عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَـٰلَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِى مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ 61
Translations
In that We will change your likenesses and produce you in that [form] which you do not know.
Transliteration
'alā anna nubaddilu amthālakum wa-nunshi'akum fī mā lā ta'lamūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute power to replace humanity with other creation and resurrect people in forms and circumstances unknown to them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as emphasizing Allah's ability to transform and recreate creation, addressing those who deny resurrection by highlighting that if Allah can create something once, He can certainly recreate it. The phrase 'what you do not know' underscores the limitations of human knowledge and comprehension of divine matters.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Waqi'ah (56), a Meccan surah primarily concerned with the reality of the Day of Judgment and resurrection. It responds to the Meccan polytheists' denial of resurrection, using the logic of divine omnipotence: if Allah created you initially from nothing, He is fully capable of recreating you in forms beyond your understanding.
Related Hadiths
The concept is reinforced in Sahih Muslim (2794) where the Prophet (ﷺ) discusses resurrection, stating: 'Allah will gather the bones, then will cover them with flesh.' Also relevant is Surah Yaseen (36:79) with similar thematic content: 'Yes, We are able to put together in perfect order the very tips of his fingers.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to recognize the absolute power and knowledge of Allah beyond our comprehension, and to humble ourselves before His divine will. It challenges us to accept resurrection with conviction, understanding that what seems impossible to us is entirely within Allah's capability.