وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلنُّجُومَ لِتَهْتَدُوا۟ بِهَا فِى ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ ۗ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ 97
Translations
And it is He who placed for you the stars that you may be guided by them through the darknesses of the land and sea. We have detailed the signs for a people who know.
Transliteration
Wa huwa alladhī ja'ala lakumu an-nujūma lita'tahdū bihā fī ẓulumāti al-barri wa-al-baḥri, qad faṣṣalnā al-āyāti liqawmin ya'lamūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah has created the stars as signs and means of guidance for travelers to navigate through the darkness of land and sea. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah demonstrates Allah's mercy in providing practical navigational tools while simultaneously serving as spiritual signs of His creation and wisdom. The concluding phrase indicates that these revelations are detailed for those who possess knowledge and understanding, suggesting that reflection upon creation requires intellectual capacity and sincere seeking.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-An'am, which comprehensively presents the proofs of Allah's oneness and His care for creation. The surah emphasizes divine signs (ayāt) scattered throughout the natural world as evidence of Allah's power and beneficence. This particular verse is part of a series highlighting various blessings and signs that should lead people to recognize and obey Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), as reflection upon creation and signs requires knowledge. Additionally, the Prophet encouraged seeking knowledge about the creation, as seen in various narrations about understanding the cosmos as a path to knowing the Creator.
Themes
Key Lesson
The stars represent both practical guidance and spiritual reminders of Allah's infinite wisdom and care—modern believers should cultivate awareness of such signs in creation as a means of strengthening faith and gratitude. Additionally, understanding the purpose and benefit of creation encourages us to use knowledge as a bridge to recognizing our Creator's magnificence.
Related Ayahs
قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُم مِّنْهَا وَمِن كُلِّ كَرْبٍ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ
Say, "It is Allāh who saves you from it and from every distress; then you [still] associate others with Him."
وَمَا قَدَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِۦٓ إِذْ قَالُوا۟ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ بَشَرٍ مِّن شَىْءٍ ۗ قُلْ مَنْ أَنزَلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ٱلَّذِى جَآءَ بِهِۦ مُوسَىٰ نُورًا وَهُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ ۖ تَجْعَلُونَهُۥ قَرَاطِيسَ تُبْدُونَهَا وَتُخْفُونَ كَثِيرًا ۖ وَعُلِّمْتُم مَّا لَمْ تَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنتُمْ وَلَآ ءَابَآؤُكُمْ ۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ ۖ ثُمَّ ذَرْهُمْ فِى خَوْضِهِمْ يَلْعَبُونَ
And they did not appraise Allāh with true appraisal when they said, "Allāh did not reveal to a human being anything." Say, "Who revealed the Scripture that Moses brought as light and guidance to the people? You [Jews] make it into pages, disclosing [some of] it and concealing much. And you were taught that which you knew not - neither you nor your fathers." Say, "Allāh [revealed it]." Then leave them in their [empty] discourse, amusing themselves.
قُل لَّوْ أَنَّ عِندِى مَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِهِۦ لَقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Say, "If I had that for which you are impatient, the matter would have been decided between me and you, but Allāh is most knowing of the wrongdoers."
وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِىٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَـٰطِينَ ٱلْإِنسِ وَٱلْجِنِّ يُوحِى بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ ٱلْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ ۖ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ
And thus We have made for every prophet an enemy - devils from mankind and jinn, inspiring to one another decorative speech in delusion. But if your Lord had willed, they would not have done it, so leave them and that which they invent.