وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ ٱلْبَحْرَ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنْهُ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهُ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ 14
Translations
And it is He who subjected the sea for you to eat from it tender meat and to extract from it ornaments which you wear. And you see the ships plowing through it, and [He subjected it] that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.
Transliteration
Wa huwa alladhi sakhkhara al-bahr li-ta'kulu minhu lahman tariyyan wa tastakhrijoo minhu hilyatan talbasoonaha wa tara al-fulk mawakhira feehi wa li-tabtaghoo min fadlihi wa la'allakum tashkuroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes Allah's sovereignty in subjugating the sea for human benefit, providing fresh meat (fish), extracting pearls and coral for adornment, and enabling ships to sail upon it for commerce and trade. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that these multiple benefits demonstrate Allah's provision and mercy, with the ayah concluding by reminding believers that gratitude is the appropriate response to such divine blessings.
Revelation Context
Surah An-Nahl, revealed in Mecca, systematically enumerates Allah's signs and favors to humanity. This ayah is part of a broader thematic section (16:5-16) detailing divine blessings in creation, particularly livestock, water, and the sea, serving as evidence for Allah's existence and oneness during the early Meccan period when polytheists denied monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The best charity is water' (Tirmidhi), relating to the provision of sustenance. Additionally, hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah describes the virtues of maritime trade and seafaring as means of earning halal sustenance, connecting to the ayah's mention of seeking Allah's bounty through the sea.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that recognizing the multiple blessings Allah has placed in creation—from nourishment to beauty to commerce—should inspire genuine gratitude and consciousness of divine favor, motivating us to use these blessings responsibly and to acknowledge our dependence on the Creator rather than taking His provision for granted.
Related Ayahs
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُۥ حَيَوٰةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.
إِن تَحْرِصْ عَلَىٰ هُدَىٰهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى مَن يُضِلُّ ۖ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ
[Even] if you should strive for their guidance, [O Muḥammad], indeed, Allāh does not guide those He sends astray, and they will have no helpers.
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَىٰهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى هُوَ وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۙ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And Allāh presents an example of two men, one of them dumb and unable to do a thing, while he is a burden to his guardian. Wherever he directs him, he brings no good. Is he equal to one who commands justice, while he is on a straight path?
خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ تَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
He created the heavens and earth in truth. High is He above what they associate with Him.