بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ 117
Translations
Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.
Transliteration
Badeeʿu as-samāwāti wa-al-arḍ wa-idhā qaḍā amran fa-innamā yaqūlu lahu kun fa-yakūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute power and unique creative ability—He is the Originator of the heavens and earth without precedent or model. When Allah decrees a matter, He merely says 'Be!' and it comes into existence instantaneously, emphasizing His complete command over creation and the effortless nature of His will. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this demonstrates Allah's transcendence beyond the constraints of causality and time that bind creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the opening section of Surah Al-Baqarah (the longest chapter of the Quran) which was revealed in Madinah. It comes in the context of establishing core Islamic beliefs about Allah's oneness (Tawhid) and His attributes, particularly His creative power and uniqueness, addressing both the theological foundations for the Muslim community and refutations of polytheistic and Jewish objections.
Related Hadiths
Related to the concept of Allah's creative power: 'The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Allah created all things with a purpose' (Quran 45:22). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet describes how Allah's creation unfolds according to His divine decree (qadr), emphasizing the completeness of His knowledge and power over all affairs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah's power is absolute and requires no intermediaries or time—whatever He wills occurs instantly through His command. For modern readers, this should instill unwavering trust (tawakkul) in Allah's ability to resolve all matters and inspire awe at His majesty, while recognizing that our role is to obey His commands and trust in His wisdom.