وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ فَمُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمُسْتَوْدَعٌ ۗ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَفْقَهُونَ 98
Translations
And it is He who produced you from one soul and [gave you] a place of dwelling and of storage. We have detailed the signs for a people who understand.
Transliteration
Wa huwa alladhi anshaakum min nafsin wahidatin fa mustaqarrun wa mustawda. Qad fassalna al-ayati liqawmin yafqahun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah is the One who created all of humanity from a single soul (Adam), establishing the unity of human origin and dignity. The terms 'mustaqarr' (permanent dwelling) and 'mustawda' (temporary trust/deposit) refer to the stages of human life—some souls remain in the womb and are born to live on earth, while others remain in the womb temporarily before returning to Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize this ayah as a profound statement of human equality before Allah, derived from one source, with all distinctions of provision, lifespan, and station being divinely ordained.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-An'am, a Meccan surah that frequently addresses the themes of divine creation, monotheism, and refutation of idolatry. The broader context emphasizes Allah's unique powers in creation and sustenance, confronting the Meccan polytheists' rejection of resurrection and divine judgment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'All people are from Adam, and Adam was created from earth' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, in his farewell sermon, the Prophet emphasized: 'O people, your Lord is one and your father is one. All of you are from Adam' (Sunan Ibn Majah and Ahmad), directly connecting to the principle of human unity established in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that all humanity shares a common origin and dignity before Allah, transcending artificial distinctions of race, tribe, or status, while reminding us that our lifespans and circumstances are divinely appointed—encouraging acceptance of Allah's decree with wisdom and compassion toward all people.
Related Ayahs
لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُۥ ۖ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ
No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first [among you] of the Muslims."
قُلْ أَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبْغِى رَبًّا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ ۚ وَلَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ إِلَّا عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
Say, "Is it other than Allāh I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things? And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ."
قُلْ إِنِّى عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى وَكَذَّبْتُم بِهِۦ ۚ مَا عِندِى مَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ يَقُصُّ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْفَـٰصِلِينَ
Say, "Indeed, I am on clear evidence from my Lord, and you have denied it. I do not have that for which you are impatient. The decision is only for Allāh. He relates the truth, and He is the best of deciders."
فَقُطِعَ دَابِرُ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ۚ وَٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
So the people that committed wrong were eliminated. And praise to Allāh, Lord of the worlds.