لَوْ نَشَآءُ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ أُجَاجًا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ 70
Translations
If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?
Transliteration
Law nasha'u ja'alnahu ujajan falaula tashkurun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah declares that if He willed, He could make fresh water bitter and undrinkable (ujaj), yet He has granted humanity sweet water as a mercy. This ayah emphasizes Allah's absolute power over creation and His benevolence toward His servants. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note this as a rhetorical challenge compelling gratitude—the ayah concludes with 'why then do you not give thanks?' highlighting that the provision of fresh water is a divine favor requiring recognition and gratitude.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Waqi'ah, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes divine power, resurrection, and human dependence on Allah. The surah repeatedly presents signs of Allah's majesty through creation, particularly water, sustenance, and fire. This specific ayah follows the discussion of rainfall and fresh water (56:68-69), contextualizing it within the theme of recognizing Allah's blessings in natural phenomena.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best charity is water' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized gratitude, saying: 'Whoever does not thank people has not thanked Allah' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi), connecting material blessings to spiritual obligation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that every blessing, especially basic necessities like fresh water, is a divine gift that demands conscious gratitude and recognition of Allah's sovereignty. In contemporary life, recognizing and appreciating life's often-overlooked provisions cultivates spiritual awareness and humility before the Creator.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيْنَـٰهَا بِأَيْي۟دٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ
And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَلَكَهُۥ يَنَـٰبِيعَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرْعًا مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُۥ حُطَـٰمًا ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
Do you not see that Allāh sends down rain from the sky and makes it flow as springs [and rivers] in the earth; then He produces thereby crops of varying colors; then they dry and you see them turned yellow; then He makes them [scattered] debris. Indeed in that is a reminder for those of understanding.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَءِذَا كُنَّا تُرَٰبًا وَءَابَآؤُنَآ أَئِنَّا لَمُخْرَجُونَ
And those who disbelieve say, "When we have become dust as well as our forefathers, will we indeed be brought out [of the graves]?
وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ فُرِجَتْ
And when the heaven is opened