Al-Waqi'ah · Ayah 59

ءَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقُونَ 59

Translations

Is it you who creates it, or are We the Creator?

Transliteration

A-antum takhluqunahu am nahnu al-khaliqun

Tafsir (Explanation)

This ayah poses a rhetorical question challenging the disbelievers' assumption of their own creative power, specifically regarding human procreation. Allah is asserting His exclusive role as the true Creator (Al-Khaliq) of human life, while humans are merely instrumental causes. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize this as a powerful refutation of shirk (associating partners with Allah), demonstrating that humans cannot create life and therefore should not associate anyone with Allah's creative power.

Revelation Context

This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Waqi'ah within a passage (verses 57-74) where Allah presents evidence of His oneness and power through creation. The broader context addresses the skepticism of Meccan polytheists who denied resurrection and divine uniqueness. The rhetorical question serves to awaken consciousness about humanity's dependence on Allah and inability to create.

Related Hadiths

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Each one of you is created in the womb of your mother for forty days as a drop (of semen), then for forty days as a clot, then for forty days as a lump of flesh...' (Sahih Bukhari 3208). This hadith complements the ayah by detailing Allah's creative process in human development.

Themes

Divine OmnipotenceTawhid (Monotheism)Human ProcreationRefutation of ShirkSigns of Allah

Key Lesson

This ayah reminds believers that true creation belongs only to Allah, and recognizing this fundamental truth is essential to authentic faith and humility. For modern readers, it encourages reflection on life's origins and fosters gratitude toward the Creator rather than pride in human accomplishment.

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Related Ayahs

16:40An-Nahl

إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَىْءٍ إِذَآ أَرَدْنَـٰهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ

Indeed, Our word to a thing when We intend it is but that We say to it, "Be," and it is.

36:43Ya-Sin

وَإِن نَّشَأْ نُغْرِقْهُمْ فَلَا صَرِيخَ لَهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنقَذُونَ

And if We should will, We could drown them; then no one responding to a cry would there be for them, nor would they be saved

10:22Yunus

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُسَيِّرُكُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا كُنتُمْ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ وَجَرَيْنَ بِهِم بِرِيحٍ طَيِّبَةٍ وَفَرِحُوا۟ بِهَا جَآءَتْهَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ وَجَآءَهُمُ ٱلْمَوْجُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ أُحِيطَ بِهِمْ ۙ دَعَوُا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ لَئِنْ أَنجَيْتَنَا مِنْ هَـٰذِهِۦ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ

It is He who enables you to travel on land and sea until, when you are in ships and they sail with them by a good wind and they rejoice therein, there comes a storm wind and the waves come upon them from every place and they expect to be engulfed, they supplicate Allāh, sincere to Him in religion, "If You should save us from this, we will surely be among the thankful."

3:26Ali 'Imran

قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ مَـٰلِكَ ٱلْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِى ٱلْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَنزِعُ ٱلْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ بِيَدِكَ ٱلْخَيْرُ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Say, "O Allāh, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.