وَمَآ أَمْرُنَآ إِلَّا وَٰحِدَةٌ كَلَمْحٍۭ بِٱلْبَصَرِ 50
Translations
And Our command is but one, like a glance of the eye.
Transliteration
Wa mā amrunā illā wāḥidatun kalamḥin bil-baṣar
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah means 'And Our command is not but one, like the twinkling of an eye,' emphasizing Allah's absolute power and the instantaneous nature of His commands. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this to mean that when Allah decrees something, it happens immediately and effortlessly—His command requires no deliberation, effort, or time, as swift as the blink of an eye. This underscores the perfection of Allah's power and His complete control over all creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Qamar, a Meccan surah that discusses the signs of Allah's power and the certainty of the Day of Judgment. It comes in the context of describing how Allah created the heavens and earth in six days and then established His Throne, emphasizing divine omnipotence. The surah repeatedly mentions how swiftly Allah's punishment came upon those who rejected His messengers.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (hadith 4802): The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said regarding Allah's creation of the heavens and earth: 'Allah created all things in six days, and the Throne was on water.' This relates to the theme of Allah's effortless creative power. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the speed of divine decree in matters of destiny.
Themes
Key Lesson
For believers today, this ayah reminds us that Allah's will is absolute and instantaneous—we should place complete trust in His decree and not doubt His ability to fulfill His promises, whether regarding help in this life or justice on the Day of Judgment. It also humbles us by showing the vast difference between human deliberation and Allah's immediate, perfect command.
Related Ayahs
إِن نَّشَأْ نُنَزِّلْ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ءَايَةً فَظَلَّتْ أَعْنَـٰقُهُمْ لَهَا خَـٰضِعِينَ
If We willed, We could send down to them from the sky a sign for which their necks would remain humbled.
يَوْمَ نَطْوِى ٱلسَّمَآءَ كَطَىِّ ٱلسِّجِلِّ لِلْكُتُبِ ۚ كَمَا بَدَأْنَآ أَوَّلَ خَلْقٍ نُّعِيدُهُۥ ۚ وَعْدًا عَلَيْنَآ ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا فَـٰعِلِينَ
The Day when We will fold the heaven like the folding of a [written] sheet for the records. As We began the first creation, We will repeat it. [That is] a promise binding upon Us. Indeed, We will do it.
فَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِ رَحْمَتِ ٱللَّهِ كَيْفَ يُحْىِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
So observe the effects of the mercy of Allāh - how He gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed, that [same one] will give life to the dead, and He is over all things competent.
ٱللَّهُ يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Allāh begins creation; then He will repeat it; then to Him you will be returned.