In this reading, the first word is understood to comprise an + lā, so the verb is subjunctive, referring to the people of Sheba.
أَلَا يَا اسْجُدُوا
alā ya-sjudū
“Listen all, prostrate to God!”
This reading is based on taking alā as an address (by the hoopoe to those assembled), followed by a vocative yā and an imperative verb (usjudū). It is also possible that this is a divine exhortation, separate from the story itself.
وضاحت:
These readings provide different angles to the story, in which the hoopoe is explaining the situation he encountered in Sheba. The rest of this ayah contains a strong exhortation to worship Allah alone [Makki]. Note that these readings are based on the same orthography, though the second infers two additional alifs.
He has revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ the Book in truth, confirming what came before it, as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel
وضاحت:
These readings provide different angles to the story, in which the hoopoe is explaining the situation he encountered in Sheba. The rest of this ayah contains a strong exhortation to worship Allah alone [Makki]. Note that these readings are based on the same orthography, though the second infers two additional alifs.