أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ كَيْفَ يُبْدِئُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ 19
Translations
Have they not considered how Allāh begins creation and then repeats it? Indeed that, for Allāh, is easy.
Transliteration
Awalam yaraw kayfa yubdi'u Allahu al-khalqa thumma yu'iduhu? Inna dhalika 'ala Allahi yasir.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah poses a rhetorical question to the disbelievers, asking them to observe how Allah originates creation and then restores it—a clear sign of His power and His ability to resurrect the dead. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that just as Allah creates from nothing initially and sustains creation throughout time, His ability to resurrect humanity on the Day of Judgment is equally effortless. Al-Qurtubi notes that the cyclical nature of creation (spring and autumn, life and death, day and night) serves as tangible evidence that resurrection is not difficult for Allah.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-'Ankabut is a Meccan surah addressing early Muslims facing persecution and doubt about the Day of Judgment. This ayah appears within a section refuting the disbelievers' denial of resurrection, inviting them to contemplate the natural cycles and regeneration in creation as proof of Allah's omnipotence regarding the afterlife.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest ayah in the Quran is Ayat al-Kursi' (Sunan Ibn Majah), which similarly emphasizes Allah's complete knowledge and power over creation. Additionally, Sahih Bukhari records the Prophet's statement about resurrection: 'Just as He created you initially, so too will He resurrect you.'
Themes
Key Lesson
Modern readers should recognize the natural cycles around them—seasons, growth, decay—as daily reminders that Allah's power over creation is absolute and that resurrection is not a burden for Him. This ayah invites believers to move beyond doubt through rational observation of the natural world and to find reassurance in the signs of Allah's infinite capability.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ فُرِجَتْ
And when the heaven is opened
ٱللَّهُ يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Allāh begins creation; then He will repeat it; then to Him you will be returned.
۞ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ قَادِرٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَهُمْ أَجَلًا لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ فَأَبَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ إِلَّا كُفُورًا
Do they not see that Allāh, who created the heavens and earth, is [the one] Able to create the likes of them? And He has appointed for them a term, about which there is no doubt. But the wrongdoers refuse except disbelief.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَلَكَهُۥ يَنَـٰبِيعَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرْعًا مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُۥ حُطَـٰمًا ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
Do you not see that Allāh sends down rain from the sky and makes it flow as springs [and rivers] in the earth; then He produces thereby crops of varying colors; then they dry and you see them turned yellow; then He makes them [scattered] debris. Indeed in that is a reminder for those of understanding.