۞ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ قَادِرٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَهُمْ أَجَلًا لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ فَأَبَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ إِلَّا كُفُورًا 99
Translations
Do they not see that Allāh, who created the heavens and earth, is [the one] Able to create the likes of them? And He has appointed for them a term, about which there is no doubt. But the wrongdoers refuse except disbelief.
Transliteration
Awa lam yaraw anna Allaha allathee khalaqa al-samawati wa-al-arda qadirun ala an yakhluqa mithlahum wa jaAAala lahum ajalan la rayba feehi fa-aba al-zalimuna illa kufura
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refutes the disbelievers' denial of resurrection by presenting a logical argument: if Allah has the power to create the heavens and the earth, He certainly has the power to recreate humanity after death. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that the creation of the universe is far greater than the recreation of human beings, making resurrection not only possible but logically inevitable. The ayah concludes by noting that despite this clear evidence, the wrongdoers stubbornly persist in disbelief—a rejection born of arrogance rather than rational doubt.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Isra, a Meccan surah addressing the early rejection of the Message in Mecca. The context deals with Quranic responses to the disbelievers' mockery of the concept of resurrection (al-ba'th), which was a central point of contention between the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Meccan polytheists. The ayah serves as a rational proof against their denial of the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The resurrection will surely come to pass, I swear by the Lord of this Ka'bah.' (Sunan Ibn Majah) Additionally, Imam Muslim records a hadith where the Prophet addresses disbelievers' denial of resurrection, emphasizing that Allah's power over creation is absolute and resurrection is certain.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that denial of resurrection often stems from spiritual blindness and arrogance rather than intellectual weakness—the proof is evident in creation itself. This ayah invites reflection on our mortality and accountability, encouraging sincere submission to Allah while we have the opportunity, rather than stubborn rejection like those whom the Quran describes as the 'wrongdoers.'
Related Ayahs
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.
تَرْجِعُونَهَآ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
Bring it back, if you should be truthful?
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَلَكَهُۥ يَنَـٰبِيعَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرْعًا مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُۥ حُطَـٰمًا ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
Do you not see that Allāh sends down rain from the sky and makes it flow as springs [and rivers] in the earth; then He produces thereby crops of varying colors; then they dry and you see them turned yellow; then He makes them [scattered] debris. Indeed in that is a reminder for those of understanding.
ءَأَنتُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَمِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ ۚ بَنَىٰهَا
Are you a more difficult creation or is the heaven? He [i.e., Allāh] constructed it.