۞ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْبَحْرَ لِتَجْرِىَ ٱلْفُلْكُ فِيهِ بِأَمْرِهِۦ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ 12
Translations
It is Allāh who subjected to you the sea so that ships may sail upon it by His command and that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.
Transliteration
Allahu alladhi sakhkhara lakumu al-bahr lita-jri al-fulk fihi bi-amrihi wa-li-tabtagh'u min fadlihi wa-la'allakum tashkurun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah highlights Allah's grace in subjugating the sea for humanity, enabling ships to sail by His command so that people may seek His provision and sustenance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this is a sign of Allah's power and mercy, demonstrating His complete mastery over creation while simultaneously providing humans with means of livelihood and trade. Al-Qurtubi notes that the mention of gratitude at the end underscores the obligation to recognize these blessings as divinely granted rather than human achievement.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Jathiyah, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes the signs of Allah's existence and power (ayat) found throughout creation. The surah addresses those who deny resurrection and uses examples from nature—including the sea and ships—to demonstrate Allah's creative power and the inevitability of the Day of Judgment. The ayah fits within the broader theme of Allah's mastery over natural phenomena.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895). While not directly about ships, the theme of gratitude appears in: 'Whoever is grateful, it is for his own good' (Quran 31:12), emphasizing the benefits of shukr (gratitude) mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that worldly provisions and opportunities are divine gifts meant to facilitate both livelihood and spiritual growth through gratitude. We should recognize our dependence on Allah in all endeavors and cultivate thankfulness for the systems and resources He has placed at our disposal, whether maritime trade, technology, or economic opportunities.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحُكْمَ وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَفَضَّلْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And We did certainly give the Children of Israel the Scripture and judgement and prophethood, and We provided them with good things and preferred them over the worlds.
مِّن وَرَآئِهِمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَلَا يُغْنِى عَنْهُم مَّا كَسَبُوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا مَا ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Before them is Hell, and what they had earned will not avail them at all nor what they had taken besides Allāh as allies. And they will have a great punishment.
ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَـٰكَ عَلَىٰ شَرِيعَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ فَٱتَّبِعْهَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Then We put you, [O Muḥammad], on an ordained way concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know.
وَٱخْتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن رِّزْقٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَتَصْرِيفِ ٱلرِّيَـٰحِ ءَايَـٰتٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
And [in] the alternation of night and day and [in] what Allāh sends down from the sky of provision [i.e., rain] and gives life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and [in His] directing of the winds are signs for a people who reason.