the forelocks and the feet).  Foreheads, the seat of intention and feet, the instrument of action, both will be held accountable 

Either utilize the forehead (intention) for its intended purpose or risk deviating like lost animals that stray from their natural habitat. These animals are then dragged by the head or feet to their actual destination.

'Fi-yu'khadh bin-nawasi wal-aqdami' - seized by the foreheads and the feet, emphasizing the loss of control and dignity.
May Allah the most exalted, enable us to preserve our dignity and submit our intentions to our expected purpose. Ameen

Reflections on Surah Al-Qiyamah Ayah 32