هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْإِنسَـٰنِ حِينٌ مِّنَ ٱلدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُن شَيْـًٔا مَّذْكُورًا 1
Translations
Has there [not] come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing [even] mentioned?
Transliteration
Hal ataa alal-insani heenun minaddahri lam yakun shay'an madhkura
Tafsir (Explanation)
This opening ayah of Surah Al-Insan poses a rhetorical question asking whether there has not come upon man a period of time when he was not even a thing worth mentioning. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as referring to man's state before creation, emphasizing human insignificance and dependence on Allah's will. The ayah serves as a powerful introduction to the surah's themes of human creation and divine mercy, reminding humanity of their humble origins and the magnificence of Allah's creative act.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Insan is a Medinan surah that primarily addresses the signs of Allah's creation and mercy toward humanity. This opening ayah sets the thematic foundation by reminding believers of their pre-existence non-existence, establishing the context for the entire surah's discourse on divine favor and human responsibility in response to Allah's blessings.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Bukhari 13). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized human equality and origin, stating: 'All of you are from Adam, and Adam was created from dust' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3555), which echoes the theme of human insignificance before Allah's creation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us to maintain humility and gratitude, recognizing that we emerged from absolute nothingness by Allah's grace alone, which should cultivate profound appreciation for existence itself and encourage us to use our lives in service of Allah and others.