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
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّجَرِ ٱلْأَخْضَرِ نَارًا فَإِذَآ أَنتُم مِّنْهُ تُوقِدُونَ
[It is] He who made for you from the green tree, fire, and then from it you ignite.
۞ وَإِن تَعْجَبْ فَعَجَبٌ قَوْلُهُمْ أَءِذَا كُنَّا تُرَٰبًا أَءِنَّا لَفِى خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلْأَغْلَـٰلُ فِىٓ أَعْنَاقِهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
And if you are astonished, [O Muḥammad] - then astonishing is their saying, "When we are dust, will we indeed be [brought] into a new creation?" Those are the ones who have disbelieved in their Lord, and those will have shackles upon their necks, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
فَإِنَّمَا هِىَ زَجْرَةٌ وَٰحِدَةٌ فَإِذَا هُمْ يَنظُرُونَ
It will be only one shout, and at once they will be observing.
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوبٍ
And We did certainly create the heavens and earth and what is between them in six days, and there touched Us no weariness.