وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ بَشَرًا فَجَعَلَهُۥ نَسَبًا وَصِهْرًا ۗ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ قَدِيرًا 54
Translations
And it is He who has created from water [i.e., semen] a human being and made him [a relative by] lineage and marriage. And ever is your Lord competent [concerning creation].
Transliteration
Wa huwa alladhee khalaqa mina al-maa'i basharan fa ja'alahu nasaban wa sihran wa kana rabbuka qadeeran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah created humanity from water and established kinship bonds (nasab) through descent and marriage (sihr) among them, demonstrating His complete power and wisdom. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that 'nasab' refers to blood relations established through lineage, while 'sihr' (or 'silat') refers to in-law relationships established through marriage. The ayah emphasizes that these complex social bonds originate from Allah's creative power and serve as evidence of His divine wisdom in organizing human society.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Furqan (a Meccan surah), which focuses on establishing the oneness of Allah and refuting polytheistic arguments. It comes within a passage that emphasizes Allah's creative power and the signs evident in creation. The context addresses those who denied Allah's ability to create and resurrect, using the example of how humanity multiplied and organized itself through family ties as proof of divine omnipotence.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in Sahih Bukhari: 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him maintain ties of kinship (silat al-rahim).' This directly relates to the ayah's mention of family bonds as part of Allah's creation and design for human society.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that family ties—both through blood and marriage—are divinely ordained structures meant to organize society, and maintaining these relationships is a fundamental spiritual obligation rooted in creation itself. It reminds us that our interconnectedness as human beings reflects Allah's infinite wisdom and power, calling us to honor and preserve family bonds with respect and compassion.