قُلْ هُوَ ٱلْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ 65
Translations
Say, "He is the [one] Able to send upon you affliction from above you or from beneath your feet or to confuse you [so you become] sects and make you taste the violence of one another." Look how We diversify the signs that they might understand.
Transliteration
Qul huwa al-qadiru ala an yab'atha alaikum adhaban min fawqikum aw min tahti arjulikum aw yalbisukum shiyaan wa yudhiqa ba'dakum ba'sa ba'din. Unzur kayfa nusamrifu al-ayati la'allahum yafqahun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes Allah's absolute power and ability to punish people through various means—from above them (falling calamities, celestial disasters), from beneath them (earthquakes, collapse of foundations), or by causing internal conflict and division (shiyaa) that leads to mutual suffering and warfare. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that these represent comprehensive forms of punishment encompassing all dimensions of existence. The ayah concludes by reminding people to observe how Allah varies and clearly manifests His signs, hoping they will understand the consequences of their disobedience and turn to Him.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-An'am, which addresses polytheism and the rejection of Allah's oneness. It is part of a broader rhetorical section where the Prophet (peace be upon him) is instructed to warn the Quraysh of Allah's overwhelming power. The context emphasizes that despite their rejection of monotheism, the disbelievers remain completely subject to Allah's dominion and punishment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever Allah desires good for, He afflicts them with trials.' (Sahih Bukhari 5645). Additionally, the Quran itself references internal conflict as punishment in 47:4 and other verses discussing sectarian division.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a profound reminder that Allah's power encompasses all aspects of existence and that disobedience carries consequences at both cosmic and social levels. For modern readers, it warns against both complacency regarding natural disasters and the dangers of internal division and sectarian conflict within communities, encouraging humility and obedience to Allah's guidance.
Related Ayahs
فَيَذَرُهَا قَاعًا صَفْصَفًا
And He will leave it [i.e., the earth] a level plain;
ٱللَّهُ يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Allāh begins creation; then He will repeat it; then to Him you will be returned.
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ ۚ وَلَهُ ٱلْمَثَلُ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
And it is He who begins creation; then He repeats it, and that is [even] easier for Him. To Him belongs the highest description [i.e., attribute] in the heavens and earth. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
أَءِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَـٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَدِينُونَ
That when we have died and become dust and bones, we will indeed be recompensed?'"