ءَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنزِلُونَ 69
Translations
Is it you who brought it down from the clouds, or is it We who bring it down?
Transliteration
A-antum anzaltumuh min al-muzni am nahnu al-munzilun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah poses a rhetorical question to humanity, asking whether they themselves cause rain to descend from the clouds (al-muzn) or whether it is Allah who sends it down. The verse is part of a series of rhetorical challenges in Surah Al-Waqi'ah designed to awaken human consciousness to Allah's complete sovereignty over natural phenomena. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this ayah is a clear proof of divine power and human dependence, as no human possesses the ability to produce or control rainfall despite their scientific knowledge and technological advancement.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period within Surah Al-Waqi'ah, which focuses on the inevitability of the Day of Judgment and the signs of Allah's power. The surah uses observable natural phenomena—water, fire, vegetation, and sustenance—as evidence of Allah's omnipotence. The broader context (verses 63-74) discusses the creation of water and vegetation as blessings from Allah, making this verse part of a continuous argument about divine grace and human powerlessness.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best supplication is the supplication for rain' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari mentions the Prophet's prayer for rain during drought, illustrating humanity's complete dependence on Allah's provision of water.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize their absolute dependence on Allah for survival and sustenance, humbling the human spirit against arrogance and self-sufficiency. It reminds us that despite advances in meteorology and technology, humans remain powerless over fundamental natural processes, and true gratitude should be directed toward Allah as the sole Provider.
Related Ayahs
أَوْ يُزَوِّجُهُمْ ذُكْرَانًا وَإِنَـٰثًا ۖ وَيَجْعَلُ مَن يَشَآءُ عَقِيمًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌ قَدِيرٌ
Or He makes them [both] males and females, and He renders whom He wills barren. Indeed, He is Knowing and Competent.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا ۖ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
It is He who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein; and He is with you wherever you are. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.
يَسْـَٔلُهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِى شَأْنٍ
Whoever is within the heavens and earth asks Him; every day He is in [i.e., bringing about] a matter.
هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى ظُلَلٍ مِّنَ ٱلْغَمَامِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَقُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ
Do they await but that Allāh should come to them in covers of clouds and the angels [as well] and the matter is [then] decided? And to Allāh [all] matters are returned.