هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن طِينٍ ثُمَّ قَضَىٰٓ أَجَلًا ۖ وَأَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى عِندَهُۥ ۖ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تَمْتَرُونَ 2
Translations
It is He who created you from clay and then decreed a term and a specified time [known] to Him; then [still] you are in dispute.
Transliteration
Huwa alladhee khalaqakum min teen thumma qada ajalan wa ajalun musamman 'indahu thumma antum tamtaroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's exclusive creative power and knowledge of human destiny, stating that He created humanity from clay and has predetermined two appointed terms (ajals)—one for life in this world and another for the Day of Judgment—yet humans still harbor doubts about resurrection. Ibn Kathir explains that despite this clear evidence of Allah's creative ability, people persist in denying the Hereafter, while Al-Tabari emphasizes that the 'two appointed terms' refer to the fixed lifespan and the predetermined time of resurrection known only to Allah.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-An'am, revealed in Mecca during the early-to-middle Meccan period, addresses the polytheists' rejection of monotheism and the afterlife. This ayah appears in a section refuting idolatry and affirming Allah's oneness and creative authority, directly challenging the disbelievers' denial of resurrection despite witnessing Allah's creative power in their own creation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah, then to disobey parents, then to make false oaths' (Sahih Al-Bukhari 2654). Additionally, the hadith on the angel asking the soul about its deeds emphasizes the appointed term: 'When the soul is taken, the eyes follow it' (Sahih Muslim 2574), highlighting Allah's knowledge of appointed times.
Themes
Key Lesson
Despite the undeniable evidence of Allah's creative power evident in our own creation from clay, many people remain heedless and skeptical of the afterlife; this ayah calls believers to reflect on their origins and destiny, recognizing that just as Allah created us once, He is fully capable of resurrecting us, and to accept His divine wisdom regarding the appointed times only He knows.