فِىٓ أَىِّ صُورَةٍ مَّا شَآءَ رَكَّبَكَ 8
Translations
In whatever form He willed has He assembled you.
Transliteration
Fee ayyi surah ma sha'a rakkabak
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute power and wisdom in creating human beings in whatever form He willed during their creation in the womb. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that 'surah' (form/shape) refers to the physical composition and features Allah gives to each person, demonstrating His complete control over creation. The ayah emphasizes that humans have no role in determining their physical characteristics, highlighting divine sovereignty and the rejection of any partnership in creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Infitar, a Meccan chapter focused on the certainty of resurrection and divine judgment. It comes within the context of reminding the Meccan disbelievers of their absolute dependence on Allah from the moment of conception, refuting any notion that humans have power over their own creation or destiny.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (5208): The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'The creation of each of you is brought together in his mother's belly for forty days.' This hadith complements the ayah by explaining the process through which Allah forms humans in their chosen forms. Also relevant is the hadith in Muslim (2645) about the angel asking Allah regarding the soul, form, and provision of the child.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize that their physical existence is entirely a gift from Allah, fostering humility and gratitude rather than pride in one's appearance or abilities. It serves as a reminder that since Allah alone shaped our forms according to His wisdom, we should submit completely to His guidance and trust His decree in all matters of life.