لَوْ أَرَدْنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ لَهْوًا لَّٱتَّخَذْنَـٰهُ مِن لَّدُنَّآ إِن كُنَّا فَـٰعِلِينَ 17
Translations
Had We intended to take a diversion, We could have taken it from [what is] with Us - if [indeed] We were to do so.
Transliteration
Law aradna an nattakhidha lahwan lattakhdhahu min ladunna in kunna fa'ilin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refutes the notion that Allah created the universe as mere play or amusement, affirming that if He intended to take entertainment, He would have chosen it from His own dominion rather than creating this world. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this demonstrates the supreme wisdom and serious purpose behind creation—everything is created with divine purpose and divine knowledge, not frivolously. The ayah establishes that Allah's actions are always rooted in wisdom ('hikma) and justice, not whim or amusement.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Anbiya (Chapter 21), a Meccan surah that predominantly discusses monotheism, the oneness of Allah, and refutes polytheistic arguments. The broader context of verses 16-17 addresses the disbelievers' claims about creation being meaningless play, and Allah responds by clarifying the serious and purposeful nature of creation and the accountability of the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, the concept relates to numerous ahadith on divine wisdom. See Sahih Muslim's collection on the creation of the heavens and earth with truth (bil-haqq), and Al-Tirmidhi's reports on Allah's perfect knowledge and planning in creation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that life and creation are not arbitrary or purposeless, but part of a divine plan with profound wisdom. Understanding this encourages us to live purposefully, seeking Allah's pleasure and preparing for accountability, rather than treating life as mere entertainment or amusement.
Related Ayahs
وَجَعَلْنَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِهِمْ وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا فِجَاجًا سُبُلًا لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ
And We placed within the earth firmly set mountains, lest it should shift with them, and We made therein [mountain] passes [as] roads that they might be guided.
فَمَا زَالَت تِّلْكَ دَعْوَىٰهُمْ حَتَّىٰ جَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ حَصِيدًا خَـٰمِدِينَ
And that declaration of theirs did not cease until We made them [as] a harvest [mowed down], extinguished [like a fire].
وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةً تَجْرِى بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا ۚ وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَـٰلِمِينَ
And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind, blowing forcefully, proceeding by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And We are ever, of all things, Knowing.
فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُۥ زَوْجَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ لَنَا خَـٰشِعِينَ
So We responded to him, and We gave to him John, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive.