إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱلْفُلْكِ ٱلَّتِى تَجْرِى فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن مَّآءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ ٱلرِّيَـٰحِ وَٱلسَّحَابِ ٱلْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ 164
Translations
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allāh has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and earth are signs for a people who use reason.
Transliteration
Inna fee khalqi as-samawati wal-ardi wa ikhtilafi al-layli wan-nahari wal-fulki allati tajree fi al-bahri bima yanfau an-nasa wa ma anzala Allahu mina as-sama'i min ma'in fa ahya bihi al-arda ba'da mawtiha wa batha fiha min kulli dabbatin wa tasreef ar-riyahi was-sahabi al-musakhkhara bayna as-sama'i wal-ardi la-ayatun liqawmin ya'qilun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the signs of Allah's power and wisdom manifest in creation: the heavens and earth, the alternation of day and night, ships sailing the seas for human benefit, rain reviving dead land and sustaining all creatures, and the regulation of winds and clouds between sky and earth. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, these are clear evidences of Allah's oneness and perfect design, comprehensible to those who possess intellect and reflection. The ayah emphasizes that creation itself is proof of the Creator, requiring rational contemplation rather than blind acceptance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan surah Al-Baqarah, part of a broader section addressing believers and establishing fundamental Islamic principles. It serves as a continuation of arguments for monotheism and was revealed to strengthen the faith of the early Muslim community and refute those who denied Allah's existence or uniqueness. The context emphasizes rational reflection as a path to faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Reflect upon everything, but do not reflect upon the essence of Allah, for reflection upon His essence is a sin' (Reported by Al-Tirmidhi). Also relevant: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari) - as understanding these ayat requires contemplation of divine signs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to observe the natural world as evidence of Allah's existence and power, encouraging intellectual engagement with faith rather than passive acceptance. Modern readers should recognize that scientific understanding of natural phenomena—meteorology, biology, astronomy—deepens rather than diminishes appreciation for divine wisdom and creation.