لِّنُحْـِۧىَ بِهِۦ بَلْدَةً مَّيْتًا وَنُسْقِيَهُۥ مِمَّا خَلَقْنَآ أَنْعَـٰمًا وَأَنَاسِىَّ كَثِيرًا 49
Translations
That We may bring to life thereby a dead land and give it as drink to those We created of numerous livestock and men.
Transliteration
Linahyi bihi baldatan maytaan wa nusqiyahu mimma khalaqna an'aman wa anasiyya kathira
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Allah sends down rain to revive dead land and provides sustenance through it for numerous livestock and people. The scholars, including Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, emphasize that this demonstrates Allah's power over creation and His provision (rizq), using the metaphor of dead earth coming to life as a sign of divine mercy and resurrection. The mention of both animals and humans receiving sustenance illustrates the comprehensive nature of Allah's care for all His creatures.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Furqan (a Meccan surah) within a broader context of signs (ayat) of Allah's oneness and power. The surrounding ayat discuss various manifestations of divine power—the creation of heavens and earth, the alternation of night and day, and the provision of rain. This particular ayah serves as evidence of Allah's ability to grant life and sustenance, which implicitly affirms His ability to resurrect the dead on the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best charity is to give water to drink' (related in various collections). Additionally, Surah Al-Furqan's theme of rain as a mercy aligns with the hadith: 'The most hoped-for time for rain (in Dua) is during the cloud formation' (Tirmidhi), emphasizing the direct connection between rain and Allah's provision.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that all sustenance comes directly from Allah's hands, and we should recognize His blessings in every provision we receive. Just as dead earth is revived by rain, our hearts and spiritual states require constant connection to Allah's mercy and guidance to flourish.
Related Ayahs
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ ۚ وَلَهُ ٱلْمَثَلُ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
And it is He who begins creation; then He repeats it, and that is [even] easier for Him. To Him belongs the highest description [i.e., attribute] in the heavens and earth. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوبٍ
And We did certainly create the heavens and earth and what is between them in six days, and there touched Us no weariness.
قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ رَحْمَتُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَـٰتُهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ
They said, "Are you amazed at the decree of Allāh? May the mercy of Allāh and His blessings be upon you, people of the house. Indeed, He is Praiseworthy and Honorable."
فَالِقُ ٱلْإِصْبَاحِ وَجَعَلَ ٱلَّيْلَ سَكَنًا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ حُسْبَانًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ
[He is] the cleaver of daybreak and has made the night for rest and the sun and moon for calculation. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.